Flying internationally soon? Ever been confused by terms like “garbage,” “waste,” or even just where to find a bin? Join me as I unravel the mysteries of “trash talk” in Aviation English. I’m clearing the air on garbage, trash, waste, and litter to help your aviation English take flight.
Listen to “05 – Trash, Rubbish, and Beyond: The Skybound Glossary” on Spreaker.
Hello, I’m Emilia Barska, and this is the Revise Before Flight podcast. I’m a General English teacher and Aviation English specialist. My aim is to help you climb and maintain ICAO Level 5 Extended or Level 6 Expert.
Welcome aboard to Revise Before Flight, your regular check on essential Aviation English. This is Episode 5, “Trash Talk,” navigating the world of waste.
Imagine a pre-flight check and you hear a colleague mention clearing the garbage or handling the waste. Do you know exactly what they mean, especially if they’re from a different part of the world? Today, we’re going to clarify the terms garbage, trash, waste, and litter in both American and British English. This is crucial for clear communication, especially for our aviation professionals who travel the globe. I will also equip you with some handy vocabulary for your international travels. Buckle up, it’s time for some trash talk.
Let’s dive into the world of discarded items. In American English, a very common word you’ll hear for general household refuse is trash. Think about it at the airport: you may see signs that say, “Place passengers’ trash here,” near the boarding gates. Cabin crew might refer to “galley trash” after a flight, meaning the general waste collected in the aircraft kitchen.
Now, across the pond, in British English, the equivalent term for general waste is rubbish. So, a British airline employee might say, “The cabin crew collected all the rubbish after the meal service.” You might even hear a ground staff member say, “Please ensure all rubbish is cleared from the aircraft steps.”
Let’s move on to garbage. In American English, this word often specifically refers to food waste or wet, decaying organic matter. For example, at the airport, you might see separate bins labeled “Food Garbage Only” in the catering areas where leftover meals and food packaging are disposed of. The smell emanating from an improperly handled bin might be described as “awful garbage.” In British English, rubbish can cover this type of waste as well. However, you may also encounter the term refuse, which is another British English word for general waste, often used more formally by local authorities or in official signage.
Next, we have litter. Thankfully, this term is quite consistent in both American and British English. Litter refers to items that have been carelessly discarded in public places and are not in a designated bin. Sadly, you may see litter like empty drink bottles or food wrappers near the aircraft parking stand after passengers have disembarked. Or perhaps, regrettably, some litter blowing across the airport apron.
Finally, let’s talk about waste. This is a more general and encompassing term in both American and British English. Waste can refer to any unwanted or unsuitable material. In aviation, we talk about “aircraft waste” in a broad sense, which could include anything from discarded newspapers to used blankets. You may also hear about “industrial waste” from aircraft manufacturing processes. And while we hope it doesn’t happen, “fuel waste,” often referred to as spillage, is another type of waste in our industry. Importantly, in an aviation context, we also have hazardous waste, such as used cleaning chemicals or certain aircraft fluids, which require very specific disposal procedures.
Now, for our traveling aviators, here’s some practical vocabulary to keep in mind when you’re on the ground in different locations. If you need to ask about disposing of something, in American English, you’ll likely ask, “Where is the trash can?” or “Where do I dispose of this trash?” You may encounter a trash can in the airport terminal or near your hotel. In British English, the common questions are, “Where is the bin?” or “Where can I put this rubbish?” So you’ll be looking for a bin in similar locations. If you need to report carelessly discarded items, you can say, “There’s some litter on the apron.” This works in both American and British English. However, if you’re in the UK, you may also hear or say, “There’s some rubbish on the taxiway.”
As it’s April, Earth Month, let’s all remember the importance of responsible waste disposal wherever our travels take us, contributing to a cleaner and healthier planet.
To recap: Remember that while trash is common in American English, the British equivalent is rubbish. Garbage in the U.S. often means food waste, while rubbish covers this in the UK, along with refuse. Litter is generally the same in both dialects, referring to carelessly discarded items, and waste is a broad term used in both.
So, the next time you hear a discussion about waste in an aviation context, you’ll be better equipped to understand the terminology regardless of whether your colleagues are speaking American or British English. Join me next time for another episode of Revise Before Flight, where I continue to explore the fascinating world of aviation communication. Fly safe and speak clearly, and remember, the higher you aim, the more you achieve.
Thank you very much, and see you next time.
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