Avoidance
Eliminating the generation of waste at its source. Avoidance encourages the community to reduce the amount of waste it generates and to be more efficient in its use of raw materials.
[Source: NSW Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2003].

Alternative Waste Technology (AWT)
Alternative Waste Technology refers to waste treatment technologies that focus on diverting waste away from landfill, maximising the recovery of resources and minimising the impact on the environment. Typically AWTs treat waste by fermentation, gasification, percolation and a number of other methods, and are described as "alternative" because they offer a more sustainable solution to traditional methods such as landfill and incineration.

Biodiversity
"Biodiversity is the variety of life: the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, and the ecosystems of which they are a part.  Australia is one of the most diverse countries on the planet.  It is home to more than one million species of plants and animals, many of which are found nowhere else in the world." [Source: Department of the Environment and Water Resources]

Biological technologies
Biological technologies involve the degradation of organic wastes into products such as garden compost and soil improvers, or into biogas to be used as fuel.

Bioreactor landfill
Bioreactor landfills differ from conventional landfills in that leachate (the liquid that is produced as waste breaks down, or any water that comes into contact with the waste) is recirculated through the landfill to accelerate decomposition of the waste and the rate of gas production.

Compost
An organic product that has undergone controlled aerobic and thermophilic biological transformation to achieve pasteurisation and a specified level of maturity. Compost is suitable for the use as soil conditioner or mulch and can improve soil structure, water retention, aeration, erosion control and other soil properties.
[Source: NSW Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2003].

Conventional landfill
In a conventional landfill wastes are placed in the ground, compacted and then covered. A liner placed beneath the waste prevents liquid being released to groundwater. As the waste degrades, methane and carbon dioxide are released – the methane is captured and used to generate green electricity.

Ecologically Sustainable Development
Focuses on "using, conserving and enhancing the community's resources so that ecological processes, on which life depends, are maintained, and the total quality of life, now and in the future, can be increased'. Put more simply, ESD is development which aims to meet the need of Australians today, while conserving our ecosystems for the benefit of future generations.
[Source: Focusing on our Future (2001)].

Ecosystem
"An ecosystem is a natural unit consisting of all plants, animals and micro organisms in an area functioning together with all tthe non-living physical factors of the environment"
[Source: Wikipedia]

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Shared responsibility for the life cycle of products including the environmental impact of the product from the extraction of virgin materials, to manufacturing, to consumption and through to and including ultimate disposal and post-consumer consequences.
[Source: NSW Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2003].

Land rehabilitation
The process of restoring and stabilising an area of land/soil to a standard suitable for a given land use activity.
[Source: NSW Waste Boards (1999)].

Mechanical Biological Treatment
Describes any system that combines the mechanical sorting of waste with some kind of biological treatment. All mechanical biological systems remove the recyclables for recycling and divert bulky inert material to landfill – the remaining organic portion of the waste is treated biologically to make biogas, compost an other products.

Metal Ore
Metal ore is a rock with metal or other useful substances in it.  Aluminium comes from an ore called bauxite and iron comes from iron-ore.

MRF
Materials Recycling Facility.

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
The solid component of the waste stream arising form the household waste placed at the kerbside for council collection and waste collected by council from municipal parks and gardens, street sweepings, council engineering works and public council bins. Excluding hazardous, clinical and related wastes.
[Source: NSW Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2003].

Non-renewable resource
A material that can not be replenished or regrown within a reasonable timeframe, such as fossil fuels.

Putrescible waste
Component of the waste stream liable to become putrid. Putrescible waste usually breaks down in a landfill to create landfill gases and leachate. Note: Usually applies to food and animal product. Paper, cardboard, garden waste will also break down to create landfill gas and leachate.
[Source: NSW Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2003].

Renewable resource
A material that can be replenished or regrown within a reasonable timeframe, for example any organic matter that can be regenerated.
[Source: NSW Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2003].

Recyclable
Able to be processed and used as a raw material for the manufacture through a commercial process of wither the same product or another product.
[Source: NSW Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2003].

Resource Recovery
Converting waste into valuable resources such as fuel or fertiliser.
[Source: Focusing on our Future (2001)].

Re-use
Using a product again for the same or a different purpose without further manufacture, eg use of second had boxes for repacking goods or for storage of household goods.
[Source: NSW Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2003].

Source segregation
Separation of recyclable materials from other waste at the point and time the waste is generated (ie. at its source). This includes separation of recyclable material into its component categories (e.g. paper, glass, aluminium), and may include further separation within each category (e.g. paper into computer paper, office whites and newsprint).
[Source: EcoRecycle Victoria (1999)].

Sustainability
The goal to be achieved through ecologically sustainable development. It refers to the ability to continue an activity into the future or maintain a state of condition undiminished (or enhanced) over time. Sustainability involves integrated ecological, personal and social (including economic) goals and implies changes in behaviour and practices by individuals and organisation.
[Source: Learning for Sustainability (2002)].

Thermal technologies
Thermal technologies use heat to decompose the waste and provide a stable residue for disposal. Conventional incineration is still the most commonly used hermal process, however a number of new thermal technologies such as pyrolysis and gasification have been developed.