Glossary

Animal Feed

Raw or processed biodegradable waste used for animal nutrition. It can also refer to products derived from the treatment of biodegradable waste, for instance, Black Soldier Fly larvae grown on biodegradable waste. Biodegradable solid waste includes food waste, crop residues, food processing waste or animal manure. The animal feed derived from it contains nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals.

Biogas

Common name for the mixture of gases produced by the anaerobic digestion of organic material. Biogas comprises methane (50% to 75%), carbon dioxide (25% to 50%) and varying quantities of nitrogen, hydrogen sulphide, water vapour and other components, depending on the material being digested. Biogas can be collected and combusted as fuel.

Black Soldier Fly (BSF) waste processing

Biological aerobic process where BSF larvae feed on organic matter. The grown larvae are harvested for animal feed for pigs, fish, poultry or pet food. The residue (frass) from the larval feeding process is a valuable soil conditioner and fertiliser.

Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM)

Humanitarian coordination mechanism to ensure the rights, dignity and basic needs of displaced populations by managing and coordinating the delivery of essential services, such as shelter, water, sanitation, and safety across multiple displacement sites.

Carbonisation

Process of converting organic materials into char through heating in the absence or limited presence of oxygen.

Char powder

Powderised charcoal

Collection (primary)

Collection and transport of waste from the location of waste generation to a transfer station, often executed with manual or animal-powered vehicles or small to medium-sized motorised vehicles.

Collection (secondary)

Collection and transport of waste from a transfer station to the site of disposal, treatment or use. This bulk transport is often executed with larger motorised vehicles.

Composite Waste

Combination of different materials that are bonded together and often challenging to separate into individual components for recycling or disposal. Composite waste can take various forms, such as composite packaging (e.g. a milk carton), composite building materials (e.g. reinforced concrete) or items made from a combination of different materials that are fused or bonded during manufacturing. Although recycling composite materials might be technically feasible, it may not be of economic interest; therefore composite materials are usually considered non-recyclable.

Compost

Decomposed biodegradable matter resulting from controlled aerobic degradation. Microorganisms (mainly bacteria and fungi) decompose biodegradable waste components and produce an earth-like, odourless, brown/black material. Compost has excellent soil-improving properties and contains a variety of nutrients.

Debris

Waste from damaged buildings and infrastructure including a wide range of materials such as asphalt, concrete, metal, wood, clay, tar, insulation, shingles and other building materials as well as destroyed electricity infrastructure such as electrical poles, wire, electrical equipment or transformers.

Disaster Waste

All solid and liquid waste generated by a natural disaster or conflict both during the event itself and the subsequent emergency response and recovery phases. It is characterised by large volumes of waste, a mixture of waste types and a highly intertwined waste matrix, which further complicates its management.

Downcycling

Process of transforming materials into products of lesser quality, value and functionality than the original.

e-Waste

Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), or e-waste, is discarded or obsolete electrical or electronic devices and appliances that no longer function or have reached their end-of-life. It includes a wide range of items, such as computers, mobile phones, household appliances, lamps and photovoltaic panels. Due to the presence of toxic materials, like heavy metals, e-waste is hazardous and poses a risk to public health and the environment. Ensuring its safe recycling and disposal is critical.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

EPR is a policy approach that holds producers and manufacturers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products, including end-of-life. It incentivises producers to consider environmental costs and design for better end-of-life product recovery.

Fertiliser

Plant nutrients applied to soil and plants to enhance crop yield and replenish soil nutrients depleted by farming practices. Fertilisers typically contain macronutrients (such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) and secondary micronutrients (such as calcium, magnesium and sulphur). Fertiliser can be organic or synthetic; fertiliser derived from organic solid waste is organic.

Frass

Waste products and excrement produced by insects, particularly larvae, fed on organic waste. Frass is rich in nutrients and organic matter which are beneficial to plants. It is typically used as a fertiliser or soil amendment. It can improve soil health by adding organic content and beneficial microbes.

Glass

Solid, brittle and often transparent material. Silica is commonly its main component and the main glass-forming constituent. Depending on its function and colour, glass can contain other constituents such as soda, lime, metals and fining agents to improve clarity. Glass waste includes used glass bottles, jars, containers and other glass consumer products. Intact and broken glass can be recycled. Used glass is separately collected and melted down to produce new glass products.

