Types of waste

The classification of waste can be according to their origin, that is, where they come from or in what type of human or natural activity are generated. This approach allows us to better understand its impact and design appropriate strategies for waste management. Let’s see what the main types of waste are according to where they originate:

• Domestic waste: They are the waste generated in homes as a result of everyday activities. They include solid waste such as food, containers, paper, plastics, glass, old clothing and small appliances. Also liquid waste such as oils, soaps, etc.
• Industrial waste: They occur in factories, workshops and other facilities linked to industrial activities. They can be very varied, from metals, chemicals and plastics to remains of production processes. Here you can learn more about industrial waste: what are, examples, types, classification and management.
• Agricultural waste: Coming from agricultural and livestock activities, these waste includes remains of crops, manure, plastics used in crops (such as mantles or containers), and chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides.
• Commercial waste: generated in commercial establishments, such as stores, offices, markets and restaurants. They include packaging, organic waste, paper, cardboard and discarded products in large quantities.
• Construction and demolition residues (RCD): They originate in construction, remodeling and demolition works. Among them are the rubble, wood, metals, cement and other materials.
• Health waste: They are waste originated in hospitals, clinics and laboratories. They include biological materials, expired medications, syringes and other objects that can be infectious or dangerous.
• Natural waste: They are those generated by the ecosystems themselves, such as fallen branches, leaves, fruits or body corpses.

Classifying waste according to their composition allows us to understand their physical and chemical nature, which is essential to define its potential for recycling, treatment or final disposal:

• Organic waste: These waste has biological origin and are biodegradable, that is, they can decompose naturally thanks to the action of microorganisms. They include remains of food, leaves, wood, shells and animal droppings. In this other summary we explain what organic garbage and examples are.
• Inorganic waste: They are those that have no biological origin and do not easily degrade naturally. Among them are plastics, glass, metals and ceramics. Here you can see more information about inorganic garbage: examples for children.
• Hazardous waste: These waste possesses characteristics that make them harmful to human health and the environment. They can be toxic, flammable, corrosive, reagent or infectious.
• Recyclable waste: This group includes materials that can be transformed into new products through industrial processes. Among them are paper, cardboard, plastic, glass and metals. Here you can know the types of recycling.
• Non -recyclable waste: It refers to those materials that, due to their composition or for being polluting waste, cannot be recycled in a practical or profitable way. Examples are certain types of plastics, synthetic textiles and waste composed of various inseparable materials.
• Biodegradable waste: Although they overlap with organic waste, this term is used specifically for materials that decompose rapidly in the environment without leaving pollutants, such as paper, unsuspected cardboard and compostable bags.
• Non -biodegradable waste: They are those who do not break down or do so extremely slowly, such as plastics, glass and metals.

Biodegradability refers to the ability of materials to decompose naturally thanks to the action of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. Classifying waste according to this criterion allows you to identify those that can reintegrate into the environment without causing significant damage and those that require special management to minimize their impact:

Biodegradable waste

• Food remains (fruits, vegetables, shells).
• Unrelated paper and cardboard.
• Not treated wood.
• Agricultural and livestock waste, such as manure or crop residues.

Non -biodegradable waste

• Non -compostable plastics.
• Glass.
• Metals
• Synthetic chemicals.

The danger of waste is determined by its ability to cause damage to the environment or human health, either by its chemical composition, physical properties or biological characteristics. Let’s see how they are classified according to their danger:

Hazardous waste

They are those that present properties that make them harmful or that represent significant risks. Some examples are:

• Batteries and batteries (for its content of heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium or lead).
• Industrial chemical waste (acids, solvents, pesticides).
• Hospital waste (syringes, contaminated surgical material).
• Used oils and oil derived products.
• Radioactive materials.

Here we tell you more about hazardous waste: classification, examples and handling.

Non -hazardous waste

They are those that do not present harmful characteristics for health or for the environment, as long as they are properly managed. We have common examples such as:

• Food remains.
• Paper and cardboard.
• Glass and non -contaminated metals.
• Non -toxic plastics.

This type of waste requires specialized management due to the risks they can represent for public health and the environment, such as infections, chemical or radiological pollution. These are the main categories:

• Non -hazardous biosanitary waste: They are those generated in medical activities that do not represent specific risks to health or the environment such as gloves, masks and not polluted gatgers.
• Hazardous biosanitary waste: They include materials that have been in contact with body fluids, tissues or infectious agents, which makes them potentially dangerous for human or animal health. Some examples are: needles, syringes, scalpels and other sharp objects.
• Health chemical waste: They are those that contain chemical substances used in hospitals and medical laboratories, which can be toxic, corrosive or reactive such as expired or leftover medications and disinfectant solutions.
• Sanitary radioactive waste: They are waste that contain radioactive materials used in medical treatments or research, such as radioactive isotopes used in cancer therapies and radiation contaminated equipment, such as gloves or protective suits.
• Non -hazardous general waste: They are common waste generated in hospitals, similar to domestic waste. Although they do not have special risks, they require proper separation to prevent them from mixing with hazardous waste.

You can learn more about health waste: what are, types and management in this link.

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