Disposal

Disposal refers to the act of discarding, removing, or otherwise getting rid of something that is no longer needed or desired. The term is used in several contexts, most commonly in waste management and asset management, but it can also apply to legal dispositions of property or regulated hazardous materials. In waste management, disposal denotes the final handling of materials after they are no longer usable. Effective disposal aims to protect public health and the environment and is guided by regulations that classify waste, require safe handling, and control transport.

Common disposal methods include landfilling, incineration, recycling, composting, and energy recovery. Landfills store waste in engineered facilities designed to minimize leachate and gas emissions. Incineration reduces volume and can recover energy, but emissions and residues require treatment. Recycling and composting recover usable materials and reduce demand for virgin resources. Hazardous waste requires specialized treatment and containment; management typically involves strict labeling, tracking, and treatment at permitted facilities.

In asset management or corporate practice, disposal means selling, donating, recycling, demolishing, or destroying a decommissioned asset. Procedures include valuation, regulatory compliance, and records handling. The term also appears in legal contexts as disposition of property.

Overall, disposal is a component of broader waste management and sustainability efforts, closely tied to the concepts of reduction, reuse, and recycling within a circular economy.