Glossary and abbreviations

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Bioaerosols: Solid or liquid particles suspended in the air, and containing living or dead microorganisms (bacteria, molds, viruses, etc.), or compounds resulting from their metabolism or degradation (endotoxins, mycotoxins, etc.).
Biodiversity: Refers to the variety and variability of living organisms and the ecological complexes of which these organisms are a part. They have three components: the diversity of ecosystems or ecological diversity; the diversity of animal and plant species or specific diversity; and the diversity within the one species or genetic diversity.
Bioenergy: Energy mainly produced from biomass and which can be used as a fuel or heat.
Biofuel: A biofuel is liquid or gaseous product that can be used in the internal combustion engine of a transportation vehicle. It is notable in that it contains a percentage of renewable products produced from plant or animal sources. Biofuel Fuel made entirely or in part from industrial by-products from the transformation of plant or animal products.
Biogas: Gas resulting from the biological degradation of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. This gas contains a high proportion of methane (50%) and so has a high calorific and energy potential. In our activities, it is produced at landfills (landfill gas), in anaerobic digesters and in wastewater treatment plant digesters. It has to be collected to prevent odor problems and its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. Once collected, it can be used as a source of energy to replace fossil fuels.
Biomass: All plant and animal matter along with the associated organic waste.
Bioreactor: A bioreactor is designed to speed up the production of biogas. It involves collecting the leachate, which is then reinjected into the body of waste. Contributing moisture and nutriments for the bacteria at work on the waste, it speeds up the degradation process thereby facilitating the recovery of methane used as a source of energy. Collecting and using the methane has ecological and economic advantages: it reduces its contribution to the greenhouse effect and is a significant energy resource.
Bottom ash: Scoria or solid waste resulting from the waste combustion collected at the bottom of an incinerator furnace. A distinction is made between municipal waste bottom ash and hazardous industrial waste bottom ash. Current regulations separate municipal waste bottom ash into three categories: recoverable, maturable and for landfilling. So-called “recoverable” bottom ash can be used in road works dependant on certain conditions for its use.
Bulky items (waste): Waste from household activity which, because of its volume or weight, cannot be collected during the usual household waste collection round and so requires separate management. It is usually in the form of a one-off. In particular, it may include:
- Used household appliances,
- Overburden,
- Building waste,
- Household green waste.