At National Waste Services, we are always dedicated to putting our customers first, not only in service excellence but also through awareness and education.

Increased awareness results in improved communication and understanding between National Waste and the public it serves which, in turn, allows us to grow together as a team.

The following glossary contains information on various solid waste industry terms, phrases and abbreviations used by National Waste. It is the purpose of this glossary to aid the general public in better understanding National Waste’s services and the solid waste industry overall.

You can either browse by letter or scroll down the page to view our complete list of keywords and definitions. If you have any questions regarding this glossary, please email Stephanie Harris at sharris@nwscanada.com

A
Abatement Debris: refers to waste resulting from remediation activities.

Agricultural Waste: refers to solid waste that is generated by the rearing of animals or the production and harvest of crops or trees.

Aluminum Cans: refers to containers and packaging such as beverage cans or food and other nonfood cans. Examples of recycling include processing cans into new aluminum products (containers or foil).

B
Backyard Composting: refers to the diversion of food scraps and yard trimmings from the municipal waste stream through the onsite controlled decomposition of organic matter by micro-organisms (mainly bacteria and fungi) into a humus-like product. Backyard composting is excluded from recycling activities. Rather, it is considered source reduction because the composted materials never enter the municipal solid waste stream

Broad Categories: refers to general classifications of recyclable materials (glass, paper, plastic, metals).

Broker: refers to an individual or group of individuals who act as an agent or intermediary between the sellers and buyers of recyclable materials.

Brush and Branches: refers to the natural woody material collected from yard trimmings. Whole trees, such as Christmas trees, are included. Excludes leaves and grass. Examples of recycling include processing brush and branches into compost additive or mulch. 

Bulky Waste: refers to those items that are large enough to warrant special collection services separate from regular residential curbside collection. Examples include major appliances and furniture. 

Buy-Back Center: refers to a facility where individuals or groups of individuals exchange recyclables for payment.  

C
Collector: refers to public or private haulers that collect nonhazardous waste and recyclable materials from residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial sources. Also see Hauler.

Combustion Ash: refers to the residual substance produced during the burning, combustion, or oxidation of waste material.

Commercial Waste: refers to waste generated by businesses, such as office buildings; retail and wholesale establishments; and restaurants. Examples include old corrugated containers, food scraps, office papers, disposable tableware, paper napkins, and yard trimmings.

Commingled Recyclables: refers to a mixture of several recyclable materials in one container.

Composting Facilities: refers to an offsite facility where the organic component of municipal solid scraps is biologically decomposed under controlled conditions; an aerobic process in which organic materials are ground or shredded and then decomposed to humus in windrow piles or in mechanical digesters, drums, or similar enclosures.

Computer Paper/Printout: refers to a type of paper used in manifold business forms and produced in rolls and/or fan folded. It is used with computers and word processors to print data, information, letters, advertising, etc.

Construction and Demolition (C&D) Debris: refers to waste that is generated during the construction, remodeling, repair, or demolition of buildings, bridges, pavements, and other structures. C&D debris includes concrete, asphalt, lumber, steel girders, steel rods, wiring, dry wall, carpets, window glass, metal and plastic

Consumer Price Index: refers to an index measuring the change in the cost of typical wage-earner purchases of goods and services expressed as a percentage of the cost of these same goods and services in some base period.

Contaminated Soil: refers to the introduction of micro-organisms, chemicals, toxic substances, wastes, or wastewater into soil in concentrations that make the soil unfit for its intended use.

Crumb Rubber: refers to ground rubber pieces the size of sand or silt used in rubber or plastic products, or processed further into reclaimed rubber or asphalt products.

D
Disposal Facilities: refers to repositories for solid waste including landfills and combustors intended for permanent containment or destruction of waste materials. Excludes transfer stations and composting facilities.

Drop-Off Center: refers to a method of collection whereby recyclable or compostable materials are taken by individuals to a collection site and placed in designated containers.

E
End User: refers to facilities that purchase or secure recovered materials for the purpose of recycling. Examples include recycling plants and composting facilities. Excludes waste disposal facilities.

Exports: refers to municipal solid waste and recyclables that are transported outside the state or locality where they originated.

