However, the quantity generated in a given week is highly variable which is one of the problems of waste management. The composition of refuse is also highly variable. In short, the solid waste manager should be prepared to handle any and all kinds of waste that might be generated by a given community which makes this one of the most challanging problems. In addition, there are materials in solid waste that potentially could be recycled. Wastes are most commonly stored in cans or plastic bags with the use of bags gaining in popularity.
Some communities use the sale of garbage bags as a source of revenue for the system.
Larger generators store waste in dumpsters or waste compactors to reduce storage area. Collection Several decisions must be made by the solid waste engineer. Usually, the collection vehicle is also used for the long distance transport of refuse. Thus, it must be large enough to minimize the number of trips to the processing site, yet small enough to be maneuverable during collection. If the distance to the disposal site is large, then the waste is transfered to a larger vehicle such as truck trailers, rail cars, or barges.