Solid and Hazardous Waste

The average amount of solid waste generated, collected, and disposed of from a particular area is dependent on many local factors such as

A. time of the year

B. education and economic status of the people

C. whether the area is urban or rural

D. all of the above

D

The weight and shape of temporary storage containers must be kept within the limits that can be easily and conveniently handled by the collection crew, with the weight preferably not exceeding

A. 50 pounds

B. 3 pounds

C. 70 pounds

D. 25 pounds

C

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, solid waste does NOT include

A. manures and crop residues that can be returned to the soil as fertilizer or soil conditioners

B. mining or milling wastes intended for return to the mine

C. solid or dissolved material in domestic sewage

D. all of the above

D

The wastewater generated from washing out refuse bins and containers

A. can be disposed of with the garbage

B. must pass through a grease trap before entering a sewerage system

C. should not be allowed to run onto the surface of the ground

D. all of the above

D

Added moisture used in maceration ______ the handling and haul costs of solid waste

A. increases

B. decreases

C. does not change

D. sometimes increases or sometimes doesn't change

A

Frequency of collection depends on

A. quantity of waste

B. time of year

C. socioeconomic status of the area served

D. all of the above

D

The transfer station should be located ______ of the collection service area.

A. on the perimeter

B. at the busiest location

C. in the center

D. none of the above

C

______ reduces the final volume of wastes.

A. compaction

B. maceration

C. pneumatic transport

D. A and B above

D

In business districts, refuse, including garbage from hotels and restaurants, should be collected daily, except on

A. Sundays

B. Saturdays (usually the busiest days)

C. Mondays

D. Saturdays and Sundays

A

The National Safety council reported that solid waste collection workers have an injury frequency approximately ______ times the national average for all industry.

A. ten

B. two

C. three

D. five

A

The commonly acceptable refuse disposal and treatment methods are

A. wet oxidation, sanitary landfilling and compaction

B. incineration, pyrolization, and anaerobic digestion

C. composting, recycling, incineration, and sanitary landfilling

D. burial at sea, incineration, and sanitary landfilling

C

Open dumps should be considered

A. a cause of water pollution

B. an odor and smoke nuisance

C. a fire hazard

D. all of the above

D

The spread of ______ is (are) encouraged when uncooked garbage is fed to hogs

A. trichinosis to humans

B. hog cholera

C. vesicular exanthema in swine

D. all of the above

D

The grinding of garbage is an acceptable method of:

A. Garbage disposal

B. Volume reduction

C. Wet oxidation

D. Energy recovery

A

The home grinding system shreds garbage into small particles while being mixed with water and is discharged to the

A. ocean

B. sanitary landfill

C. house sewer

D. high-temperature incinerator

C

The dumping of garbage and other refuse at sea in the United States is

A. permitted at depths greater than 100 feet

B. considered a sanitary practice if weather conditions, distance from shore, and depth of water requirements are met

C. prohibited

D. not very cost-effective

C

Garbage reduction melts out fats that are used in manufacturing of

A. soaps, glycerines and cosmetics

B. glue and cement

C. grouting and calk

D. fertilizer and cattle feed

A

Which of the following is (are) true about composting?

A. it has been a great success in the United States

B. it may come from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste

C. it results in a poor fertilizer

D. both B and C above

D

Composting is the controlled decay of organic matter that may come from

A. sewage sludge

B. agricultural waster

C. organic industrial waste

D. all of the above

D

Which of the following composting methods will require limited land space?

A. beccari method

B. bangalore process

C. fairfield-hardy process

D. none of the above

D

______ is the thermochemical process for the conversion of complete organic solids in the absence of added oxygen to water, combustible gases, tarry liquids, and stable residue.

A. composting

B. incineration

C. wet oxidation

D. pyrolysis

D

Which of the following allows for 95 percent or more volume reduction of municipal solid wastes?

A. incineration

B. pyrolysis

C. high-temperature incineration

D. both b and c above

D

Volume reduction can be achieved by

A. baling

B. landfill equipment

C. pulping

D. all of the above

D

Shredding reduces the volume of wastes to about ______ or less of the original bulk.

