Definitions
*Please see the list of resource links below.
Biomedical waste is any kind of waste containing infectious (or potentially infectious) materials. It may also include waste associated with the generation of biomedical waste that visually appears to be of medical or laboratory origin (e.g., packaging, unused bandages, infusion kits, etc.), as well research laboratory waste containing biomolecules or organisms that are restricted from environmental release. As detailed below, discarded sharps are considered biomedical waste whether they are contaminated or not, due to the possibility of being contaminated with blood and their propensity to cause injury when not properly contained and disposed of. Biomedical waste is a type of biowaste. (1)
Compost is organic matter that has been decomposed and recycled as a fertilizer and soil amendment. Compost is a key ingredient in organic farming. (2)
Diversion is reducing the amount of waste that is transported to landfills. Some examples include recycling and reusing materials that are non-biodegradable. (3)
End-of-Life Lamps - Mercury is an essential component in some energy-efficient lamps such as fluorescent tubes and light bulbs. Mercury-containing lamps use a low-pressure mercury electrical discharge in which a fluorescing coating transforms ultraviolet energy into visible light. These lamps contain a small amount of mercury which may be released when the lamps break or are improperly disposed as regular garbage. The mercury vapour released from these broken lamps poses a potential risk to human health and the environment. (4)
End-of-Life Vehicle - a vehicle must be stripped, wrecked or otherwise inoperable due to mechanical failure. (5)
E-waste includes electronic appliances such as computers, televisions, mobile phones, microwaves, refrigerators etc. and other electric powered equipment which are no longer functional. (6)
Feasibility study is a study used to determine the viability of an idea to ensure that a project is legally and technically feasible, as well as economically justifiable. (7)
Gasification is a process that converts materials containing carbon, such as coal, petroleum, organic waste, and plastic, into carbon monoxide and hydrogen at high temperatures with a controlled amount of oxygen. This process is used to produce electricity. (8)
Hazardous waste is a general term referring to materials or items that may contain materials that may negatively impact humans, animals or the environment. They require special treatment and disposal. (9)
Household hazardous waste is post-consumer waste which qualifies as hazardous waste when discarded. It includes household chemicals and other substances for which the owner no longer has a use, such as consumer products sold for home care, personal care, automotive care, pest control and other purposes. (10)
Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves the combustion of organic substances contained in waste materials. Incineration and other high-temperature waste treatment systems are described as "thermal treatment". (11)
Landfill (also known as a tip, dump, rubbish dump, garbage dump or dumping ground) is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial. In comparison with landfills, dumps (dump sites) are not regulated by the government, do not have lining that allows for leachate collection, and are usually not covered daily with soil. (12)
Leachate arises from squeezing out of the water content of the incoming waste and from rain that percolates through the cover layers and accumulates in the waste. It is a highly contaminated liquid. (13)
Mercury-containing lamps use a low-pressure mercury electrical discharge in which a fluorescing coating transforms ultraviolet energy into visible light. These lamps contain a small amount of mercury which may be released when the lamps break or are improperly disposed as regular garbage. The mercury vapour released from these broken lamps poses a potential risk to human health and the environment. (14)
Pyrolysis is a process that uses heat in the absence of oxygen to decompose organic waste. (15)
Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. It is an alternative to "conventional" waste disposal that can save material and help lower greenhouse gas emissions (compared to plastic production, for example). Recycling can prevent the waste of potentially useful materials and reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, thereby reducing: energy usage, air pollution (from incineration), and water pollution (from landfilling). (16)
Toxic metals can bioaccumulate in the body and in the food chain. Therefore, a common characteristic of toxic metals is the chronic nature of their toxicity. This is particularly notable with radioactive heavy metals such as radium, which imitates calcium to the point of being incorporated into human bone, although similar health implications are found in lead or mercury poisoning. The exceptions to this are barium and aluminium, which can be removed efficiently by the kidneys. (17)
Special waste is waste that necessitates special treatment different from residual waste to avoid environmental contamination; includes asbestos, animal carcasses, industrial waste and radioactive materials. (18)
Resources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomedical_waste
- http://www.compost.org/English/qna.html#section1
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landfill_diversion
- https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/eccc/documents/pdf/cepa/cop-lamps-mercury-2017-eng.pdf
- https://umanitoba.ca/institutes/natural_resources/Left-Hand%20Column/theses/Masters%20Thesis%20Smith%202018.pdf
- https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/5/4/35/pdf
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feasibility_study
- https://www.studentenergy.org/topics/gasification
- https://www.ontario.ca/faq/what-hazardous-waste
- https://www.crd.bc.ca/service/waste-recycling/household-hazardous-waste/what-is-hazardous-waste
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incineration
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landfill
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/leachat
- http://ec.gc.ca/lcpe-cepa/default.asp?lang=En&xml=F2A82F41-3BE4-4292-B173-907A0E06864D
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/pyrolysis
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recycling
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_toxicity
- https://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/waste_permits/msw_permits/msw_specialwaste.html#identify