F
Ferrous Metals: refers to magnetic metals derived from iron (steel). Products made from ferrous metals include major and small appliances, furniture, and containers and packaging (steel drums and barrels). Examples of recycling include processing tin/steel cans, strapping, and ferrous metals from appliances into new products.

Food Processing Waste: refers to food residues produced during agricultural and industrial operations.

Food Scraps: refers to uneaten food and food preparation wastes from residences and commercial establishments (grocery stores, restaurants, and produce stands), institutional sources (school cafeterias), and industrial sources (employee lunchrooms). Excludes food processing waste from agricultural and industrial operations. Examples of recycling include composting and using food scraps to feed pigs, but excludes source reduction activities such as backyard (onsite) composting and use of food items for human consumption (food banks).

G
Generators: refers to producers of municipal solid waste such as residences, institutions, commercial businesses, and industry.

Glass Beneficiation Plant: refers to a glass processing facility where recovered glass cullet is cleaned of contaminants and processed into a form that is ready to be manufactured into a new product (mill-ready).

Glass Containers: refers to containers and packaging such as beer and soft drink bottles, wine and liquor bottles, and bottles and jars for food, cosmetics, and other products. For the purpose of recycling, container glass is generally separated into color categories (clear, green, and amber or brown). Examples of recycling include processing glass into new containers, construction materials (aggregate), or fiberglass (insulation).

Grass: refers to lawn clippings. Excludes leaves, brush, and branches.

Grasscycling: refers to the source reduction activity whereby grass clippings are left on the lawn after mowing.

Gross Sales Receipts: taxable transactions, or the total dollar value of goods sold in a state that is subject to state sales tax. The specific goods subjected to sales tax vary from state to state.

H
Hauler: refers to a waste collection company that provides complete refuse removal services. Many will also collect recyclables. Includes both private and public entities. Also see Collector.

HDPE (High Density Polyethylene): refers to a plastic product in which the ethylene molecules are linked in long chains with few side branches. Examples of products made from HDPE include milk jugs, detergent bottles, margarine tubs, and garbage containers.

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW): refers to hazardous products that are used and disposed of by residential—rather than industrial—consumers. These products include some paints, stains, varnishes, solvents, and pesticides, and other materials or products containing volatile chemicals that catch fire, react, explode under certain circumstances, or that are corrosive or toxic. HHW is derived from municipal solid waste (MSW) with the exception of used oil which is excluded from the category of MSW. Examples of recycling include processing HHW components into new products after they have been diverted from the waste stream. Diversion from the waste stream only does not constitute recycling (i.e., through collection or drop-off programs).

I
Imports: refers to municipal solid waste and recyclables that have been transported to a state or locality for processing or final disposition, but that did not originate in that state or locality.

Incinerator: refers to a furnace for burning solid waste under controlled conditions.

Industrial Process Waste: refers to residues produced during manufacturing operations.

Industrial Sludge: refers to the semi-liquid residue remaining from the treatment of industrial water and wastewater.

Industrial Waste: refers to nonhazardous wastes discarded at industrial sites from packaging and administrative sources. Examples include corrugated boxes, plastic film, wood pallets, lunchroom wastes, and office paper. Excludes industrial process wastes from manufacturing operations.

Institutional Waste: refers to waste generated at institutions, such as schools, libraries, hospitals, and prisons. Examples include cafeteria and restroom trashcan wastes, office papers, classroom wastes, and yard trimmings.

M
Major (Large) Appliances: refers to many different types, sizes, and styles of ovens, microwave ovens, air-conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, dishwashers, water heaters, dehumidifiers, or trash compactors manufactured for household, commercial, or recreational use. Steel is the predominant material used in the manufacture of large appliances. Other materials found in appliances (in varying amounts) include, copper, brass, aluminum, glass, rubber, and paperboard. Also see White Goods and Bulky Waste.

Material Recovery Facility (MRF): refers to a facility where recyclables are sorted into specific categories and processed, or transported to processors, for remanufacturing.

Medical Waste: refers to any solid waste generated in the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining thereto, or in the production or testing of biologicals, excluding hazardous waste identified or listed under 40 CFR Part 261 or any household waste as defined in 40 CFR Subsection 261.4 (b)(1).

