Sewage systems are an essential part of modern society's infrastructure, providing a means of safely managing and disposing of waste materials from homes and businesses alike. There are several synonyms for the term "sewage systems," including wastewater systems, sanitation systems, sewerage systems and sewage treatment plants. Each term refers to different aspects of the overall system, with wastewater systems focusing on the collection and transport of waste water, and sewage treatment plants dealing with the actual processing and disposal of this material. Sanitation systems, on the other hand, encompass all elements of waste management, including solid and liquid waste, and may also include measures such as recycling and composting.