A. 60 percent

B. 50 percent

C. 40 percent

D. 30 percent

D

Systems used for treatment and disposal of animal wastes include

A. field spreading, oxidation ditch, and incineration

B. plow-furrow cover, aerated lagoon, and wet oxidation

C. irrigation, anaerobic digestion, and drying

D. all of the above

D

Dead animals are best disposed in

A. an incinerator or rendering plant

B. a separate area of sanitary landfill

C. a composting bed

D. either a or b above

D

Resource recovery can be expected to achieve no more than a ____ reduction in future landfill volume requirement.

A. 50 percent

B. 25 percent

C. 60 percent

D. 40 percent

C

The disposal of used tires presents a problem but shredded tires may be used as

A. a source of heat for homes

B. fuel for industries

C. an asphalt additive to reduce pavement cracking

D. a supplemental fuel for incinerators

B

Resource recovery and reduction of solid wastes should start

A. at the point of generation

B. at the sanitary landfill

C. in the home

D. at the transfer station

A

Acidic conditions ______ the growth of methane-producing bacteria.

A. increase

B. inhibit

C. do not affect

D. none of the above

B

Methane in the presence of air is explosive at concentrations between

A. 5 and 15 percent

B. 3 and 5 percent

C. 20 and 25 percent

D. 50 and 60 percent

A

What does RCRA stand for?

A. Recovery, Conservation, and Refuse Administration

B. Radioactive Chemical Recovery Administration

C. Radioactive Chemical Recovery Act

D. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

D

Hazardous wastes include which of the following types of substances?

A. chemical and biological

B. radioactive

C. explosive

D. all of the above

D

Which of the following is not one of the four characteristics of hazardous wastes as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency?

A. radioactivity

B. toxicity

C. explosive

D. all of the above

A

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976

A. mandates government (Federal and State) control of hazardous wastes from their point of generation to their point of ultimate disposal

B. regulates the production and use of chemical substances that may present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or environment

C. requires that all toxic substances transported from one point to another by air, land, or sea be properly documented through an approved manifest system

D. regulates all hazardous wastes generated at health care facilities through Federal and State governments

B

The goal for management of hazardous waste should be

A. safe disposal methods

B. minimal impact on the environment

C. zero discharge

D. all of the above

C

The most common problems associated with the disposal of hazardous waste are

A. public opposition and spills

B. groundwater pollution from lagoon and unauthorized dumping

C. leachate from landfills, dumps, sludge disposal and other land disposal systems

D. all of the above

D

A properly designed and controlled incinerator is satisfactory for burning combustible refuse as long as

A. the incinerator is not located in the downtown area

B. sufficient quantities of refuse can be provided

C. air pollution standards can be met

D. the furnace is cooled regularly

C

Additional fuel is needed to incinerate refuse

A. with 30 percent or less rubbish

B. with 50 percent or more moisture

C. with 10 percent or more metals

D. both a and b above

D

The amount of residue left after incineration is approximately

A. 10 to 15 percent of the original volume

B. 25 to 50 percent of the original volume

C. 55 to 65 percent of the original volume

D. A and B

A

To provide enough refuse for an incinerator to continuously operate, a refuse storage pit/bin must hold approximately

A. 1 day of refuse

B. 2 days of refuse

C. 3 days of refuse

D. 4 days of refuse

D

The three essentials for combustion in an incinerator are

A. temperature, time, and heat

B. time, temperature, and moisture

C. temperature, heat and fuel

D. time, temperature, and turbulence

D

The second step of the combustion process in an incinerator requires a high temperature of at least

A. 1500 to 1600 degrees F

B. 1500 to 1800 degrees F

C. 1900 to 2000 degrees F

D. 1800 to 1900 degrees F

B

The temperature of the gases leaving the furnace is reduced by

A. spraying with water

B. dilution with cool air

C. passing through heat exchanges

D. all of the above

D

The normal economical hauling distance to a refuse disposal site is usually between

A. 5 to 10 miles

B. 10 to 15 miles

C. 15 to 20 miles

D. 20 to 25 miles

B

When trying to establish economical hauling, what is most important?

