7.3.2—Solid domestic waste (SDW)
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2026
- Objective
- 7.3.2
- Level
- SL
Household Waste Is a Mixed Stream
Solid domestic waste is a mixed stream whose composition determines separation, recovery and disposal options.
It can include paper, cardboard, glass, metals, plastics, organic kitchen or garden material, packaging, construction debris and clothing; each fraction has different contamination and recovery pathways.
Food residue can contaminate otherwise recyclable paper, while a battery can introduce hazardous metals into a larger household stream, so separation at source matters.
A composition audit measures each fraction before selecting facilities or targets.
Household waste is not one uniform material, and the largest fraction is not always the most hazardous.