Wastes of organic and inorganic origin discharged by industrial and commercial concerns. Organic wastes are discharged on a considerable scale by the food industries: canneries, dairies, breweries, abbatoirs and fish-meat factories. Other significant waste generator include paper-mills, tanneries, petro-chemical works, textile manufacturers and laundries. Inorganic wastes include acids, alkalis, cyanides, sulphides and the salts of arsenic, lead, copper, chromium and zinc. Underwriters concern themselves as to the methods of waste disposal used by firms as considerable pollution damage and cleaning up costs can arise. Any discharge of waste into the air, soil or water can create major problems not least for liability insurers. See also WATER POLLUTION.