Grundon glossary
As with any industry, the waste and recycling sector has its own set of commonly used terminology and jargon.
To help you feel confident and navigate any waste management responsibilities you may have, we’ve compiled a Grundon Glossary which contains a list of the most frequently used terms, with definitions.
The terminology and definitions below are common in the waste and recycling industry, however it’s worth noting that they may mean something slightly different in other contexts/industries.
Read on and let us translate the waste industry lingo!
A – B
Anaerobic Digestion (AD)
A biological process in which microorganisms break down organic matter – such as food waste – in the absence of oxygen. This process is an alternative way of treating food waste, which results in the production of renewable energy.
Asbestos
A material commonly found in buildings that can cause serious lung diseases, which is classed as hazardous waste.
Baler
Machinery that compacts waste into cubes of material.
Biodegradable Waste
A material that can be broken down by natural processes.
Bioplastic
Materials made from renewable resources like plants or other renewable materials. Bioplastics are often designed to be compostable, although most Anaerobic Digestion facilities cannot handle this material.
Bulky Waste
Large furniture and appliances that cannot be put in standard sizes waste collection bins.
C
Carbon Footprint
A measurement of all greenhouse gases an individual or business produces. The amount is measured in units of tonnes or carbon dioxide equivalent.
Chemical Waste
Waste that contains chemicals that can be harmful for the environment.
Circular Economy
The circular economy is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products for as long as possible. In this way, the life cycle of products is extended. In practice, it implies reducing waste to a minimum.
Clinical Waste
Waste generated by healthcare and laboratory facilities that could be harmful to health or environment.
Collection
When waste is loaded onto a waste collection vehicle and transported to a transfer facility.
Commercial Waste
Waste generated by businesses.
Compactor (mobile, static and solar)
A machine that compresses and reduces the volume of waste. It uses hydraulic or mechanical force to compact waste into a smaller, denser form, making it easier to handle, transport and dispose of.
Compostables
Organic waste that is regulated and tested to ensure it can safely decompose, producing nutrient-rich fertiliser.
Construction and Demolition Waste
Materials including concrete, wood, metal and brick.
Container
Used to hold, store or transport waste.
Contamination
Waste that diminishes the quality or hinders the recyclability of other materials.
D
Deposit Return Scheme
Rewards consumers for returning empty containers for recycling.
Disposable Waste
Items and packaging designed for single use.
Diversion Rate
The amount of waste materials diverted from landfill.
Drums
Waste containers that are used to safely segregate and transport hazardous waste.
Dry Mixed Recycling (DMR)
Dry recyclable material, such as plastic, paper, glass or cardboard, that are collected in the same container.
Duty of Care
Anyone who produces, imports, stores, transports, treats or disposes of waste must ensure that the waste is managed properly.
E
Energy from Waste (EfW)
The process of creating energy in the form of electricity or heat from incinerated waste materials.
Environment Agency (EA)
A UK non-departmental public body responsible for the protection and enhancement of the environment in England.
Environmental Protection Act
Deals with issues relating to waste on land, defining all aspects of waste management. The act places a duty on local authorities to collect waste.
European Waste Catalogue
Classifies waste into categories with specific codes for safe management and disposal.
Extended Producer Responsibility
A policy approach that makes producers responsible for managing their waste products.
F – G
Ferrous Metal
Metals containing iron such as steel or lead.
Fly-tipping
The illegal disposal of any waste onto land that does not have a licence to accept it, such as public highways, footpaths or private property.
Food waste
Waste generated by the production and consumption of food.
Front End Loader
A container used by businesses for bulky, light waste.
General Waste
Waste that cannot be recycled.
Green Energy
Energy produced from a non-polluting source such as wind turbines or solar panels.
Green Waste
Waste from gardens, such as leaves, grass or branches.
H – I
Hazardous Waste
Materials or substances that are harmful to humans or the environment.
HGV
Stands for Heavy Goods Vehicle.
High Density Polyethylene
A type of plastic often used to make packaging and containers.
Incineration
Thermal treatment of waste with or without the recovery of the combustion heat generated.
K – L
Kerbside Collection
A rubbish collection service for domestic households.
Landfill
Used for the disposal of unrecyclable waste where no other waste process can be utilised. Waste is buried in excavated pits, which are usually covered with soil once full.
Landfill Tax
An environmental tax paid on top of standard landfill rates, existing to encourage environmentally friendly waste treatment alternatives.
Litter
Rubbish that has been improperly discarded on the ground.
M – N
Material Recycling Facility / Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)
A facility that receives, separates and prepares recyclable materials.
Non Ferrous Metal
Metals that do not contain iron, such as copper.
O – P
Offensive Waste
Offensive waste’ is non-clinical waste that’s non-infectious and does not contain pharmaceutical or chemical substances, but may be unpleasant to anyone who comes into contact with it.
Organic Waste
Material that comes from a plant or animal.
Polyethylene Terephthalate
A plastic polymer commonly used for clothing and fizzy drink bottles.
Polylactic acid or polylactide (PLA)
A polyester made from renewable biomass, typically from fermented plant starch like corn, cassava, sugarcane or sugar beet pulp. This is often used in items such as food packaging and even some textiles.
Polymer
A substance or material consisting of very large molecules.
Polypropylene
A type of polymer commonly used for food containers.
R
Rear End Loader
A waste collection vehicle that collects rubbish by tipping the container over the rear of the vehicle.
Recovery
Extracting useful materials from waste.
Recyclables
Items that can be made into new products.
Recycling
The process of turning used materials into new products.
Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF)
A fuel produced from various types of domestic and business waste.
Residual Waste
Non-hazardous waste material from households or businesses that cannot be reused or recycled.
Reuse
Using a product or material again for its original purpose or repurposing it – rather than disposing of it.
Rolonof / Roll on Roll off
Also known as “roro”, a large vehicle that uses rollers to load and unload containers.
S – T
Scope 1,2&3 Emissions
Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions that are owned or controlled by a company, whereas scope 2 and 3 emissions are indirect emissions that are a consequence of the activities of the company but occur from sources not owned or controlled by it.
Sharps
Medical sharp devices used for a healthcare activity to puncture or lacerate the skin. These are classed as clinical waste and require specialised processing.
Skip
A large container used for the collection and transportation of waste.
Sustainability
Avoiding the unnecessary overuse of natural resources to protect our future and achieve ecological balance.
Transfer Station
A building used to deposit waste before loading it onto larger vehicles, which then transport it to the site of disposal or treatment.
W – Z
Waste Audit
Evaluates all aspects of a company’s waste management process from collection, sorting and treatment through to recycling, reprocessing and disposal. A tailored solution is created for the company to ensure all their obligations are met.
Waste Electrical and Electrical Equipment (WEEE)
Waste electricals such as televisions, computers and kitchen appliances. WEEE is classes as hazardous waste, and therefore requires specialist disposal.
Waste Hierarchy
A tool that is used to guide and rank waste management decisions. In order of priority, it exists to encourage the prevention of waste, re-using, recycling and other recovery and as a last resort, disposal.
Waste Safe
A lockable container designed to handle hazardous materials.
Waste Stream
The type of waste in question.
Waste Transfer Note (WTN)
A legal document that ensures waste is traced from production to disposal. It must be completed when waste is transferred from one party to another.
Wheelie Bin
A wheeled waste container.
Zero Emissions
When no harmful gases or pollutants are released into the atmosphere from a particular process.
Zero Waste
A strategy that aims to eliminate waste by reusing, recycling and reducing consumption.