definition 112 causes, effects and control measures of

Characteristics of municipal solid waste

Solid wastes are grouped or classified in several

different ways. These different classifications are

necessary to address the complex challenges of

solid waste management in an effective man-

ner. The term municipal solid waste (MSW) is

generally used to describe most of the non-haz-

ardous solid waste from a city, town or village

that requires routine collection and transport to

a processing or disposal site. Sources of MSW

include private homes, commercial establish-

ments and institutions as well as industrial fa-

cilities. However MSW does not include wastes

from industrial processes, construction and

demolition debris, sewage sludge, mining wastes

or agricultural wastes.

Municipal solid waste contains a wide variety of

materials. It can contain food waste such as veg-

etable and meat material, left over food, egg

shells, etc which is classified as wet garbage as

well as paper, plastic, tetrapacks, plastic cans,

newspaper, glass bottles, cardboard boxes, alu-

Chapter5.p65

4/9/2004, 5:09 PM

145

---

146

Environmental Studies for Undergraduate Courses

minum foil, metal items, wood pieces, etc. which

is classified as dry garbage.