Final answer:
Municipal solid waste includes everyday items discarded by the public, such as packaging materials, food scraps, and household items, but not industrial or medical wastes. Proper management of MSW is essential for environmental protection, with an emphasis on reducing, reusing, and recycling to lessen environmental impact.
Step-by-step explanation:
Municipal solid waste (MSW), often referred to as garbage or trash in the United States, and rubbish in Britain, encompasses everyday items discarded by the public. Typically, MSW does not include industrial, agricultural, medical waste, radioactive waste, or sewage sludge. The main components of MSW include biodegradable waste, recyclables, inert waste, electronic waste, composite wastes, and sometimes hazardous or toxic substances. The proper management of MSW is crucial for environmental protection, and strategies such as reducing, reusing, and recycling are vital to minimize landfill use and incinerator emissions, promoting a cleaner and safer environment.
The composition of municipal solid waste varies depending on the locality and its waste management practices. In areas with effective recycling systems, MSW primarily consists of non-recyclable packaging and other intractable materials. Over time, the makeup of MSW has shifted, with a noted decrease in coal ash and an increase in packaging wastes, food scraps, and disposable products. Waste collection and management are typically municipal responsibilities, with various treatment options such as incineration that, while producing energy from waste, require strict pollution controls due to potential air quality and ash disposal concerns.
Burning sawdust from lumber production to generate electricity is not considered municipal solid waste but rather a form of industrial waste repurposed for energy production, showcasing an innovative application of waste-to-energy technology.