Definition for 'waste'

[mark-jensen]

Propose that 'waste' be defined as a role

'waste' = A role that is realized in some process wherein the bearer is discarded or not utilized.

Perhaps add "...in some production or consumption process..."
Perhaps make label 'waste role'
Then: 'waste' is equivalent to ('independent continuant' AND 'bearer of' SOME 'waste role' )

[pbuttigieg]

Agreed. I've changed the label of ENVO:waste to waste material to be clear and added a draft definition:

A material which is not the desired output of a process and which is typically the input of a process which removes it from its producer (e.g. a disposal process).

Wikipedia has some references to UNEP and UNSD definitions which support the intentionality and also the process product points of view.

I've also added the "material" suffix to the current subclasses of waste material, with their X waste form as a broad synonym. Classes like "agricultural waste" may include both objects and volumes of materials (with fiat boundaries) and thus should perhaps be subclasses of material entity which would be filled by inference.

[pbuttigieg]

@cmungall this may be of interest to UBERON's waste substance

[pbuttigieg]

The Chemical Methods Ontology has a class whose semantics look about right for planned processes dealing with waste. It just needs a bit of generalisation.

[pbuttigieg]

@mark-jensen I think we can have waste role in ENVO, as things like sanitation systems can fit into its built environment branches. Any objection?

Also, @phsmith, is it correct to speak of waste as a role? It could be seen as a disposition that most material entities could realise, but role seems more natural here.

[mark-jensen]

@mark-jensen I think we can have waste role in ENVO, as things like sanitation systems can fit into its built environment branches. Any objection?

None at all.

There may be the need to refer to the process of waste generation as well.

@pbuttigieg Any more thoughts on defining waste management as a generalization of the Chemical Methods Ontology class?

This will most certainly lead to consideration of water management and sanitation management for work in SDGIO.

[cmungall]

We should come up with some design patterns for processes involving processing of materials, e.g. strawman:

• generation/production of M
  • synthesis of M from smaller parts
  • creation of M as a byproduct of another process
• consumption of M
  • transformation of M into M'
  • breakdown of M into smaller parts
  • using M to synthesize a larger part
• cycling of M
• movement of M
  • transport of M (e.g. via trucks, rickshaws)
  • flux of M
• sequestration/containment/isolation of M

we can imagine a big cross-product, e.g. {disposal,transport,management} of {industrial,agriculatural,household,..} waste. Once we have the patterns defined it's easy to manage this hierarchy but ultimately we may want to do this in LEGO.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waste_management may be a better start than
http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/CHMO_0002845 which deals with chemicals in experimental waste. The WP page deals with all the various subprocesses.

I would avoid assertion under planned process as well. Waste management and its parts are generally planned. Waste generation could be at different places on the spectrum from unplanned through "known output but not desired" through planned. We can always dynamically infer under 'planned process' on a case by case basis.