Trash Can Receptacles' Glossary of Terms

3 Rs -- The three ways to minimize the amount of trash thrown away: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Bin -- A large collection container for trash or recyclables typically used by restaurants, apartment buildings or offices. Commonly referred to as a Dumpster, it comes in various sizes.

Compost -- A soil amendment, or fertilizer, made from the decomposition of organic matter such as yard waste and food scraps. Many people make compost from such wastes in their own backyard, and then use it to help their gardens or lawn grow nicely.

Composting -- Recycling organic matter, such as yard waste and some food scraps, into compost. Usually composting requires the right mix of materials added together in a pile, kept moist with water and turned periodically until the material decomposes and becomes compost.

Decomposition -- To break down into natural elements; decay. For instance, a banana peel thrown on the ground will look different a couple weeks later because it's decomposing into small parts and going back into the earth.

Diversion -- The act of keeping materials out of landfills through waste reduction, recycling, reuse, composting or incineration at a waste-to-energy facility.

Dual stream recycling -- A recycling process in which cans and bottles (one stream) are collected separately from paper products (the other stream). Compare with single stream recycling explained below.

Dump -- An unregulated place where trash is dumped, and the surrounding environment is not protected or monitored. Dumps used to be common, but are now illegal in the United States.

E-waste -- Electronic waste, such as televisions, computers, computer monitors, cell phones, PDAs or stereos. E-waste cannot be discarded through the trash, but rather must be disposed of like household hazardous waste or at a special e-waste recycling center. Before disposing of e-waste, consider donating it or selling it to be reused - many electronic parts can be put to use in other products.

Household hazardous waste (HHW) -- Something in your home that could be dangerous that you no longer want. HHW is usually some type of chemical that may be toxic (poisonous), corrosive (can eat through skin or material), reactive (can cause a fire or a harmful gas to be produced if mixed with oxygen or another chemical) or an irritant (can cause soreness or swelling of your skin, eyes or internal organs). Examples include paint, pesticides, antifreeze, bleach, etc. HHW should never be thrown away in the trash because it can contaminate the environment.

Landfill -- The specially engineered disposal site where trash is taken and buried. Landfills are strictly regulated and monitored. Landfills usually have liner systems and other safeguards to prevent groundwater contamination.

Leachate -- A combination of chemicals and water, or a fancy word for "polluted water." Leachate occurs when chemicals in buried trash leak down into the groundwater.

Leachate collection system -- An underground system of pipes used to collect leachate and make sure it doesn't get into the groundwater. Although the Larimer County Landfill doesn't have a leachate collection system like newer landfills do, the groundwater there is tested for contamination on a regular basis. When leachate is found, it's pumped out and treated to make sure it doesn’t affect others.

Liner -- Just like the trash bag you might have in your kitchen trashcan, a landfill’s liner keeps trash from leaking, in this case into the groundwater below. But the Larimer County Landfill was built in 1963 before liners were required, so it doesn’t have a man-made liner. We got lucky, though — our landfill was built on a layer of dense bedrock called Pierre shale that acts like a natural liner.

Methane gas -- A potentially harmful gas released from landfills as trash decomposes. At the Larimer County Landfill, vents placed around the landfill allow methane and other gases to escape into the atmosphere. If gases had no way to escape, they could cause underground fires or explosions. Methane gas is considered a greenhouse gas, one that collects in the earth's atmosphere and traps heat within the atmosphere.

MRF (pronounced "murf") -- Materials Recovery Facility; a place where recyclables are sorted, processed and shipped out to be made into new materials. Commonly known as a recycling center.

Recycle -- To make something new out of something old by changing its chemical or physical properties; the third and least important of the "3 Rs," because although recycling is good, it still requires energy and creates some pollution to make new items.

Reduce -- To create less trash in the first place; the first and most important of the "3 Rs." Buying less and using fewer materials in your daily life are ways to reduce.

Reuse -- To use something over and over again; the second most important of the "3 Rs." Reusing is something you can do in your own home or town. Examples include using an old yogurt container to store pennies in or donating old clothes to charity.

Single stream recycling -- A recycling process in which materials are collected all mixed together with no sorting required by individual recyclers. So cans and bottles can be recycled together with newspaper, cardboard, etc.

Transfer station -- A place, often in a rural area, where trash is temporarily collected and then periodically transported to a landfill or incinerator.

Waste diversion -- The act of preventing garbage from being disposed of in landfills or incinerators by reducing the amount of materials that you use or buy, reusing products, recycling or composting.

Zero Waste -- A goal that, if met, would result in very little waste being created; instead, people would find ways to reduce the amount of materials used in the first place and to reuse or recycle worn or unwanted materials. Zero Waste principles also apply to hazardous wastes, by eliminating or reducing the use of hazardous materials in products.