All nonhazardous solid waste from a community that requires collection and transport to a processing or disposal site is called refuse or municipal solid waste (MSW). Refuse includes garbage and rubbish. Garbage is mostly decomposable food waste; rubbish is mostly dry material such as glass, paper, cloth, or wood.

Information and data on the physical characteristics of solid wastes are important for the selection and operation of equipment and for the analysis and design of disposal facilities. The required information and data include the following: Density Moisture Content Particle size & distribution Field Capacity Permeability of compacted wastes

Coming to MSW the physical characteristic of the waste includes moisture content, waste particle size, waste density, temperature and pH as these affect the extent and rate of degradation of waste.