Greenhouse Gases (GHG)

Gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide or methane, which absorb infrared radiation, trap heat and contribute to the greenhouse effect and raised surface temperature of the earth.

Hazardous Waste

Waste is hazardous if it contains materials posing a significant threat to human health or the environment. These materials often exhibit characteristics of toxicity, flammability, corrosiveness or reactivity. Examples of hazardous household waste include paint, solvents, pesticides, batteries, electrical and electronic devices and certain cleaning products. Proper disposal of hazardous domestic and municipal waste is essential to prevent contamination of the environment and protect the health and safety of waste handlers and the general public.

Incineration

Highly sophisticated, technical and complex waste treatment approach that fully controls fly ash, gas and slag emissions using specific technical and monitoring measures to limit environmental and health impacts. Incineration has very high cost and skill requirements. It is not a feasible solution for humanitarian situations but is typically used in municipal waste incineration plants or hazardous waste incineration facilities.

Information, Education and Communication (IEC)

Range of products supporting hygiene behavioural change such as infographics, flyers, leaflets, brochures, social media posts, television adverts, audio sessions for radio, posters and billboards or murals. IEC is used by hygiene promoters to inform and motivate people to prevent WASH-related diseases.

Landfill

Carefully engineered site designed for the controlled disposal of municipal solid waste. It isolates waste from the environment to prevent contamination, employing barriers like liners and leachate collection systems to manage harmful liquids. Waste is deposited in layers, compacted, and covered daily to minimise odours and pests, ensuring environmental protection throughout its lifecycle.

Leachate

Liquid produced by water percolating through solid waste, extracting soluble or suspended materials in the process. This liquid often contains a variety of organic and inorganic contaminants, making it a significant environmental concern as it can pollute groundwater and surface water if not properly managed.

Litter

Small pieces of rubbish or discarded items improperly disposed of in public places. Litter typically includes food wrappers, cigarette butts, beverage containers and other small items left in outdoor areas, parks, streets or public spaces. It is prone to end up in drainage and stormwater systems and can lead to blockages or reduce drainage efficiency.

Material Recovery Facility (MRF)

Combined waste sorting and waste transfer facilities that receive, separate and prepare recyclable materials for further use or processing.

Medical and Health Care Waste

Waste from the activities and procedures conducted in hospitals, healthcare facilities, medical laboratories, diagnostic centres and other medical institutions. The largest fraction of waste from these institutions (between 75% and 90%) includes materials similar to domestic solid waste. A much smaller fraction of medical waste originates from medical procedures and is considered hazardous waste. It can pose a significant risk to public health, especially for care staff, staff involved in medical waste handling as well as patients and their families.

Medical Waste Management (MWM)

Systematic process of handling, segregating, treating and disposing of waste generated by healthcare activities to ensure environmental safety, regulatory compliance and protection of healthcare workers and patients.

Menstrual and Incontinence Waste

Discarded items used for managing menstruation or incontinence, including purpose-made products such as sanitary pads, tampons, panty liners, incontinence pants or adult (or infant) diapers and other materials used (e.g. cloth or fabric).

Metals

Range of materials made completely or mostly of metals such as copper, aluminium or iron. Metal waste includes aluminium cans, steel packaging and scrap metal from construction or manufacturing processes. Metals are valuable materials that can be recycled repeatedly without a significant loss of quality. The recycling of metal waste entails collecting, sorting and processing the materials for reuse in the manufacturing of new metal products.

Mixed Waste

Combination of various waste materials that are commingled and disposed of together and are difficult to separate. This waste stream typically includes a mixture of biodegradable, non-biodegradable, recyclable and non-recyclable materials. Mixed waste may contain a diverse range of items such as food scraps, paper, plastics, glass, metals and other miscellaneous items. Managing mixed waste can be challenging because the separate handling of different waste components is not possible without labour-intensive sorting. Litter is a specific form of mixed waste.

Mulching

Covering the soil with a layer of old leaves or small wood pieces (or compost). It is typically used to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Its slow incorporation into the soil eventually enriches the soil with nutrients.

Municipal Waste Incineration (MWI)

Controlled combustion process that thermally treats mixed solid waste from households and businesses in specialised facilities (see Incineration), reducing waste volumes while potentially recovering energy as electricity and heat.

Non-Food Items (NFI)

Any individual or household items other than food that are distributed to affected people in humanitarian settings. NFIs include buckets, jerrycans, soap or sanitary towels.

