Wastes are classified into following categories:
1. Biodegradable wastes:
The waste materials that can be degraded by micro-organisms are called biodegradable wastes. They include vegetable peelings, discarded food, tea leaves, egg shells, crop and farm residue etc.
2. Non-biodegradable waste:
The wastes that cannot be degraded by micro-organisms are called non-biodegradable wastes. These wastes include polythene bags, glass bottles, ceramics, asbestos etc.
3. Toxic wastes:
The poisonous wastes are called toxic wastes. Such wastes include pesticides, acids, alkalies, radioactive substances etc.
4. Non-toxic wastes:
The non-poisonous wastes are called non-toxic wastes for eg Glass, ceramics, paper, wood crap, leather, rubber etc.
5. Biomedical wastes:
These wastes are released by the hospitals and clinics and include cotton, syringe, glass and plastic bottles, anatomical and pathological wastes.