Environmental Science Quiz 4: Chapter 21 Waste Disposal

Municipal Solid Waste

trash or garbage that is destined for disposal at a landfill or incinerator

What are the components of municipal solid waste?

Textiles, Rubber and Leather, Wood, Food, Yard Trimmings, Plastics, Glass, Metals, and Paper and Paperboard

Which components are most abundant in municipal solid waste?

Paper and Paperboard with 23%, Food with 22%, and Plastics with 12.2%

How much trash does the Average American Produce today?

4.9lbs per day

How much trash did the average American produce in 1960?

2.7lbs per day

How does trash production differ between developing and developed countries?

Developing countries usually generate less than half the waste of richer countries

Dump

A site where waste is dumped

Landfill

engineered and managed facilities for the disposal of solid waste

Why are Landfills better than dumps?

landfills have liners that separate waste from groundwater whereas dumps allowed leachate to soak into the ground and contaminate the groundwater

Leachate

solution that forms when liquid travels through a solid and removes some components of that solid which end up traveling with it

Combustion

confined and controlled burning to decrease the volume of solid waste

Advantages of Combustion

• Reduces volume

• Control hazards

• Waste to energy

• Resource recovery/recycling

Cons of Combustion

• Cons

• Air pollution/odor

• Expensive

• Ash is hazardous and needs proper disposal

• Demand for waste

Gyres

large system of rotating ocean currents

Source Reduction

waste prevention where you eliminate the waste before its even created

Recycling

process of collecting and processing materials that would be typically thrown away and instead turning them into new products

Primary recycling

when original waste is made into the same product

Secondary recycling

when the original waste is made into a different product that may or may not be recyclable

What is a good location for a landfill

low permeability soil like clay, away from Groundwater, away from populated areas and a area with natural drainage and minimal risk of flooding or ecological disruption

What was waste management like in the past?

Trash was dumped in alleys, public streets and the ocean

What happened in Centralia, Pennsylvania?

a landfill fire was ignited that spread underground, creating a long burning mine fire that released toxic gases and caused grounds to collapse

Parts of a Landfill? Liner System

A modern landfill has a bottom liner system of clay and plastic to prevent contamination of Groundwater

Parts of a Landfill? Waste Cells

where trash is compactedP

Parts of a Landfill? Daily Cover Layers

reduces odor and pests

Parts of a Landfill? Extra

leachate collection pipes, gas collection systems and a final cap to seal the site when full

Solid Waste in the Oceans

• 70% of marine litter sinks

• Collects in gyres

• Plastic floats

How can we practice Source Reduction

• Reducing weight of items and packaging

• Electronic communication

• Reusing items

• Easier to repair items

How can recycling programs be successful

– Pay as you throw trash

– Mandatory collection

– Curbside recycling

– Single stream recycling

EPA waste reduction hierarchy

source reduction (reduce), reuse, recycling/composting, energy recovery, and finally disposal

Types of Hazardous Waste?

• Household hazardous waste

• Industrial hazardous waste

• Nuclear waste

What are the challenges of nuclear waste disposal?

radioactive materials remain hazardous for thousands of years so there needs to be uptight security to prevent leaks which can have high costs and complexity