Non-Recyclable Waste

Materials that are not recycled for technical or financial reasons. The categorisation of ’recyclable’ and ’non-recyclable’ is context-specific and depends on the availability of suitable recycling infrastructure and whether the recycling of materials is of economic interest. Non-recyclable waste is often destined for disposal.

Organic Food/Kitchen Waste

Any fast-degrading organic matter that can be broken down by microorganisms into their constituent elements and compounds. It commonly consists of food scraps, trimmings, leftover and spoiled food and food market waste. It is rich in nutrients, particularly nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It can be decomposed during aerobic and anaerobic processes and transformed into valuable resources like biogas, compost, animal feed and frass. The agricultural use of processed organic food/kitchen waste recirculates the nutrients into the soil for plant growth. Separating and processing organic waste reduces the volume of waste sent to disposal sites, decreasing the emission of flammable and climate-relevant gases from deposited waste and contributing to more environmentally friendly waste management practices.

Organic Garden/Wood Waste

Slower-degrading fraction of organic waste that is generally more fibrous than food waste and has higher lignin content. It commonly consists of bamboo, nut shells, sawdust, agricultural residues, twigs, branches and (untreated) timber and construction wood. It has a high carbon content that makes it an important component in composting and vermicomposting for balancing the carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio and is a valuable source for producing solid biomass fuel.

Paper or Cardboard

Products from cellulose fibres such as cardboard or paper packaging, newspapers, magazines or office paper. Processed cellulose fibre originates from wood, grasses or other plant sources. However, as paper or cardboard also contain non-biodegradable auxiliary materials (such as colour pigments, glue or lamination), it is not usually listed as a biodegradable material. Paper or cardboard is considered recyclable waste that can be collected, processed and reused to create new products. The recycling of paper and cardboard is common practice and these materials are often collected separately from other waste to facilitate recycling.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Equipment or gear designed to be worn or used to protect the body from severe injuries and illnesses. Depending on the workers’ tasks and responsibilities, it may include masks, gloves, rubber boots, resistant clothes and overalls or reflective vests.

Plastics

Synthetic or semi-synthetic material made from a wide range of organic polymers. Different plastic types are distinguished by their polymers, including Polyethylene (PE), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and various others. If a plastic item consists of only one plastic type, it is potentially recyclable. The feasibility, complexity and economic incentives to recycle depends on the plastic type and its cleanliness. If plastics are mixed with other materials, such as metal coatings or cardboard, they are considered composite materials. Plastic waste includes plastic packaging, bottles, containers and other products made from plastic materials. Plastic waste creates environmental challenges due to its persistence and potential for pollution. Recycling involves collecting, sorting and processing plastic waste to manufacture new plastic products.

Recyclable Waste

Mainly non-biodegradable materials that can be collected, processed and reused to create new products. Recycling these materials entails sorting, cleaning and processing them so that they can be used as raw materials for new goods. The categorisation of ’recyclable’ is context-specific and depends on the availability of suitable recycling infrastructure and whether the recycling of materials is of economic interest.

Recycling

Recycling indicates that the produced new goods have comparable material properties and functions as the original material. Recycling waste is a key component of sustainable waste management, helping to conserve natural resources, reduce energy consumption and decrease the environmental impact associated with the extraction and production of new materials.

Relief Waste

Waste generated by humanitarian relief operations, also referred to as humanitarian waste. It includes all waste generated by the response and services provided (e.g. food waste, packaging materials, shelter waste and other NFI). It also includes waste from the organisations’ functional services in offices, guest houses, warehouses and vehicle workshops.

Residual Waste

Waste that remains after materials that can be reused, recycled or composted have been separated and removed. It includes items typically disposed of in landfills or incinerated in municipal waste incineration plants. Residual waste encompasses a variety of materials, such as composite plastics, mixed waste and other items that are challenging to recycle or do not have established recycling markets. Reducing the generation of residual waste through waste minimisation and recycling efforts is a key goal in sustainable waste management practices.

Reverse Logistics

Process in which a product is returned from the point of sale to the manufacturer or distributor for recovery, repair, recycling or disposal.

Segregation

Waste separation process immediately after generation when the segregated waste fractions have never been mixed with other waste.

