biodegradable plastics
	Plastics that can be decomposed by microorganisms.
bioremediation
	Use of biological organisms to remove or detoxify pollutants from a contaminated area.
brownfields
	Abandoned or underused urban areas in which redevelopment is blocked by liablilty or financing issues related to toxic contamination.
composting
	The biological degradation of organic material under aerobic (oxygen-rich) conditions to produce compost, a nutrient-rich soil amendment and conditioner.
energy recovery
	Incineration of solid waste to produce useful energy.
hazardous waste
	Any discarded material containing substances known to be toxic, mutagenic, carcinogenic, or teratogenic to humans or other life-forms; ignitable, corrosive, explosive, or highly reactive alone or with other materials.
landfills
	Land disposal sites for solid waste; operators compact refuse and cover it with a layer of dirt to minimize rodent and insect infestation, wind-blown debris, and leaching by rain.
mass burn
	Incineration of unsorted solid waste.
permanent retrievable storage
	Placing waste storage containers in a secure building, salt mine, or bedrock cavern where they can be inspected periodically and retrieved, if necessary, for repacking or for transfer if a better means of disposal or reuse is developed.
photodegradable plastics
	Plastics that break down when exposed to sunlight or to a specific wavelength of light.
recycling
	Reprocessing of discarded materials into new, useful products; not the same as reuse of materials for their original purpose, but the terms are often used interchangeably
refuse-derived fuel
	Processing of solid waste to remove metal, glass, and other unburnable materials; organic residue is shredded, formed into pellets, and dried to make fuel for power plants.
secure landfill
	A solid waste disposal site lined and capped with an impermeable barrier to prevent leakage or leaching. Drain tiles, sampling wells, and vent systems provide monitoring and pollution control.
superfund
	A fund established by Congress to pay for containment, cleanup, or remediation of abandoned toxic waste sites. The fund is financed by fees paid by toxic waste generators and by cost-recovery from cleanup projects.
waste stream
	The steady flow of varied wastes, from domestic garbage and yard wastes to industrial, commercial, and construction refuse.

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