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What is Waste?

Waste is anything we discard because it is no longer needed or wanted. It is generated across households, businesses, institutions, markets and public spaces, and can include everything from food and garden waste to packaging, textiles, construction debris and discarded electronics.

More Than Just Discarded Material

But waste is not simply a material that has reached the end of its life. What is considered waste, and what happens to it next, depends on how it is handled. A material that is discarded as mixed waste may lose its potential for reuse, recycling or recovery, while the same material, when segregated and collected separately, may have further value.

The First Step Towards Better Systems

Understanding what waste is, where it comes from and how different materials behave after disposal is the first step towards building better waste management systems.