§ 46-103. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Bailing means a volume reduction technique whereby solid waste is compressed into bales for final disposal.

Collector means a person, as defined in this section, who, under agreements, verbal or written, with or without compensation does the work of collecting and/or transporting solid wastes, from industries, offices, retail outlets, businesses, institutions, and/or similar locations, or from residential dwellings, provided however, that this definition shall not include an individual collecting and/or transporting waste from his own single-family dwelling unit.

Composting means the controlled biological decomposition of organic matter into a stable, odor-free humus.

Disposal facility means any facility or location where the final deposition of solid waste occurs and includes but is not limited to landfilling and solid waste thermal treatment technology facilities.

Disposal operation means the performance of solid waste disposal which includes administration, personnel, land, equipment, design and other elements necessary or used in the work of solid waste disposal.

Disposal site means the location where the final deposition of solid waste occurs.

Incinerator means all devices intended or used for the reduction or destruction of solid, liquid, or gaseous waste by burning.

Infectious waste means all biomedical waste as defined in Solid Waste Management Rules Chapter 391-3-4.15 of the state.

Nuisance means anything which meets that definition of the term as defined in O.C.G.A. § 41-1-1 and which occurs during or as the result of the handling or disposing of solid waste.

Person means the state or any other state or any agency or institution thereof and any municipality, county, political subdivision, public or private corporation, solid waste authority, special district empowered to engage in solid waste management activities, individual, partnership, association, or other entity in this state or any other state. The term "person" also includes any officer or governing or managing body of any municipality, political subdivision, solid waste authority, special district empowered to engage in solid waste management activities, or public or private corporation in this state or any other state. The term "person" also includes employees, departments, and agencies of the federal government.

Processed tires means all those tires used on motor vehicles which have been chipped or sliced. "Sliced" tires are tires which have been cut in half around the circumference of the tire. "Chipped" tires are tires which have been cut or ground into pieces smaller than sliced tires.

Processing operation means any method, system or other treatment designed to change the physical form or chemical content of solid waste and includes all aspects of its management (administration, personnel, land, equipment, buildings and other elements).

Putrescible waste means wastes that are capable of being quickly decomposed by microorganisms. Examples of putrescible wastes include but are not necessarily limited to kitchen wastes, animal manure, offal, hatchery and poultry processing plant wastes, and garbage.

Reclamation means a controlled method of sorting and storing solid wastes for future use in accordance with a procedure approved by the state department of natural resources, environmental protection division.

Recycling means any process by which materials which would otherwise become solid waste are collected, separated, or processed and reused or returned to use in the form of raw materials or products.

Rubbish means waste paper, cartons, boxes, wood, tree branches, yard trimmings, furniture, appliances, metals, can, glass, crockery, dunnage, and/or similar materials.

Sanitary landfill means a disposal site where solid wastes are disposed of using sanitary landfilling techniques.

Scavenge means the uncontrolled picking from discarded solid waste materials.

Shredding means the process by which solid waste is cut or torn into small pieces for final disposal.

Solid waste means any garbage or refuse; sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, water supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility; and other discarded material including solid, semisolid, or contained gaseous material resulting from industrial, commercial, mining, and agricultural operations and community activities, but does not include recovered materials; solid or dissolved materials in domestic sewage; solid or dissolved materials in irrigation return flows or industrial discharges that are point sources subject to permit under 33 USC 1342; or source, special nuclear, or byproduct material as defined by the federal Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (68 Stat. 923).

Solid waste handling facility means any facility the primary purpose of which is the storage, collection, transportation, treatment, utilization, processing, or disposal, or any combination thereof, of solid waste.

Solid waste handling permit means written authorization granted to a person by the state department of natural resources, environmental protection division, to engage in solid waste handling.

Transfer station means a facility used to transfer solid waste from one transportation vehicle to another for transportation to a disposal site or processing operation.

Unprocessed tires means all tires used on motor vehicles which are whole or have not been otherwise processed.

(Ord. of 7-9-1991, § III)

State law reference

Similar provisions, O.C.G.A. § 12-8-22.

Cross reference

Definitions generally, § 1-3.