Definitions & Terminology
Understand what qualifies as waste, how it is classified, the three main waste types (hazardous, non-hazardous, and radioactive), and the two management methods (recovery and disposal).
What is Waste Data?
Waste data refers to the figures related to anything that a reporting company discards, intends to discard, or is required to discard.
Tracenable’s waste dataset focuses on corporate solid waste management, and excludes:
Wastewater and gaseous effluents, and
Waste types explicitly excluded under Article 2 of the EU Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC)
Types of Waste
Waste can be classified in various ways. One common approach is by its source—for instance: garden waste, household waste, or industrial waste. However, at a more fundamental level, waste falls into three main categories:
Hazardous waste
Non-hazardous waste
Radioactive waste
Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste refers to any waste that contains or exhibits , as defined by regulations in the jurisdiction where the waste is generated.
This type of waste can originate from a variety of sources. Common examples include:
Infectious waste from healthcare facilities
Used oils from industrial or automotive processes
Waste containing heavy metals, such as mercury or lead
These materials require special handling, treatment, and disposal to prevent adverse impacts.
Non-Hazardous Waste
Non-hazardous waste includes all waste that does not exhibit hazardous characteristics and is not classified as hazardous under applicable regulations.
Like hazardous waste, non-hazardous waste is produced from a wide range of sources. Common examples include:
Kitchen waste from households or food services
Garden waste such as grass clippings and branches
Plastic waste from packaging and consumer products
While generally less dangerous, non-hazardous waste still requires proper management to minimize environmental impact.
Radioactive Waste
Radioactive waste consists of materials that contain radioactive substances and emit ionizing radiation above legally defined thresholds. Due to its significant health and environmental hazards, radioactive waste is subject to strict handling, storage, and disposal protocols under both national and international regulations.
It is commonly generated from:
Nuclear power production and fuel reprocessing
Medical procedures using radioactive isotopes
Industrial and scientific activities involving radioactive materials
In the context of sustainable finance, Radioactive Waste Generated is also a reportable metric under the mandatory Principal Adverse Impact (PAI) indicators defined by the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). This emphasizes the importance of monitoring and disclosing radioactive waste in investment decision-making.
Waste Management
Waste management encompasses the collection, transport, recovery (including sorting), and disposal of waste, along with the supervision of these operations and the after-care of disposal sites. It also includes any actions taken in the role of a dealer or broker.
At Tracenable, we focus specifically on the recovery and disposal phases of waste management. Accordingly, waste is managed through two fundamental pathways:
Recovery (or diversion from disposal)
Disposal (or direction to disposal)
Recovery Operations (Diversion from disposal)
Recovery refers to any operation where waste serves a useful purpose by replacing other materials that would otherwise have been used for a specific function—either within the company’s own operations or elsewhere in the economy. Waste may also be prepared to fulfil such a function.
Waste diverted from disposal includes materials managed through recovery methods such as:
Recycling
Reusing
Composting
These practices help conserve resources and reduce environmental impact by minimizing the need for virgin materials.
Disposal Operations (Direction to disposal)
Disposal refers to any operation that is not classified as recovery, even if it results in some byproduct recovery such as energy or materials.
Waste directed to disposal includes materials managed through disposal methods such as:
Landfilling
Incineration
Combustion
These processes are typically the final step for waste that cannot be viably recovered or repurposed, and they require careful oversight due to their environmental implications.