AP Environmental Science Chapter 16: Waste Generation & Waste Disposal

waste

material outputs from a system that are not useful or consumed

municipal solid waste (MSW)

refuse collected by municipalities from households, small businesses, and institutions (schools, prisons, municipal buildings, and hospitals)

waste stream

the flow of solid waste that is recycled, incinerated, placed in a solid waste landfill, or disposed of in another way

reduce

also known as waste minimization and waste prevention

source reduction

seeks to reduce waste by reducing, in the early stages of design and manufacture, the use of materials destined to become MSW

reuse

allows a material to cycle within a system longer before becoming an output

recycle

process by which materials destined to become MSW are collected and converted into raw materials that are then used to produce new objects

closed loop recycling

recycling of a product into the same product

open loop recycling

one product is recycled into another product

compost

organic matter that has decomposed under controlled conditions to produce an organic-rich material that enhances soil structure, cation exchange capacity and fertility

leachate

the water that leaches through the solid waste and removes various chemical compounds with which it comes into contact

sanitary landfills

an engineered ground facility designed to hold MSW with as little contamination of the surrounding environment as possible

cap

a cover of soil and clay covering the landfill when it reaches capacity

tipping fee

fee charged for disposing of material in a landfill or incinerator

incineration

process of burning waste materials to reduce their volume and mass and sometimes to generate electricity or heat

ash

residual nonorganic material that does not combust during incineration

bottom ash

residue collected underneath furnace

fly ash

residue collected beyond the furnace

waste to energy system

when heat generated by incineration is used rather than released to the atmosphere

Superfund

the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), a 1980 US federal act that imposes a tax on the chemical and petroleum industries, funds the cleanup of abandoned and nonoperating hazardous waste sites, and authorizes the federal government to respond directly to the release or threatened release of substances that may pose a threat to human health or the environment

Brownfields

contaminated industrial or commercial sites that may require environmental cleanup before they can be redeveloped or expanded

life-cycle analysis

an important system tool that looks at the materials used and released throughout the lifetime of a product - from the procurement of raw materials through their manufacture, use, and disposal

Integrated Waste Management

employs several waste reduction, management, and disposal strategies in order to reduce the environmental impact of MSW

acid deposition

acids deposited on Earth as rain and snow or as gases and particles that attach to the surfaces of plants, soil, and water

hazardous waste

waste material that is dangerous or potentially harmful to humans or ecosystems

RCRA

US Resource Conservation & Recovery Act; protects human health and the natural environment by reducing or eliminating the generation of hazardous waste

styrofoam

polystyrene (plastic that has high insulation value)

60%

what percent does the EPA estimates when it comes to the amount of MSW from residents

40%

what percent according to the EPA of MSW comes from commercial and industrial facilities.

30%

out of 227 million metric tons that the USA produce how much is paper?

13%

out of 227 million metric tons that the USA produce, how much is plastic?

paper products

newspaper, office paper, cardboard, box boards

40%

over the years, the MSW of paper decreased from what percent?

Organic materials

food scraps and yard waste

28%

what percent of the total USA consumption is from organic materials?

6%

what percent of total consumption of the USA is wood?

34%

what percent of the total USA consumption is composted?

13%

what percent of total USA consumption is plastic?

35%

what percent of material that could potentially end up in landfill or incinerator is recycled?

more than half

how much of the materials recovered paper

22%

what percentage of recovered material is yard trimmings?

148 million tons

how much of the MSW that is recycled (1/3)

compostable goods

largely made of organic materials that can decompose under proper conditions

30%

what percentage of MSW is plastic containers and packaging?

28%

food and yard waste percentage?

E waste

electronic waste

2%

what percent of the waste stream is due to consumer products like TVs and computers?

27%

in 2010 the EPA said that what percent of TVs and computers were sent to recycling facilities?

reduce

waste minimization and waste prevention

increase

does source reduction increase or decrease energy efficiency?

increase

have the recycling rates in the USA increased or decreased since 1975

1/3

Out of the total MSW, how much is recycled

no

are meat and dairy products composted?

why meat and dairy products are not composted

because they produce odors that attract rodents like rats, mice

outdoor compost system

pile of food, yard waste

municipal compost facility

collects almost 100,000 metric tons of food scraps and paper per year and turns it into usable compost.

landfills or incinerated

where does our waste from the waste stream that is not diverted go?

54%

percent of MSW discarded?

12%

percent of MSW that is combustion with energy recovery?

34%

percent of MSW that is the 3 R's?

air, moisture, and organic material

what is needed for proper decomposition in land fills?

clay or plastic bottom

how are sanitary landfills constructed?

no

can aluminum or cooper go in a landfill?

yes

should glass or plastic go in a landfill?

no

should toxic materials like cleaning supplies, oil based products, automotive additives be in a landfill?

$50 per ton

what is the tipping fee at solid waste landfills in the USA?

siting

the designation of a landfill location, typically through a regulatory process involving studies, written reports, and public hearings

Landfill location rules

-away from rivers or streams

-located in soil rich in clay

-far from populations

90%, 75%

an efficient incinerator may reduce the volume of solid waste by up to percent and the weight of the wast to percent?

SO2, NO

exhaust gases from combustion

$70 per ton

what is the tipping fee at incinerators in the USA?

hazardous waste

liquid, solid, gases, or sludge waste material that is harmful to humans or ecosystems

1.5 million metric tons

how much hazardous waste is generated in the USA per year?

RCRA

U.S. Resource Conservation Recovery Act

CERCLA

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act

HSWA

hazardous and solid waste amendments

HSWA

what encouraged waste minimization and phased out disposal of hazardous waste on land

RCRA

main goal was to protect human health and the natural environment

NJ

Which state has 113 superfund sites?

CA

Which state as 97 superfund sites?

NPL

National priorities list

cradle to grave

life cycle analysis