| Aerobic In the presence of or requiring oxygen. |
| Aerobic Digestion/ Composting Biological decomposition of organic materials by micro-organisms under controlled, aerobic, conditions to a relatively stable humus-like material called compost. |
| Anaerobic In the absence of oxygen. |
| Anaerobic digestion A process where biodegradable materials are broken down in the absence of oxygen. Material is placed in an enclosed vessel and in controlled conditions the waste breaks down, typically into a digestate, liquor and biogas. |
| Animal by-product regulation (ABPR) Legislation governing the processing of wastes derived from animal sources. |
| Bio aerosols Fungal spores, bacteria and dust water droplets in the working environment. |
| Biodegradable Capable of being biologically decomposed. |
| Biodegradable Municipal Waste (BMW) The component of Municipal Solid Waste capable of being biologically degraded. Biodegradable Municipal Waste includes paper and card, food and garden waste, and a proportion of other wastes, such as textiles. |
| Biogas Gas resulting from the fermentation of waste in the absence of air (comprising mainly methane/carbon dioxide) |
| Bund Barrier to prevent water or noise leaving a site. |
| Bulk density Weight or mass per unit of volume of a material comprised of many individual particles. |
| Catering waste - All waste food, including meat, originating in restaurants, catering facilities and kitchens, including central kitchens and household kitchens. |
| Catering waste - meat excluded Catering waste collected in bins marked Catering waste meat excluded. |
| CDM Construction and design management regulations. Series of instructions for a building or plant to ensure that it can be build without risking the safety or health of construction staff. |
| Civil Amenity (CA) Site A facility where the public can dispose of household waste. Civil Amenity sites often have recycling points. |
| Co-Mingled Different recyclable materials collected in the same container. |
| Compost A stable and pasteurised material, high in organic matter that is the product of an aerobic composting process. Compost is suitable for the use as soil conditioner or mulch and can improve soil structure, water retention, aeration, erosion control, and other soil properties. |
| Compostable Capable of being broken down by soil microbes. |
| Compost-like output (CLO) a soil-forming material derived from the composting of mixed waste. |
| Contraries Unwanted materials in a waste stream. |
| Feedstock Raw material required for a process. |
| Greenhouse gas A term given to those gas compounds in the atmosphere that reflect heat back toward earth rather than letting it escape freely into space. These include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), ozone, water vapour and some of the chlorofluorocarbons. Greenhouse gases are a cause of global warming. |
| Green waste Vegetation and plant matter from household gardens, local authority parks and gardens and commercial landscaped gardens. |
| Global warming the progressive gradual rise of the earth's surface temperature thought to be caused by the greenhouse effect and responsible for the changes in global climate patterns. An increase in the near surface temperature of the Earth. Global warming has occurred in the distant past as a result of natural influences, but the term is most often used to refer to the warming predicted to occur as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases. |
| Inert Innocuous, undamaging, non-toxic. Something that is not detrimental to health or the environment. |
| In-vessel Composting (IVC) The aerobic decomposition of shredded and mixed organic waste within and enclosed container, where the control systems for material degradation are fully automated. Moisture, temperature, and odour can be regulated, and a stable compost can be produced much more quickly than outdoor windrow composting. |
| Kerbside collection Any regular collection of recyclables or waste from premises, including collections from commercial and industrial premises as well as households. |
| Kitchen waste - As catering waste. |
| Landfill - Solid or liquid material disposed of by burial in the ground. |
| Landfill site - A waste facility used for the purpose of disposing waste to land. |
| Leachate - The liquid that results when water comes in contact with solids and extracts material either in dissolved or suspended form from the solid, (e.g.. from rain percolating through compost windrows). |
| Liquor - Concentrated liquid, produced as a result of the decomposition of organic waste. If from a landfill site, it is referred to as leachate. |
| Materials Recycling Facility/Material Recovery Facility (MRF) Dedicated facility for the sorting/separation of recyclable materials. |
| Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) A generic term for mechanical sorting/separation technologies used in conjunction with biological treatment processes, such as composting. |
| Moisture content The fraction or percentage of a substrate comprised of water. |
| Mulches/Soil Conditioners Any substance spread or allowed to remain on the soil surface to conserve soil moisture and shield soil particles from the erosive forces of raindrops and runoff. May be used to add texture/structural properties to the soil. |
| Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Household waste and any other wastes collected by the Waste Collection Authority, or its agents. |
| Non-compostable Material which will not degrade to compost (e.g. cans, plastic, glass, stones). |
| Organic Matter Chemical substances of animal or vegetable origin, consisting of hydrocarbons and their derivatives. |
| PAS100 The industry standard specification for compost produced from source-separated waste. |
| Pasteurisation The process whereby organic materials are treated to kill plant and animal pathogens and weed propagules. |
| RCV Refuse collection vehicle. |
| Recyclate/Recyclable materials Post-use materials that can be recycled for the original purpose, or for the different purposes. |
| Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) A fuel produced from combustible waste that can be stored and transported or used directly on site to produce heat and/or power. |
| Sharps Hypodermic needles. |
| Source-segregated/Source-separated - Usually applies to household waste collection systems where recyclable and/or organic fractions of the waste stream are separated by the householder and are collected separately. |
| SOP Standard Operating Procedure. |
| Sustainable Development Development which is sustainable is that which can meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. |
| SVS State Veterinary Services. |
| Tender Document prepared by bidding contractors specifying what their plant will do and what it will cost. |
| Waste Collection Authority (WCA) District Council or Metropolitan/ Unitary Authority with responsibility for waste collection from each household in its area. |
| Waste Disposal Authority (WDA) County Council or Metropolitan/ Unitary Authority with responsibility for safe disposal of all waste arising in a particular geographical area. |
| Windrow composting The aerobic decomposition of appropriate shredded biodegradable waste using open linear heaps known as windrows'. The process involves mechanical turning of the waste until the desired temperature and residence times are achieved to enable effective degradation. Windrow composting can take place outdoors or within buildings. |