Environmental Science (chapter 17)

Solid Waste

any unwanted or discarded material that is not a liquid or gas

Industrial Solid Waste

waste produced by mines, farms, and industries that supply people with goods and services

Municipal Solid Waste

solid waste produced by homes and workplaces

Hazardous Waste

any discarded material or substance that threatenes human health or the environment

Where does US waste come from (percentages)

mining (76%), agriculture (13%), industry (9.5%)

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

waste that floated down stream, washed from beaches, or poured out a storm drain that os the size of Texas

What five qualities are characteristric of hazardous waste

1. toxic

2. corrosive

3. flammable

4. explosive chemical reactions

5. causes disease

What are the two main categories of hazardous waste

listed and characteristic

Waste Management

reducing environmental harm

Waste Reduction

producing less solid waste and reusing, recycling, and compositing

Integrated Waste Management

a variety of coordinate strategies for waste management and waste reduction

Sanitary Landfill

solid waste is spread out in layers, compacted, and covered daily with a fresh layer of clay

Primary Recycling

using materials again for the same purpose

Secondary Recycling

down cycling or up cycling waste materials to make differrent products

Compositing

using bacteria and other decomposers to break down yard trimmings, vegetable food scraps, and other biodegradable organic wastes into materials that can be used to improve soil fertility

The main components of an integrated waste management program

reuse, reduce, recovery, and recycling

How does a sanitary landfill work

a multi-layered barrier at the bottom and sides to prevent leachate from seeping into groundwater. a network of pipes and gravel on top of the liner to collect liquid which is pumped for treatment. as waste decomposed, methane and carbon dioxide is collected to pipes that generate energy

What solid waste are commonly buried in landfills

paper products, yard waste, plastics, metals, wood, glass, and food waste

Advantages of burying solid waste in sanitary landfills

1. low operating cost

2. can handle large amounts of waste

3. filled land can be used for other purposes

4. no shortage of landfill space

Disadvantages of burying solid waste in sanitary landfills

1. releases greenhouse gas

2. leaks and contaminates groundwater

3. encourages waste production

4. noise, traffic, and dust

What are the negative consequences of sending solid wastes to open dumps

groundwater contamination, air pollution, and soil degradation

What are the advantages to burning solid waste

1. reduces trash volume

2. produces energy

3. concentrates hazardous substances into ash for burial

4. sale of energy reduces cost

What are the disadvantages to burning solid waste

1. expensive to build

2. produces hazardous waste

3. emits CO22 and other pollutants

4. encourages waste production

What programs have been put in place to encourage reuse of consumable goods

banning disposal of certain items and tax/ban throwaway items

What are the five major types of recyclable materials

1. paper products

2. glass

3. aluminum

4. steel

5. some types of plastics

Compare and contrast advocates and critics views of recycling programs

critics believe recycling programs are costly and burden taxpayers; while, proponents believe that economic, health, and environmental benefits outweigh the cost

Bioremediation

an eco friendly way to use microorganisms to break down pollution

Phytoremediation

an eco friendly way too break down pollution by using solar powered technology

Deep Well Disposal

discarding pressurized waste deep into a mountain

Surface Impoundment

a man made excavation to store waste

What is e-waste and how is it hazardous

waste from an electronic or battery that is hazardous because it damages the ground by seeping into soil and water

Chemical Treatment

using chemicals to detoxify waste and make it safer to dispose of

Advantage and disadvantage of chemical treatment

helps recover non toxic products from waste, but isn’t cost effective

Biological Treatment

using microorganisms to break down pollution

Advantage and disadvantage of biological treatment

cheap but takes a lot of time

Thermal Treatment

heats up waste to destroy toxic components

Advantage and disadvantage of thermal treatment

reduces the volume of waste, but it’s expensive

Advantage and disadvantage of deep well disposal

cost effective and secure but it can contaminate groundwater

Why is deep well disposal currently on the rise

cost effective and laws stop waste from getting into water

Advantage and disadvantage of surface impoundments

cheap and easy to monitor but it pollutes the ground

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

controls waste being transported and treated properly

Toxic Substance Control Act

makes the EPA restrict chemicals risks

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)

enforces cleaning up waste

Biomimicry

the design of materials that are made to look like biological things or do the job of biological organisms

Terms of the Basel Convention and ratifications

countries have to obtain written consent from receiving countries before shipping hazardous waste; 191 countries

What are POPs and how they impact our health

carbon substances that do not break down easily that cause cancerm birth defects, and damage to the nervous system

Terms of Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

require parties to stop producing or reduce production of POPs

What three factors keep reusable and recyclable products from competing with disposable products

recycling limits, expensive upfront, and annoying to hold on to

What methods might we use to encourage the use of reusable and recyclable products

1. incentive for companies that use reusable alternatives

2. buy recyclable products

3. repair items instead of throwing them away

4. educate people on recycling