Waste - Source, Meaning, Types, Classification, FAQs

Waste - Source, Meaning, Types, Classification, FAQs

Team Careers360Updated on 02 Jul 2025, 04:52 PM IST

Wastes in singular form we can denote it by waste and they are the unusable or unwanted materials present in our surroundings. Wastes are any substances that had been discarded after its primary use, the substance had become worthless, defective and can not be used more. A by-product is explained as a integrated product with relatively minor or very less economic value. A waste product can be able to become a by-product, or the resource by invention that will raises a waste product's value above zero. Examples of wastes are = waste water like sewage wate, hazardous wastes from industries, human excreta (like urine and feces), some industries also produces radioactive wastes, municipal wastes like household trash or refuges.

This Story also Contains

  1. Q- Waste Meaning?
  2. Q -What is waste?
  3. Q- Solid waste disposable meaning ?
  4. Q- How much these wastes costs?

Q- Waste Meaning?

What is the constitutent of waste only depends on the eye of observer; waste according to one person can be a resource for many another person. As generally wastes are physical object present in nature, so its generation is also a physical or psychological process. In the countries like United States, peoples who are working with waste, professionally use four terms – i.e.. trash, refuse, garbage and the last one is rubbish; general concept to differentiate these four terms are that trash is dry , garbage is wet in state, refuse are both wet and dry, and rubbish is the additive product of refuse, construction and demolition debris.

Also read -

Q- Source of Wastes?

There are many types of wastes i e.defined by modern systems of waste management and notably and these includes:

  • Municipal waste comprising commercial waste, also contains household waste, and demolition waste are also comes under municipal waste.

  • Hazardous wastes that includes wastes from factories and industrial waste

  • Biomedical waste that includes generally clinical wastes.

  • Special hazardous waste that includes radioactive waste, electronic wastes that is also known as e-waste, and explosive waste.

  • waste water like sewage wate, hazardous wastes from industries, human excreta (like urine and feces), some industries also produces radioactive wastes, municipal wastes like household trash or refuges.

NEET Highest Scoring Chapters & Topics
This ebook serves as a valuable study guide for NEET exams, specifically designed to assist students in light of recent changes and the removal of certain topics from the NEET exam.
Download EBook

These are the sources of waste.

Q -What is waste?

Wastes are any substances that had been discarded after its primary use, the substance had become worthless, defective and can not be used more. A by-product is explained as a integrated product with relatively minor or very less economic value.

Domestic Waste

Household Waste is also known to be domestic Waste or residential waste and this wastes contains disposable materials generated by households. This waste can also be categorised as non-Hazardous Waste and hazardous waste. Non-hazardous waste will includes paper, bottles, etc. And they can be recycled or composted with the help of proper method. And the hazardous waste includes batteries and household cleaners. It is important to notice that hazardous wastes must be handled in a safe manner so that they are disposed properly and does not causes any harm.

Also Read:

Classification of Waste

There are many types of wastes i e.defined by modern systems of waste management and notably and these includes:

  • Municipal waste comprising commercial waste, also contains household waste, and demolition waste are also comes under municipal waste.

  • Hazardous wastes that includes wastes from factories and industrial waste

  • Biomedical waste that includes generally clinical wastes.

  • Special hazardous waste that includes radioactive waste, electronic wastes that is also known as e-waste, and explosive waste.

  • waste water like sewage wate, hazardous wastes from industries, human excreta (like urine and feces), some industries also produces radioactive wastes, municipal wastes like household trash or refuges.

Q- Solid waste disposable meaning ?

Movement of waste substances, and although many of the waste that flows between countries travels between developed nations, a very significant amount of waste is transported from developed to the developing nations. Solid waste disposal management generally referred as the process of collecting and treating solid wastes with the help of proper chemicals and through appropriate method. It helps in providing solutions for the recycling of items that do not belong to garbage and trash. Solid waste management can be described that how a solid waste will be converted to useful product and can be used as a valuable resource.

Q- How much these wastes costs?

Environmental Costs

Unmanaged waste will attract rodents and insects, which then causes any diseases and also harbours gastrointestinal parasites, the plague, many worms, yellow fever and other unfavourable conditions for humans, and also due to exposure to hazardous wastes, particularly the wastes when they are burned, can be able to cause many other diseases like cancers. Toxic waste materials from many industries, factories will contaminate surface water, soil, groundwater, and also the moat important component i.e.

Air which causes many more problems not only for humans, but also for other species, and at last effects ecosystems. Suring the process of waste treatment and disposal it allows many significant green house gas (GHG) emissions, most commonly methane, and its contribution to global warming is very significant. And when global warming and co2 emission will increase, then soil starts to become a larger carbon sink and this led to increasingly volatile for plant life.

