Appendix I: Definitions

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Glass waste

The 2007 Household and the Environment Survey defined glass waste to include: any jars, juice bottles, wine bottles, and all other glass containers that were or that could be accepted by a recycling program.

Hazardous waste

Includes all materials designated as hazardous, as a result of their nature or quantity, and requiring special handling techniques as specified by legislation or regulation.

Reference period

Respondents of the Households and the Environment Survey (HES) were asked to refer to recycling behaviour in an average week during the 12-month period preceding the survey interview.

Metal waste

The 2007 Household and the Environment Survey defined metal waste to include: any metal cans and containers, including soft drink cans, soup cans, and juice cans, and all other metal food containers that were or that could be accepted by a recycling program.

Paper waste

The 2007 Household and the Environment Survey defined paper waste to include: any paper waste, including newsprint and cardboard, that was or that could be accepted by a recycling program.

Plastic waste

The 2007 Household and the Environment Survey defined plastic waste to include: any plastic waste, including plastic soft drink bottles, polycoats such as milk containers, and any other plastic waste that was or that could be accepted by a recycling program.

Recyclable material

Any material that has reached the end of its useful life in the form, or for the purpose, for which it was produced and that can be recycled into a material that has value as feedstock in a different production process.

Recycling

Recycling is the process whereby a material (for example, glass, metal, plastic, or paper) is diverted from the waste stream and remanufactured into a new product or is used as a raw-material substitute.