Waste Management Key Terms

Flashcards for key vocabulary related to waste management practices and regulations.

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)

Household and commercial waste collected by municipalities.

Sanitary Landfill

Engineered facility for waste disposal that uses liners and covers to isolate trash from the environment.

Recycle

Process of collecting and reprocessing materials to make new products.

Leachate

Contaminated liquid that drains from a landfill; can pollute groundwater if not managed.

Plastics

Synthetic polymers made from petrochemicals; slow to degrade, some types recyclable.

Tipping Fee

Fee per ton of waste deposited in a landfill; can incentivize waste reduction.

Photodegradable

Plastics that degrade in sunlight; often not effective in landfills due to lack of light.

Hazardous Waste

Waste posing substantial threats to public health or the environment.

Biodegradable

Materials that decompose by biological processes.

Bioremediation

Using microbes to break down pollutants (e.g., oil spills).

Dioxins

Highly toxic compounds formed during combustion of chlorine-containing materials (e.g., PVC).

Photoremediation

Using plants to break down or absorb contaminants.

PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls)

Toxic, banned industrial chemicals; persistent in the environment.

Fly Ash

Fine particles from combustion; can contain heavy metals.

Scrubbers

Devices that remove pollutants from industrial smokestacks.

Bottom Ash

Coarse material left after combustion in incinerators.

Electrostatic Precipitators

Use electric charges to remove particles from emissions.

RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act)

Controls hazardous waste from cradle to grave

CERCLA (Superfund)

Funds cleanup of abandoned hazardous waste sites.

Basel Convention

International treaty preventing export of hazardous waste to developing countries.

NIMBY (Not In My Backyard)

Opposition to local waste facilities despite broader support.

Integrated Waste Management (IWM)

Coordinated approach using a combination of methods to handle waste sustainably.

Composting

Breaks down organic waste (food scraps, yard clippings) via bacteria/fungi.

Composting

Reduces MSW volume by removing biodegradable material from the landfill stream.

RCRA Purpose

Regulates hazardous waste generation, transportation, treatment, and disposal.

CERCLA (Superfund) Purpose

Cleans up abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites; uses taxes on chemical industries.

Basel Convention Purpose

Prevents wealthier nations from dumping hazardous waste in developing countries.

Unit Pricing (Pay-As-You-Throw)

Decreases landfill-bound waste (financial incentive), Increases recycling and composting, but can lead to illegal dumping if not paired with accessible options