Waste

Waste and wastes are unwanted or unusable materials. Waste is any substance which is discarded after primary use, or it is worthless, defective and of no use.

The term is often subjective (because waste to one person is not necessarily waste to another) and sometimes objectively inaccurate (for example, to send scrap metals to a landfill is to inaccurately classify them as waste, because they are recyclable). Examples include municipal solid waste (household trash/refuse), hazardous waste, wastewater (such as sewage, which contains bodily wastes (feces and urine) and surface runoff), radioactive waste, and others.

Definitions

United Nations Environment Program

According to the Basel Convention,

United Nations Statistics Division, Glossary of Environment Statistics

European Union

Under the Waste Framework Directive, the European Union defines waste as "an object the holder discards, intends to discard or is required to discard."

Types

There are many waste types defined by modern systems of waste management, notably including:

Latest News for: Waste plastic recycle

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Recycling 101: Are you doing the right thing?

The Day 15 Feb 2025
The equipment sorts and separates plastics, glass, paper and metals put together in the curbside recycling bins of New London County residents ... Recycling keeps items out of the waste stream and creates jobs, but recycling isn’t simple or black and white ... Many grocery stores will recycle plastic grocery and produce bags....
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Rajeshwar highlights environmental concerns

The Times of India 15 Feb 2025
... on social media.He addressed India's annual food wastage of 58 million tons and plastic waste of 3.3 million tons, of which only 60% is recycled....
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Executive Order: Trump declares war on paper straws

Beijing News 15 Feb 2025
President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning federal agencies from using paper straws, declaring they "don't work" and pushing for a full return to plastic ... Meanwhile, global efforts to curb plastic waste continue. More than 100 nations are working on a treaty to limit plastic production and improve cleanup and recycling....
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Sci-Tech elementary students reduce waste, promote sustainability with new composting and recycling program

The Daily Democrat 14 Feb 2025
They sorted materials into recyclables (plastic bottles, milk cartons, and juice boxes), compostables (food scraps, food-soiled paper, and napkins), and landfill waste (plastic straws, wrappers, and utensils) and weighed each category ... Initial results show that around 70% of the school’s cafeteria waste can be recycled or composted....
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IISc breaks the plastic mould; finds new tech to recycle bottles

Deccan Herald 14 Feb 2025
A team at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has made a significant breakthrough in plastic recycling, potentially revolutionising how post-consumer plastic waste is ......
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The last (paper) straw? Central Mass. reacts to Trump's push for plastic

Metrowest Daily News 14 Feb 2025
Shrewsbury does restrict single-use plastic bags and polystyrene containers.Dump in the trash, not recycling bins ... "We do worry about plastic straws ending up in the waste stream, as litter, the potential to harm wildlife, and not part of the circle of reusing and recycling waste materials," said Odell....
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Clothing recycling is taking a giant leap forward

WPXI 14 Feb 2025
According to Circulose, no other company produces such material at scale from 100% textile waste using a closed-loop, chemical recycling process ... The production of textiles consumes huge amounts of water, cotton, wood, fertilizer, and petroleum-based plastics, and contributes to deforestation and agricultural waste....
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13 people arrested in Croatia for illegally disposing of hazardous waste, Europol says

Hindustan Times 14 Feb 2025
ZAGREB, CroatiaThirteen people suspected of illegally importing and disposing of hazardous waste have been arrested in Croatia, the European Union’s law enforcement agency said Friday ... The waste was declared as recyclable plastic waste but was “legally considered dangerous waste,” Europol said....
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UAE signs 3 agreements to drive sustainable development in Asia, Africa

The Gulf Time 14 Feb 2025
This partnership focuses on developing waste management infrastructure, recycling plastics, managing organic materials, capacity building, and reducing waste leakage into river systems and marine environments in Indonesia ... a transformative waste management project in Banyuwangi.”....
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I tested the best thermal swimsuits for wild swimming. Here are my favourites for beating ...

AOL 14 Feb 2025
79% recycled micro polyamide, 21% elastane made from recycled plastic waste ... It’s made from an ocean plastic waste recycled yarn that’s hard-wearing and durable in chlorine and saltwater ... 78% Econyl, a recycled material made from ocean plastics and nylon waste, 22% spandex; sizing....
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Waste Energy Corp Embarks on Mission to Divert, Convert & Eliminate Plastic Waste Through Clean ...

ACCESSWIRE 13 Feb 2025
The Fayetteville location will be able to divert and convert up to 30 tons of plastic waste per day ... Only around 5% of plastic waste in the US is recycled ... Globally, over 400 million tons of plastic waste are generated annually, with only 9% effectively recycled ... Specializing in the conversion of waste plastics and used tires into clean diesel fuel....
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Therma Marine and Nasipit LGU launch Reverse Vending Machine to boost plastic recycling

Sun Star 13 Feb 2025
TMI turned over a Garbage Reverse Vending Machine last January 28, 2025, aimed to encourage plastic recycling and incentivize responsible waste disposal. This first-of-its-kind project in the municipality addresses the challenges of solid waste management while introducing a more engaging and rewarding way for residents to recycle....
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Breathe Pakistan: A cleaner tomorrow, one step at a time

Dawn 13 Feb 2025
With an 80per cent recycling rate, the company ensures that glass bottles, aluminum cans, PET plastics, cardboard, metal scrap, yeast sludge, and paper don’t end up as waste ... Plastic bottles are shredded and transformed into reusable pellets, proving that waste isn’t really waste—it’s an opportunity....

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