Mill-Ready Cullet: refers to crushed and whole contaminant-free scrap container glass that complies with the proper Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. glass specifications.

Mining Waste: refers to residues resulting from the extraction of raw materials from the earth.

Minor Appliances: see Small Appliances.

Mixed Glass: refers to recovered container glass that is not sorted into specific categories (color and grade).

Mixed Metals: refers to recovered metal that is not sorted into specific categories (aluminum cans, tin/steel cans, other ferrous, and other nonferrous).

Mixed Municipal Solid Waste: refers to municipal solid waste that is not sorted into specific categories (plastics, glass, and yard trimmings).

Mixed Paper: refers to recovered paper that is not sorted into specific categories (old magazines, old newspapers, and old corrugated containers).

Mixed Plastic: refers to recovered plastic that is not sorted into specific categories (HDPE, LDPE, and PETE).

Mulching: refers to the process by which the volume of organic waste is reduced through shredding or grinding.

Municipal Sludge: refers to the semi-liquid residue remaining from the treatment of municipal water and wastewater.

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW): refers to wastes such as durable goods, nondurable goods, containers and packaging, food scraps, yard trimmings, and miscellaneous inorganic wastes from residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial sources, such as appliances, automobile tires, old newspapers, clothing, disposable tableware, office and classroom paper, wood pallets, and cafeteria wastes. Excludes solid wastes from other sources, such as construction and demolition debris, autobodies, municipal sludges, combustion ash, and industrial process wastes that might also be disposed of in municipal waste landfills or incinerators.

N
Natural Disaster Debris: refers to wastes resulting from earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornados, and other natural disasters. Excludes wastes resulting from heavy storms. Natural disaster debris is classified as construction and demolition debris.

Nonferrous Metals: refers to nonmagnetic metals such as aluminum, lead, and copper. Products made from nonferrous metals include containers and packaging such as beverage cans, food and other nonfood cans; nonferrous metals found in appliances, furniture, electronic equipment; and nonpackaging aluminum products (foil, closures, and lids from bimetal cans). Excludes lead-acid batteries and nonferrous metals from industrial applications and construction and demolition debris.

Nonhazardous Industrial Process Waste: refers to waste that is neither municipal solid waste nor considered a hazardous waste under Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, such as certain types of manufacturing wastes and wastewaters.

O
Office Paper: refers to high-grade papers such as copier paper, computer printout, and stationery. These papers are almost entirely made of uncoated chemical pulp, although some amounts of groundwood are used. It should be noted that this category of paper also is generated at locations other than offices, such as homes and institutions (schools).

Oil and Gas Waste: refers to gas and oil drilling muds, oil production brines, and other wastes associated with the exploration, development, or production of crude oil or natural gas.

Old Corrugated Containers (OCC): refers to corrugated containers made from unbleached, unwaxed paper with a ruffled (corrugated) inner liner.

Old Magazines: refers to dry, coated magazines, catalogues, and similar printed materials.

Old Newspaper: refers to periodicals printed on newsprint. Includes groundwood inserts (advertisements). Examples of recycling include processing old newspapers into new paper products (newspaper, paperboard, boxboard, or animal bedding).

Other Ferrous Metals: refers to ferrous metals from strapping, furniture, and metal found in tires and consumer electronics. Excludes the large quantities of metals found in construction materials or transportation products, such as automobiles, locomotives, and ships.

Other Glass: refers to glass from furniture, appliances, and consumer electronics. Excludes glass from transportation products and construction and demolition debris. Examples of recycling include processing glass into new glass products such as containers, construction materials (aggregate), or fiberglass (insulation).

Other Nonferrous Metals: refers to nonferrous metals (lead, copper, and zinc) from appliances, consumer electronics, and nonpackaging aluminum products (foil, closures, and aluminum lids from bimetal cans). Excludes nonferrous metals from industrial applications and construction and demolition debris.

Other Paper: refers to paper from books, third class mail, other commercial printing, paper towels, paper plates and cups, other nonpackaging paper (posters, photographic papers, cards, and games), milk cartons, folding boxes (cereal boxes), bags, wrapping papers, and other paper and paperboard products.