Social Costs

Waste management is also a very significant environmental justice issue. Many of the environmental burdens that are cited above, more often borne by marginalized groups, like racial minorities, residents of developing nations and women. NIMBY which stands for “not in my back yard” is the opposition of residents, through a proposal for a new development because it is close to them.

Although, the need for siting of waste treatment, expansion and disposal facilities are rapidly increasing worldwide. In the present time there is a growing market in the movement of waste substances, and although many of the waste that flows between countries travels between developed nations, a very significant amount of waste is transported from developed to the developing nations.

Economic Costs

The economic costs for managing waste are very high and are generally paid by municipal governments, money can often be saved for managing waste through more efficiently designed collection routes, by providing the education to public and modifying vehicles. Environmental policies like pay as you throw can be able to reduce the management cost and also reduces waste quantities.

Waste recovery that means reuse and recycling of wastes can decline economic costs because it avoids extracting raw materials and often does not needs any transportation so it also reduces transportation costs. "Economic assessment in municipal waste management systems that means a case studies using a combination of life-cycle assessment and also includes life-cycle costing ". One of the major demerit for waste management is that the location where waste treatment and disposal facilities are done often reduces property values due to unsightliness, noise, pollution, dust, and also due to negative stigma.

In the informal waste sector consists mainly waste pickers who scavenge for plastic, metals, textiles, glasses, and other materials and then sell them to earn some profit. This sector can be able to significantly alter or reduce waste in any particular system, but there are other negative economic effects that comes with the disease, exploitation, poverty, and very problematic is the abuse of its workers.

Also check-

NCERT Chemistry Notes:

Questions related to

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to ?

Hello,
If you mistakenly entered your serial number instead of your admission number during JEE Mains registration, you do not need to worry. NTA mainly verifies your identity through your name, date of birth, school details, photographs, and other documents. The admission number is not used for eligibility verification, so this mistake usually does not cause any issue.
If the correction window opens and allows editing of personal details, you can correct it. If the field is non-editable, you can leave it as it is because it will not affect your exam, admit card, or result. Just make sure all other details are correct.
Hope this helps you.

If you completed Intermediate 1st year in 2023-24 and then discontinued, but now want to restart your studies and join your classmates who are currently in Degree 1st year, it’s important to understand the actual rules before deciding.

Joining BRAOU (Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University) through the ET exam and then shifting to an autonomous degree college later may not work the way you are expecting . Here’s why:

  1. If you join BRAOU for Degree 1st year through ET , you will be enrolled in an open university degree , not a regular college degree.

  2. Open university degree admissions are not transferable to regular autonomous/affiliated colleges in the middle of the course.

  3. Even if you complete 1st year in BRAOU, most regular colleges will not allow migration into 2nd year , because course structure, syllabus, and examination pattern are different.

  4. Therefore, joining BRAOU just to save 1 year and then shifting to an autonomous college later is not practically possible .

If your goal is to study with your classmates in a regular degree college , the best option is:
Rejoin the education system directly in a regular degree college from 1st year .

Even though you will lose one year compared to your friends, you will get:
• A regular degree
• Better academic value for jobs and competitive exams
• No transfer or migration issues later

If saving time is your priority and you are okay with distance mode:
• You can continue fully in BRAOU and complete the degree in open learning mode.

So the decision depends on what you want:
Regular college life → take admission in regular degree 1st year
Fast track/open learning → choose BRAOU and complete the full degree there

Think long term before deciding, not just based on classmates. Choose the path that supports your future goals. All the best.

It’s frustrating to face such a situation. Delhi Metropolitan College is affiliated with IP University, and while the faculty may be good, lack of genuine placement support and fake promises during admission are serious concerns.

For honest reviews and details:
Delhi Metropolitan College Overview – Careers360

Hello Neha

Going for a MBA from a regular recognized college which is not a Top B-school is one's own choice made upon his/her career goals and future aspirations.

Honestly speaking, there is very less scope of a good placement after B.Com (//B.Com) (exceptions of top college like Shaheed Sukhdev). If you wish to enter the corporate world, you will either need to go for a MBA or have to hone your skills up to a certain level which is required.

Moreover, you can prepare for CAT and if all goes well, join institutes like FMS who have their average fees of 3 Lakh for the whole 2 year MBA while giving a great package of 30 LPA.

The choice is yours. Thank You!!!

1, This college provide good placement support and academic structure

2, The infrastructure faculty and lab support are better than many private colleges

3, It is approved and recognised by government or university and follows standard syllabus

4, Students get good exposure and skill based learning here

5, Return on investment is high compared to other colleges with same fees

6, Many colleges charge high fees without quality but this college balance between quality and cost

7, Hostel and other facilities are also maintained better than average colleges

8, Peer group and alumni support is strong and helpful in future growth

9, Focus is on academics discipline and career guidance more than on show and marketing