Trash

Trash is non-hazardous discarded solid waste produced by households, businesses, and institutions. It is a major subset of municipal solid waste (MSW) and typically includes packaging, paper, textiles, plastics, metals, and glass, as well as organic scraps. Hazardous items such as batteries, paints, and certain electronics are usually excluded from standard trash streams and require specialized handling.

Trash is generated by households, commercial establishments, and institutions through everyday activities such as shopping, cooking, and manufacturing. The composition varies by region and income level but commonly includes organics (food waste, yard waste), plastics, paper, metal, glass, and textiles. Electronics waste (e-waste) and other special streams are growing and require separate collection.

Waste management aims to reduce the volume and environmental impact of trash through a hierarchy: reduce, reuse, recycle, energy recovery, and disposal. Collection and sorting infrastructure separate recyclables from residual waste; recycling and composting are common options for curbside programs. Incineration or anaerobic digestion may recover energy; landfilling is used where other options are impractical.

Environmental and health concerns include methane emissions from landfills, leachate contamination of groundwater, litter, and emissions from waste burning. Inadequate waste handling can affect air quality, water resources, and biodiversity. Proper management reduces pollution and conserves resources by recovering materials.

Policy frameworks coordinate collection, processing, and disposal. Standards, licensing, and reporting aim to reduce illegal dumping and encourage recycling and extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs. Waste management challenges vary by country; developing regions often rely on informal sectors and face limited infrastructure, while developed regions focus on reducing waste generation and increasing recycling rates.