Other Plastic: refers to plastic from appliances, furniture, trash bags, cups, eating utensils, sporting and recreational equipment, and other nonpackaging plastic products.

Other Recyclables: refers to household hazardous waste, oil filters, fluorescent tubes, mattresses, consumer electronics, circuit boards, and other miscellaneous recyclable items found in municipal solid waste that cannot be otherwise categorized.

Other Solid Waste: refers to nonhazardous solid wastes, other than municipal solid waste, covered under Subtitle D of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, such as municipal sludge, industrial nonhazardous waste, construction and demolition waste, agricultural waste, oil and gas waste, and mining waste.

Other Wood: refers to wood from furniture, cabinets from consumer electronics, and other nonpackaging wood products. Excludes wood recovered from construction and demolition activities (lumber and tree stumps) and industrial process waste (shavings and sawdust).
Examples of recycling include processing wood into mulch, compost additive, or animal bedding.

Overissue Publications (Overissues): refers to printed publications, such as newspapers and magazines, that are defined as unsold inventory by the publisher. Overissues are not considered postconsumer waste.

P
Pallet: refers to a portable platform made of wood or plastic lumber used for storing or moving cargo or freight. (National Wooden Pallet and Container Association)

Paper: refers to paper products and materials such as old newspapers, old magazines, office papers, telephone directories, old corrugated containers, bags, and some paperboard packaging. Examples of recycling include processing paper into new paper products (tissue, paperboard, hydromulch, animal bedding, or insulation materials).

Paper Processor: refers to an intermediate operating facility where recovered paper products and materials are sorted, cleaned of contaminants, and prepared for final recycling.
Examples include paper stock dealers and paper packers.

PETE (Polyethylene Terephthalate): refers to a thermoplastic material used to manufacture plastic soft drink containers and rigid containers. PETE has a high melting point, is clear in its natural state, and has a relatively high density.

Plastic: refers to plastic containers and packaging made from various resins, including PETE, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, and PS. Excludes plastics in transportation (automobiles) and construction products (PVC piping).

Plastic Processor: refers to an intermediate operating facility where recovered plastic products and materials are sorted, cleaned of contaminants, and prepared for final recycling.
Examples include plastics handlers and plastics reclaimers.

Plastics Handler: refers to companies that prepare recyclable plastics by sorting, baling, shredding, granulating, and/or storing plastics until a sufficient quantity is on hand. (American
Plastics Council, 1996)

Plastics Reclaimer: refers to companies that further process plastics after the handling stage by performing at least one of the following functions: washing/cleaning, pelletizing, or producing a new product.

Postconsumer Materials/Waste: refers to recovered materials that have been used as a consumer item and are diverted from municipal solid waste for the purpose of collection, recycling, and disposition (aluminum beverage cans, plastic bottles, old newspapers, and yard trimmings). Excludes materials from industrial processes that have not reached the consumer, such as glass broken in the manufacturing process or overissues of newspapers and magazines.

PP (Polypropylene): refers to a plastic polymer formed by linking propylene molecules. PP has good resistance to heat and is used in flexible and rigid packaging, film, and textiles.

Preconsumer Materials/Waste: refers to materials generated in manufacturing and converting processes, such as manufacturing scrap and trimmings/cuttings. Also includes print overruns, overissue publications (newspapers and magazines), and obsolete inventories.

Print Overruns: refers to a quantity of paper that is printed beyond the quantity specified.

Processors: refers to intermediate operators that handle recyclable materials from collectors and generators for the purpose of preparing materials for recycling (material recovery facilities, scrap metal yards, paper dealers, and glass beneficiation plants). Processors act as intermediaries between collectors and end users of recovered materials.

PS (Polystyrene): refers to a plastic polymer formed by linking styrene molecules. PS is used to make a variety of products including plastic cutlery and food containers. It is often used in its foamed state.

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): refers to the family of plastic copolymers, also known as vinyl. PVC is used to make products such as pipes, bottles, upholstery, and automotive parts.

S
Scrap Metal Processor: refers to an intermediate operating facility where recovered metal is sorted, cleaned of contaminants, and prepared for final recycling. Examples include scrap metal yards and scrap metal dealers.

