Solid Waste Disposal

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to solid waste disposal and its environmental implications.

Solid Waste

Any discarded material that is not a liquid or gas, generated in domestic, industrial, business, and agricultural sectors.

Landfills

Sites where solid waste is disposed of, often containing layers to prevent contamination of groundwater and manage waste.

E-Waste

Discarded electronic devices such as televisions, cell phones, and computers, considered hazardous due to toxic metals.

Sanitary Landfill

A landfill designed with features like a bottom liner, leachate collection system, and methane recovery system to minimize environmental impact.

Incineration

A method of waste disposal where waste is burned at high temperatures, significantly reducing its volume but releasing air pollutants.

Leachate

Water that drains through waste and carries pollutants, which needs to be collected and treated to prevent groundwater contamination.

NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard)

A phenomenon where communities do not want landfills near them due to environmental concerns like smell and groundwater contamination.

Groundwater Contamination

The pollution of underground water sources due to leachate from landfills potentially carrying heavy metals and other harmful substances.

Ocean Dumping

The practice of disposing of waste in the ocean, leading to environmental issues such as the creation of floating garbage patches.

Decomposition Factors

Elements that affect the breakdown of waste in landfills, including moisture, oxygen, and organic material.