Encyclopedia of Environmental Science and Engineering, Volume I and II

MANAGEMENT OF SOLID WASTE 645

industrial operation or establishment with the exception of

dissolved or suspended solids in domestic or industrial waste

waters. The composition and quantity of industrial solid

wastes vary significantly from location to location, as well

TABLE 2

Composition of wastes from urban sources^6

Urban sources Waste Composition Disposal, present

Domestic Garbage Wastes from preparation, handling and sale of

food

Rubbish, trash Paper, wool, excelsior, rags, yard trimmings,

metals, dirt, glass, crockery, minerals Landfill

Ashes Residue from fuel and combustion of solid wastes Incineration

Bulky wastes Furniture, appliances, rubber tires Dumping

Commercial Garbage Same as domestic Landfill

Institutional Rubbish, trash Same as domestic Incineration

Ashes Same as domestic

Demolition wastes, urban

renewal, expressway

Lumber, pipes, brick masonry, asphaltic material

and other construction materials

Dumping

Landfill

Construction wastes Scrap lumber, pipe, concrete, other construction

materials

Dumping

Landfill

Open burning

Special wastes Hazardous solids and semiliquids, explosives,

pathological wastes, radioactive wastes

Burial, incineration

Special

Municipal streets, incinerators, sewage

treatment plants, septic tanks

Street refuse

Dead animals

Abandoned vehicles

Fly ash, incinerator

residue, boiler slag

Sewage treatment residue

Sweepings, dirt, leaves

Cats, dogs, horses, etc.

Unwanted cars and trucks

Boiler house cinders, metal scarps, shavings,

minerals

Solids and sludge

Fill

Bury or incinerate

Reclaim

Landfill or dump

Landfill

—

(^100020406080100)
300
500
700
900
1100
1300
DENSITY, LBS/CUBIC YARD
APPLIED LOAD, LBS./SQ. IN.
FIGURE 1 Refuse density. Household refuse, Chandler,
Ariz., 1954. Credit: APWA, Municipal Refuse Disposal; 1966.
as between industries and within a given industry. Table 5
lists the type of wastes to be expected from the various SIC
Industrial Groups. A large fraction of the wastes are generally
common to most industries and are listed on Table 6.
Data on the amounts of waste generated by or collected
from various industries is very limited. Industry, quite natu-
rally, has considered this type of data confidential in that it
often reveals significant process and economic information.
Average data, even if available, are of limited value because
wide variations can result from process differences, process
efficiencies and direct recycle, as shown in a study based on
detailed interviews. The results of this study giving total waste
by industry are summarized in Table 7. Industry waste pro-
duction on a unit per employee basis vary widely and are sum-
marized for large and small companies in Tables 8 and 9.
Increased efficiency as well as new uses for present indus-
trial waste streams will alter both the quantity and composition
of the material for disposal in the next decade. For example,
saw mill waste is being reprocessed into composition board
and this utilization could essentially eliminate this waste
stream. Only limited projections can and have been made and
these show only a reduction in saw mill wastes.^12 Conversely,
enforcement of air pollution statutes will increase the amount
of potential solid wastes significantly. Greater purification of
industrial wastewater will also affect the solid waste load.
Agricultural Wastes
Agricultural wastes are principally organic as indicated in
Table 10. The exceptions are chemicals used in various facets
of farming such as pesticides, containers, and small amounts
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