Small (Minor) Appliances: refers to many different types, sizes, and styles of electric fans, coffee makers, electric irons, food mixers, etc. Aluminum and plastic are the predominant materials used in small appliances.

Source Reduction: refers to the design, manufacture, purchase, or use of materials, such as products and packaging, to reduce the amount or toxicity of materials before they enter the municipal solid waste management system, such as redesigning products or packaging to reduce the quantity of materials or the toxicity of the materials used; reusing products or packaging already manufactured; and lengthening the life of products to postpone disposal. Examples include donating food to food banks, diverting food scraps and yard trimmings through backyard (onsite) composting, and reusing plastic pallets. Also referred to as waste prevention.

Surveyor: refers to the state, locality, or individual responsible for the collection of recycling measurement data through the use of survey forms.

T
Telephone Directories: refers to telephone directories printed on paper with high groundwood content. Other directories, such as zip code and area code directories, are included in this category when they are printed on the same type of paper.

Textiles: refers to fibers from discarded apparel, furniture, linens (sheets and towels), and carpets. Examples of recycling include converting apparel and linens into wiper rags and processing textiles into new products (linen paper or carpet padding).

Tin/Steel Cans: refers to tin-coated steel containers such as cans used for food packaging.

Tire Processor: refers to an intermediate operating facility where recovered tires are processed in preparation for recycling.

Tires: refers to passenger car and light- and heavy-duty truck tires. Excludes high-speed industrial tires (from airplanes), bus tires, motorcycle tires, and special service tires, such as military, agricultural, off-road, and slow speed industrial tires (from construction vehicles).

Examples of recycling include processing car and truck tires into new rubber products (trash cans, storage containers, and rubberized asphalt), and the use of whole tires for playground and reef construction.

Transfer Station: refers to a facility where solid waste is transferred from collection vehicles to larger trucks or rail cars for longer distance transport.

Tree Stumps: refers to the portion of a tree remaining after it has been cut. Tree stumps are categorized as yard trimmings when found in municipal solid waste. Otherwise, tree stumps are generally found in, and categorized as, construction and demolition debris.

U
Unit-Based Pricing/Pay-As-You-Throw: refers to a system under which residents pay for municipal solid waste management services per unit of waste (by weight or volume) collected rather than through a fixed fee.

Used Oil: refers to spent motor oil from passenger cars and trucks that is collected at specified locations for recycling. Used oil is excluded from the category of municipal solid waste.

W
Waste Characterization Studies: refers to the identification and measurement (by weight or volume) of specific categories of municipal solid waste materials (glass, plastic, and metals) for the purpose of projecting landfill capacity, determining best management practices and developing cost-effective recycling programs.

Waste Generation: refers to the amount (weight or volume) of materials and products that enter the waste stream before recycling, composting, landfilling, or combustion takes place.

Waste Stream: refers to the total flow of solid waste from homes, businesses, institutions, and manufacturing plants that must be recycled, incinerated, or disposed of in landfills; or any segment thereof, such as the “residential waste stream” or the “recyclable waste stream.”

Waste-To-Energy Facility/Combustor: refers to a facility where recovered municipal solid waste is converted into a usable form of energy, usually through combustion.

White Goods: refers to major appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, air conditioners, and washing machines. Also see Major Appliances and Bulky Waste.

White Ledger: refers to printed or unprinted sheets of white sulphite or sulphate ledger, bond, writing paper, and all other papers which have a similar fiber and filler content.

Wood Packaging: refers to wood products such as pallets, crates, and barrels. Excludes wood from furniture and other nonpackaging wood products. Examples of recycling include processing wood into new products (mulch and compost).

Y
Yard Trimmings: refers to grass, leaves, tree branches and brush, and tree stumps from residential, institutional, and commercial sources. Examples of recycling include processing yard trimmings into compost, mulch, or other similar uses, and landspreading leaves (when the depth of the application allows for degradation of the organic plant material).

Yard Trimmings Processor: refers to an intermediate operating facility where recovered yard trimmings are sorted, cleaned of contaminants, and prepared for final recycling.

National Waste Services...Growing together as a team.