Waste Treatment Technologies — Definition

Definition

Waste treatment technologies process discarded material to recover useful outputs, reduce hazards and manage residues. Their suitability depends on the waste's composition, moisture, quantity and contamination, together with local land, operating capacity and product markets.

Aerobic composting, anaerobic digestion and thermal treatment use different mechanisms and produce different outputs. Collection is not the same as successful recovery, and a treatment plant does not eliminate the need to handle rejects.

A sound system begins with prevention and segregation and follows each material stream through processing to its final use or disposal.