Glossary
Please use the links below to jump down to the correct letter.
B C D E G H J L O R S W
B
Biodegradeable
Material able to decay naturally and harmlessley.
Blue bin
The kerbside container used throughout the East Riding to collect recyclable materials from househlders.
Best Practicable Enviromental Option (BPEO)
The outcome of a systematic and consultative decision-making procedure which emphasises the protection and conservation across land, air and water.
C
Combustion
The process of burning. For example, fossil fuels like oil, coal and natural gas.
Commercial waste
Waste materials produced by businesses and industry.
Compost
Decaying plant material which is added to earth to improve its fertility and structural quality.
Contamination
Spoil the purity of something or make it poisonous.
D
Disposable
An item, or items intended to be thrown away after use such as nappies.
E
Energy
The power from something such as electricity or oil, which can do work such as providing light and heat. Household waste that cannot be recycled at the moment, can also be used to generate heat energy used to produce electricity.
Environment
The air, water and land in or on which people, animals and plants live.
G
Government targets
Local authorities are set stringent targets by central government to reduce the overall volume of biodegradeable waste sent to landfill. These take the form of regulations, taxes and allowances.
H
Household waste
Refuse from household collection rounds, waste from street sweepings, public litter bins, bulky items collected from households and wastes which householders themselves take to household waste recycling sites and bring sites.
J
Junk mail
Post, usually advertising products or services, which is sent to people although they have not asked for it.
L
Landfill
Getting rid of large amounts of rubbish by burying it, or a place where rubbish is buried (landfill site).
O
Organic waste
Coming, or derived from living plants and animals.
R
Recycle
To collect and treat rubbish to produce useful materials which can be used again, sometimes as completely different products.
Reuse
Top use something again, either for the same or different purpose.
Resources
Things such as minerals, forests, coal, etc. which exist in a place and can be used by people and the wider society.
S
Sustainable
Causing little or no damage to the environment and therefore able to continue for a long time.
W
Waste hierarchy
A theoretical framework which acts as a guide to the waste management options which should be considered when assessing Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO)
