Whats what recycling - Recycling glossary

Glossary

Composting
The natural break down of organic material which produces a product that can be used on the garden as a compost. More information of home composting can be found on the Gunge Tank page.

Household waste
All of the waste produced by you and your family.

Kerbside collection
The system of waste collection in which householders place their waste or recoverable materials on a specific day, for collection. This type of collection is also sometimes referred to as door-to-door collection.

Landfill site
Site used for waste disposal of your waste into holes in the ground.

Recycling
The conversion of waste materials back to their original form to be used for their original purpose, or for other purposes. For example your aluminium drinks can may be converted into another can or into any number of other items.

Energy from Waste
Burning any excess material that cannot be reused or recycled in order to generate electricity.

Reuse
Making use of an item a number of times in the same form, such as glass milk bottles or strong carrier bags.

Sustainable Development
Development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Waste (rubbish)
Products which have been discarded as having no further use.

Waste Pyramid
The ranking of waste management options in order of sustainability - reduce, reuse, recycle.

Waste Management
Management of the collection, recovery and disposal of waste, including options for waste reduction.

Waste Minimisation
The reduction of waste at source, by understanding and changing processes to reduce and prevent waste. This is also known as process or resource efficiency. Waste minimisation can include the substitution of less environmentally harmful materials in the production process.