Household waste

The term ‘household waste’ is not introduced by any act or any other standard. In practice, however, it is commonly used to label waste generated in households. Household waste includes usable components such as paper, metals, textile, plastics or glass and organic waste. Another important household waste component is that with hazardous properties, which must be handled with particular caution. Households generate also other types of waste which must be taken care of by the municipality, particularly bulky waste, used products subject to take-back, etc. In addition, the legislation determines which types of waste must be collected separately in municipalities. Waste sorting is not only sorting usable components, but also of all waste forming household waste. Residual municipal waste is the residue after sorting the above and it should only consist of unusable materials.

Types of household waste

Households generate a wide variety of waste, but the vast majority can be classified into one of these groups.