Environmental Terms

Advanced Resource Recovery Techology (sometimes refered to as advanced waste treatment/technology - AWT) refers to waste treatment technologies that focus on diverting waste away from landfill, maximising the recovery of resources and minimising the impact on the environment. Typically AWTs treat waste by fermentation, gasification, percolation and a number of other methods, and are described as "alternative" because they offer a more sustainable solution to traditional methods such as landfill and incineration.

Advanced Resource Recovery Facility

Eliminating the generation of waste at its source. Avoidance encourages the community to reduce the amount of waste it generates and to be more efficient in its use of raw materials.

Alternative Waste Technology (refer to ARRT).

Biodiversity is the variety of life: the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, and the ecosystems of which they are a part.  Australia is one of the most diverse countries on the planet.  It is home to more than one million species of plants and animals, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. [Source: Department of the Environment and Water Resources]

Organic waste processing technique using composting or methanisation techniques

Biological technologies involve the degradation of organic wastes into products such as garden compost and soil improvers, or into biogas to be used as fuel.

Bioreactor landfills differ from conventional landfills in that leachate (the liquid that is produced as waste breaks down, or any water that comes into contact with the waste) is recirculated through the landfill to accelerate decomposition of the waste and the rate of gas production.

Often confused with a landfill. A guarded, fenced-off area where local residents can dispose of and sort their recoverable, hazardous or bulky waste.

An organic product that has undergone controlled aerobic and thermophilic biological transformation to achieve pasteurisation and a specified level of maturity. 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.

Transformation by micro-organisms (microscopic fungi, bacteria...)or organic waste to a humus-like product in the presence of water and oxygen.

In a conventional landfill wastes are placed in the ground, compacted and then covered. A liner placed beneath the waste prevents liquid being released to groundwater. As the waste degrades, methane and carbon dioxide are released – the methane is captured and used to generate green electricity.

Focuses on "using, conserving and enhancing the community's resources so that ecological processes, on which life depends, are maintained, and the total quality of life, now and in the future, can be increased'. Put more simply, ESD is development which aims to meet the need of Australians today, while conserving our ecosystems for the benefit of future generations.

"An ecosystem is a natural unit consisting of all plants, animals and micro organisms in an area functioning together with all tthe non-living physical factors of the environment"

[Source: Wikipedia]

Recovery of calories contained in incinerated waste, allowing thermal or electrical energy to be generated.

Shared responsibility for the life cycle of products including the environmental impact of the product from the extraction of virgin materials, to manufacturing, to consumption and through to and including ultimate disposal and post-consumer consequences.

Residues from domestic waste incineration fume cleansing

A natural system of trapping the Earth's heat. Solar rays, which penetrate the atmosphere to reach the Earth’s surface, are then partly re-radiated by this surface. Certain gases present in the atmosphere absorb these ascending rays and reflect them back to the surface as heat, which allows the Earth to be at a temperature of 15°C. Human activity contributes to the increase in content of these gases (carbon dioxide CO2, methane CH4 and chlorofluorocarbons CFCs) in the atmosphere, which in turn, raises the Earth's temperature.

Waste which unlikely to evolve physically or chemically (non toxic, non biodegradable, very low solubility in water, non oxidizable), for example, backfill, rubble, etc.

The process of restoring and stabilising an area of land/soil to a standard suitable for a given land use activity.

Water loaded in organic or mineral pollutants following contact with landfilled (or composted) waste.

Waste processing technique, deploying source-separation methods (both manual and automatic) which extract valuable items from waste to then be recycled or reused.

Describes any system that combines the mechanical sorting of waste with some kind of biological treatment. All mechanical biological systems remove the recyclables for recycling and divert bulky inert material to landfill – the remaining organic portion of the waste is treated biologically to make biogas, compost an other products.

Medical waste

Metal ore is a rock with metal or other useful substances in it.  Aluminium comes from an ore called bauxite and iron comes from iron-ore.

Materials Recycling Facility.

Municipal Solid Waste.
The solid component of the waste stream arising form the household waste placed at the kerbside for council collection and waste collected by council from municipal parks and gardens, street sweepings, council engineering works and public council bins. Excluding hazardous, clinical and related wastes.

Component of the waste stream liable to become putrid. Putrescible waste usually breaks down in a landfill to create landfill gases and leachate. Usually applies to food and animal products. Paper, cardboard, garden waste will also break down to create landfill gas and leachate.

A material that can not be replenished or regrown within a reasonable timeframe, such as fossil fuels.

Component of the waste stream liable to become putrid. Putrescible waste usually breaks down in a landfill to create landfill gases and leachate. Note: Usually applies to food and animal product. Paper, cardboard, garden waste will also break down to create landfill gas and leachate.

Generic term encompassing the reemployment, reuse, recycling or regeneration of waste.

A material that can be replenished or regrown within a reasonable timeframe, for example any organic matter that can be regenerated.

Converting waste into valuable resources such as fuel or fertiliser.

Separation of recyclable materials from other waste at the point and time the waste is generated (ie. at its source). This includes separation of recyclable material into its component categories (e.g. paper, glass, aluminium), and may include further separation within each category (e.g. paper into computer paper, office whites and newsprint).

Any collection which separates certain types of waste at the point of collection (for example, packaging, glass, paper…), with a view of recovering them.

The goal to be achieved through ecologically sustainable development. It refers to the ability to continue an activity into the future or maintain a state of condition undiminished (or enhanced) over time. Sustainability involves integrated ecological, personal and social (including economic) goals and implies changes in behaviour and practices by individuals and organisation.

Thermal technologies use heat to decompose the waste and provide a stable residue for disposal. Conventional incineration is still the most commonly used hermal process, however a number of new thermal technologies such as pyrolysis and gasification have been developed.

A landfill that receives all types of waste in conditions, which do not respect the rules in force for, controlled landfills.
 

The space that still remains to be filled by waste in a landfill.