student asking question

How is “waste” different from “trash” or “garbage”?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

"Waste," "trash," "rubbish," and "garbage" all mean the same thing. "Waste," however, is used more often in formal or scientific contexts. For example, a research paper focusing on the impacts of plastic will use the term "plastic waste" rather than "plastic trash." Ex: It is important to separate waste according to your local city regulations. Ex: Plastic waste is one of the most pressing environmental concerns of this generation.

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