There is a lot of waste around us

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keannu

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Are these two all correct or only 2 correct? Can waste be both singular and plural?

1.There is a lot of waste around us
2.There are a lot of wastes around us
 
5jj

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Only #1 is correct.
 
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keannu

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fivejedjon said:
Only #1 is correct.
Click to expand...

The dictionary says "wastes" for waste is possible, but is it wrong? Does waste have to be treated as garbage which is always singular?
 
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keannu

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keannu said:
The dictionary says "wastes" for waste is possible, but is it wrong? Does waste have to be treated as garbage which is always singular?
Click to expand...

Has anyone seen wastes of something as a plural form?
 
birdeen's call

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keannu said:
The dictionary says "wastes" for waste is possible, but is it wrong? Does waste have to be treated as garbage which is always singular?
Click to expand...
What does the dictionary say exactly?
 
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keannu

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birdeen's call said:
What does the dictionary say exactly?
Click to expand...

This is a Korean web dictionary, and it defines the plural form of "wastes" and "toxic wastes" as an example.
.
MATERIALS | (wastes [pl.]) 쓰레기, 폐기물
btn_ex_off.gif
btn_ex_on.gif

household/industrial waste
가정(에서 나오는) 쓰레기/산업 폐기물
toxic wastes
유독 폐기물
waste disposal
쓰레기[폐기물] 처리
 
birdeen's call

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keannu said:
This is a Korean web dictionary, and it defines the plural form of "wastes" and "toxic wastes" as an example.
.
MATERIALS | (wastes [pl.]) 쓰레기, 폐기물
btn_ex_off.gif
btn_ex_on.gif

household/industrial waste
가정(에서 나오는) 쓰레기/산업 폐기물
toxic wastes
유독 폐기물
waste disposal
쓰레기[폐기물] 처리
Click to expand...

I believe the use of "toxic wastes" stems from the fact that there are many kinds of toxic waste.
 
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Rover_KE

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Yes, this is a specialised use of wastes which does not invalidate 5jj's answer in post #2.

As a general statement, only keannu's first sentence is correct (or would be if had a full stop at the end).

Rover
 
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