Municipal Solid Waste
Municipal solid waste (MSW) is also known as urban solid waste. It originates mostly from households. It is fairly obvious that MSW could consist of a wide range of different materials!
In the UK, most recyclable materials (paper, glass, plastics, tins etc.) are collected separately so the amount of these materials in the MSW should be minimal.
Some local authorities also collect biodegradable waste, which includes garden waste and food waste.
MSW can also potentially include commercial waste which complicates the handling of the waste because potentially hazardous industrial waste complicates the disposal or reprocessing of the material.
Example of a pile of municiple solid waste
User: Alex Marshall 2004, Clarke Energy Ltd
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