Solid Waste
- types and amount of solid waste that are actually recycled, reused, illegally dumped or that go to landfill, compared with waste reduction targets
Indicator description
Solid waste includes household and commercial waste that rots over time (called putrescible waste), inert household and commercial waste that does not rot, builders' spoil and clean fill generated during construction, commercial waste from food processing and distribution, office generated waste, industrial waste from manufacturing processes and waste from research activities.
The amount of urban waste generated and disposed of (either legally or illegally dumped) indicates the pressure of cities and the associated waste on the environment through potential contamination of soils and groundwaters, and the physical area of land used for waste disposal. It is one indicator of the sustainability of cities.
The amount of waste generated should be compared with progress towards the aims of:
- zero waste by 2010 for the ACT
- 60% reductions in waste by 2000 for the NSW Local Government Authorities.
Other types of waste include liquid waste, such as sewage and stormwater; gaseous wastes such as greenhouse gases, and hazardous wastes. Reducing the amount of waste generated by "reducing, recycling and re-using" is one strategy for reducing this pressure on the environment. An even better strategy is to avoid producing waste in the first place, i.e. at the time of manufacture.
