Sources, Composition and

Classification of Solid Waste

What is Solid Waste?

Useless and unwanted products

derived from the activities of and
discarded by society.
Also known as garbage,rubbish ,
refuse, litter.

Sources and types of solid waste

Based on its definition, wastes are
produced by human activities and include
the following
1.Municipal wastes
2.Industrial wastes
3.Agricultural wastes
4.Mining and Quarrying wastes
5. Energy Generation wastes

Composition of Municipal Waste

Municipal wastes are generated by households,
shops, markets , offices,etc.
This is composed of the following types of waste:
1.Food Wastes
2.Rubbish
3.Ash and Residues
4.Demolition and Construction wastes
5.Special wastes
6.Treatment plant wastes

Food Waste
Produced from handling, preparation, and eating
of foods.

Sources of Food Waste

Residential
Areas

Commercial Areas
(Restaurants, Malls,etc.)

Rubbish
This includes combustible and non-combustible
objects.

Sources of Rubbish
Residential Areas

Open Areas
(Parks,Fields,etc.)

Ashes and Residues

Produced by the burning of wood, coal and other
combustible materials

Sources of Ashes and Residues

Commercial/Residential Areas

Demolition and construction

waste
Includes building materials such as
bricks,lumbers, electrical parts, dirt.

Sources of demolition and

construction waste
Demolition projects

Construction Projects

Treatment plant wastes

Sludge produced from treatment processes
(i.e. water treatment)

Special Waste
Includes street sweeping, roadside litter, dead
animals (roadkill),abandoned vehicles,electrical
appliances.

Industrial Waste
These are mostly produced by industrial
processes and can be regarded as
hazardous.
Examples of Industrial waste are:
Acids
Alkali's
Organic Waste from food processing

Ferric Chloride - Iron(III) Chloride

Toxic, highly corrosive and acidic

Agricultural Waste
This is mostly composed of crop residues and
animal manure.

Mining and Quarrying Waste

Produced by mining and quarrying activities.
These include topsoil, rock and dirt.

Energy production waste

Fly ash from thermal power plants.

Thermal power plant in Calaca, Batangas

References

unescap.org/stat/envstat/stwes2waste.02.pdf