I.

Introduction

Solid Waste Disposal, disposal of normally solid or semisolid materials, resulting from human and animal activities, that are useless, unwanted, or hazardous. Solid wastes typically may be classified as follows:

Garbage: decomposable wastes from food

Rubbish: nondecomposable wastes, either combustible (such as paper, wood, and cloth) or noncombustible (such as metal, glass, and ceramics)

Ashes: residues of the combustion of solid fuels

Large wastes: demolition and construction debris and trees

Dead animals

Sewage-treatment solids: material retained on sewage-treatment screens, settled solids, and biomass sludge

Industrial wastes: such materials as chemicals, paints, and sand

Mining wastes: slag heaps and coal refuse piles

Agricultural wastes: farm animal manure and crop residues.