Separation

Process of separating waste into different waste fractions (material types). Waste separation is an integral part of SWM, separating items and materials that can be repurposed, reused, recycled or treated from the main bulk of waste. Separation and subsequent recovery, treatment and recycling reduce the volume of waste for disposal. Waste separation describes waste segregation and waste sorting. Segregation separates waste that has never been mixed with other waste immediately after generation. Waste sorting extracts certain waste fractions from mixed waste later in the waste management process. Waste segregation is the priority as segregated waste is higher quality, facilitating recovery rates by lowering the complexity and cost of waste treatment and recycling. It also provides safer and cleaner working conditions for SWM workers.

Solid Biomass Fuel

Mainly derives from biodegradable garden and wood waste. Common sources such as wood, bamboo, nut shells, sawdust and agricultural residues have a high cellulose content. Larger pieces of wood or bamboo can be directly used as fuel. Smaller, more dense or powdery materials burn less efficiently, or not at all. These biomass wastes can be processed into pellets, carbonised or non-carbonised briquettes.

Solid Waste from Sanitation Facilities and Drains

Waste directly discarded into sanitation systems (such as pits or septic tanks), or solid waste and litter discarded in public spaces or streets. It eventually accumulates in stormwater lines and drainage systems where it can lead to blockages, overflow, clogging of pipes and channels or stagnant water pools. It can be comprised of a wide range of materials including biodegradable matter (such as food waste), non-biodegradable materials (such as plastics, paper, glass and metals), sanitary products (menstrual products or diapers) or debris. It can be difficult and hazardous to remove. Solid waste in drains may contain additional biodegradable matter such as leaves and plant debris and non-biodegradable materials such as sediment, silt, sand and other debris. It may contain contaminants such as oils, grease, chemicals, pathogens and other pollutants. These, and other waste from sanitation facilities and drains pose risks to human health and the environment if not managed properly.

Sorting

Waste separation process where certain waste fractions (usually recyclables and/or organics) are extracted from mixed waste. Waste sorting can take place at different stages of the SWM service chain.

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

Step-by-step instructions for performing routine tasks consistently and efficiently.

SWM Service Provider

Public or private utility assigned by local authority with the responsibility for collection, treatment and disposal of solid waste.

Take-back

Schemes where end-of-life goods are collected and returned to the supplier. They are particularly relevant in humanitarian response for products which cannot be disposed of locally or which contain hazardous materials, such as e-waste from solar lanterns and other electrical and electronic devices. Take-back schemes for distributed items may offer financial or material incentives. Empty food and NFI packaging can be returned during new distributions.

Textile

Material made from natural or synthetic fabrics. Textile waste includes worn-out clothing, household textiles and scraps from manufacturing. Recycling initiatives often focus on collecting and processing textile waste for reuse by transforming textiles into new products or converting them into fibres for use in various applications.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

The total cost of a product during its lifecycle.

Transfer Station

Sites where waste is transferred from smaller to larger vehicles for transport to final use and disposal, increasing the efficiency and safety of transport logistics.

Upcycling

Artistic and creative reuse of waste materials while potentially increasing its financial value.

Vermicompost

Type of compost produced through the breakdown of organic waste by earthworms. Earthworms consume organic materials such as food scraps, agricultural residues and other biodegradable waste. As they digest this material, the worms produce castings or worm excrements which are rich in nutrients and beneficial microorganisms.

Waste Audit/Characterisation

Evaluation of waste generation and composition used for planning, identifying opportunities for reducing waste and enhancing recycling efforts. Waste samples are collected and analysed to inform and design better waste management practices.

Waste Composition

The specific types and proportions of materials making up a waste stream, including categories such as organic waste, plastics, paper and metals. Understanding waste composition is essential for effective waste management as it informs strategies for recycling, disposal and resource recovery.

Waste Fractions

Waste types (also referred to as waste products) classified by their properties into a group (e.g. biodegradable, plastic or metal waste fractions).

Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), or e-waste

End-of-life waste from broken, obsolete and non-functioning electrical and electronic appliances and solar PV systems. E-waste can pose significant risks to public health and the environment as it contains toxic and hazardous materials.

Waste Generation

The amount and composition of waste produced by households and non-household generators of waste, critical for informing decisions about solid waste management systems. Accurate data on waste generation can be collected through waste audits which measure waste over a specified period, ideally accounting for seasonal variations. Waste generated is often expressed as kilograms per person per day (kg/person/day).