Controlled waste is

waste Waste (or wastes) are unwanted or unusable materials. Waste is any substance discarded after primary use, or is worthless, defective and of no use. A by-product, by contrast is a joint product of relatively minor economic value. A waste prod ...

that is subject to legislative control in either its handling or its disposal.The Controlled Waste Regulations 1992a - UK Government Legislation
/ref> As a legal term, Controlled waste applies exclusively to the UK but the concept is enshrined in laws of many other countries. The types of waste covered includes domestic, commercial and industrial waste. They are regulated because of their toxicity, their hazardous nature or their capability to do harm to human health or the environment either now or at some time in the future. A prime concern is the effects of

biodegradation Biodegradation is the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi. It is generally assumed to be a natural process, which differentiates it from composting. Composting is a human-driven process in which biodegrada ...

or biochemical degradation and the by-products produced.

References

See also