What is rubbish?

Discover what rubbish is, where it goes, and why recycling matters

What is rubbish and how does it affect our environment?

Rubbish is waste material that is unwanted or unusable. In simple terms, it’s anything we no longer need or want. From broken toys and empty packaging to outgrown clothes or electrical items that no longer work.

Sometimes you’ll hear people use the word waste instead of rubbish, but they mean the same thing.

Why rubbish matters

Humans are creating more rubbish than ever before, and it’s having a serious effect on the environment. If rubbish isn’t reduced, reused, or recycled, it usually ends up in landfill.

Landfills contribute to:

  • Air pollution
  • Water and soil contamination
  • Climate change

That’s why landfill should always be the last resort. Recycling and reusing are better for both people and the planet.

There are many different kinds of rubbish, including:

Domestic – household rubbish such as food scraps, batteries, and old electronics

Industrial and commercial – waste from factories, shops, schools, or offices

Hazardous – dangerous waste that must be carefully disposed of, like paint chemicals

Agricultural – waste from farming, including pesticides, plastics, and machinery

Medical – healthcare waste such as PPE, needles, or expired medicines

Rubbish isn’t just solid materials like paper, glass, or plastic. It can also be:

Liquids – such as paints, cleaning products, or chemicals from industries like food processing

Gases – fumes released when waste breaks down in landfill, such as ammonia, methane, and carbon dioxide

These gases are especially harmful as they contribute to climate change and can damage human health.

Landfill rubbish

Can rubbish break down?

Some waste is biodegradable, meaning it naturally breaks down. This includes food, paper, and garden waste. These materials can be composted at home or on an industrial scale, even creating energy in the process.

Other waste is non-biodegradable, such as plastic bags, batteries, and cans. These can take hundreds of years to break down and often pollute soil, rivers, and oceans, harming wildlife and ecosystems.

Taking responsibility

The government has rules and laws to make sure rubbish is handled safely and responsibly. But it’s not just down to them — we all need to do our part:

  • Recycle correctly
  • Avoid wasting resources
  • Never leave litter behind

By making small changes, we can all help reduce the impact of rubbish on our planet.