Waste (Rubbish, Trash, Refuse, Garbage, or Junk) Is Unwanted or Unusable Materials
Waste (Rubbish, Trash, Refuse, Garbage, or Junk) Is Unwanted or Unusable Materials
Waste (Rubbish, Trash, Refuse, Garbage, or Junk) Is Unwanted or Unusable Materials
Litter is
waste which has been disposed of improperly, particularly waste which has been carelessly
disposed of in plain sight, as opposed to waste which has been dumped to avoid paying for waste
disposal fees.
In living organisms, waste is the unwanted substances or toxins that are expelled from them.
More commonly, waste refers to the materials that are disposed of in a system of waste
management.
Waste is directly linked to human development, both technologically and socially. The
composition of different wastes have varied over time and location, with industrial development
and innovation being directly linked to waste materials. Examples of this include plastics and
nuclear technology. Some components of waste have economical value and can be recycled once
correctly recovered.
Waste is sometimes a subjective concept, because items that some people discard may have
value to others. It is widely recognized that waste materials are a valuable resource, whilst there
is debate as to how this value is best realized.
There are many waste types defined by modern systems of waste management, notably
including:
Environmental costs
Waste can attract rodents and insects which cause gastrointestinal parasites, yellow fever,
worms, the plague and other conditions for humans. Exposure to hazardous wastes, particularly
when they are burned, can cause various other diseases including cancers. Waste can
contaminate surface water, groundwater, soil, and air which causes more problems for humans,
other species, and ecosystems.[10] Waste treatment and disposal produces significant green house
gas (GHG) emissions, notably methane, which are contributing significantly to global climate
change.[8]
Waste Management
Waste management involves both waste collection and recycling. Garbage is normally collected
from properties on alternate weeks. The waste collection tariff consists of a basic fee plus a
charge based on the weight of the rubbish collected on each occasion. The weighing of rubbish
has been introduced to encourage source-sorting and recycling. Waste that has been collected is
delivered to the Dåva CHP (combined heating and power) plant a few kilometres to the north of
Umeå, where it is incinerated and converted into district heating and electricity in one of the
most efficient installations in the world.
Waste is recycled via recycling centres, recycling stations and environmental stations.
N.B. These facilities are for households and not for companies or other commercial operations.
Composting
Composting garden and kitchen waste is a good way of reducing the weight of rubbish prior to
collection. Compost installations must be notified to the Environmental and Health Protection
unit. Contact the unit for further information, advice about composting procedures, etc.
Telephone: +46-(0)90-16 16 97
Recycling centres
Recycling centres are major facilities which accept virtually all types of waste, with the
exception of kitchen waste. There are six recycling centres in the Umeå municipality where
householders can dispose of heavy/bulky items or materials, garden waste, hazardous waste,
electrical scrap (old appliances, TVs, etc.), packaging and newspapers, free of charge.
The recycling centre closest to central Umeå is located at Gimonäs. Drive towards Holmsund,
take the first turn to the right after the Strömpilen roundabout and then follow the signposts.