Sunday, July 27, 2008

Solid Waste Storage

Solid waste is generated at every Federal facility in the forms of office trash (primarily paper and
cardboard), food waste, plant waste, and garbage. Some Federal facilities also generate medical waste in the form of infectious waste or pathological wastes. The process of renovating or constructing new facilities are also sources of large amount of solid waste.

Focus Areas
  • Construction and Demolition Waste Waste generated during the renovation, demolition, or construction of facilities. This includes wood, insulation, brick, metal reinforcement, dry wall, concrete, piping, asphalt, roofing, wall board, carpet, and steel beams.
  • Food Waste This encompasses leftover food (human or animal), waste grease from cooking.
  • Garbage/Trash The disposal of paper, cardboard, toner cartridges, waste packaging, plastics, aluminum cans, and glass containers is usually the largest source of solid waste at a federal facility.
  • Medical Waste This includes the handling, storage, and management of sharps, blood, pathological waste and infectious waste both for humans and animals.
  • Open Dumping The disposal of unwanted items, whether the dumping is done by Federal personnel or facility neighbors and visitors.
  • Plant Waste Grass clipping, branches, and other organic waste generated in the process of landscape maintenance.
  • Recycling The re-use of wastes in the development of new items.
  • Waste Tires The disposal of tires from vehicles such as automobiles, bulldozers, cranes, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, etc.