what is refuse

Refuse refers to any disposable materials, which includes both recyclable and non-recyclable materials. It is often used interchangeably with waste, but refuse is a broad, overarching term that includes both recyclable and non-recyclable materials. Refuse can be any substance that is discarded after primary use, or is worthless, defective, and of no use. Refuse includes garbage and rubbish, where garbage is mostly decomposable food waste or yard waste that is highly putrescible, while rubbish is mostly dry material such as glass, paper, cloth, or wood that does not readily decompose. Trash is rubbish that includes bulky items such as old refrigerators, couches, or large tree stumps. The sources of refuse include residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial activities.