A. hauling time

B. hauling distance

C. means of hauling

D. what is being hauled

A

A county or regional landfill should provide enough area for a ______ period of operation.

A. 5- to 10-year

B. 10- to 15-year

C. 15- to 20-year

D. 20- to 40-year

D

Landfill sites should be at least __ from streams, lakes or other surface bodies of water

A. 200 feet

B. 2000 feet

C. 200 yards

D. 100 feet

A

After a landfill site is closed, it should be covered with at least ______ of compacted soil having a low permeability, graded to shed rainwater, melting snow, and surface water.

A. 5 feet

B. 36 inches

C. 2 feet

D. 28 inches

C

Leachates containing primarily low molecular weight organic compounds are best treated by

A. biological methods

B. physical-chemical demands

C. physical methods

D. both A and B

A

A relatively porous landfill earth cover will permit

A. the escape of gases

B. greater infiltration and leachate production

C. both A and B above

D. none of the above

C

The most suitable soil for cover material at a landfill site is one that is

A. easily worked and minimizes infiltration

B. relatively porous and rich in nitrogen

C. most convenient to the site and always available

D. dug from the trenches where the waste will be deposited

A

Which of the following is not considered an advantage to using shredded solid waste landfill?

A. it does not cause odors

B. it may not require daily earth cover

C. it will readily absorb precipitation

D. it reduces insect breeding

C

The best sanitary landfill method for an area with rolling terrain is the

A. low-area method

B. valley or ravine area method

C. trench method

D. area or ramp method

B

The valley or ravine landfill method utilizes "lifts" from the bottom up with depths usually of

A. 6 to 8 feet

B. 8 to 10 feet

C. 10 to 12 feet

D. 12 to 14 feet

B

The direction of operation of a sanitary landfill should be

A. against the prevailing wind

B. with the prevailing wind

C. perpendicular to the prevailing wind

D. changed daily to be perpendicular to the prevailing wind

B

Compression or shredding of bulky objects before landfilling them will

A. improve compaction of the fill

B. reduce land volume requirements

C. allow for more uniform settlement

D. all of the above

D

Large items that are not salvaged should be

A. set directly into the landfill

B. placed in an alternative location

C. compressed or shredded

D. B and C

C

Depending on the size of the community, there should be a minimum of one man at a landfill site and ______ men per 1000 yard of waste dumped per day that the site is open.

A. six

B. four

C. three

D. two

A

Which hazard is related to size reduction method for solid waste?

a. toxic gases

b. rodent problems

c. insect infestations

d. explosions

D

According to EPA which is not a characteristic of hazardous waste

A. friability

B. toxicity

C. reactivity

D. corrosivity

A

After a landfill is closed, how much soil should be placed on top of the site?

A. two feet

B. six inches

C. four feet

D. as much soil in available

A

In valleys and ravines, what method of landfilling is considered the best?

A. trench

B. low area

C. area

D. wet area

C

How often should refuse be compacted during the average work day?

A. every hour

B. continually

C. every two hours

D. at the end of the day

B

How much earth should be placed on refuse at the end of the day?

A. 6 inches

B. 12 inches

C. 24 inches

D. 16 inches

A

Which would not be considered an appropriate use for a completed landfill?

A. public work

B. golf course

C. housing development

D. all

C

What type soil is most desirable as a landfill cover?

A. sandy loam

B. clay

C. sand

D. gravel

A

What reference would you use to determine if an infectious waste that contains viable organisms is included?

A. OSHA manual

B. RCRA Act

C. TSCA Act

D. NIOSH manual

B

Venturi scrubbers, spray towels and packed towers are examples of what type of waste treatment methods?

A. absorption

B. adsorption

C. dialysis

D. filtration

A

Which product would probably have the lowest reclamation value?

A. Al

B. glass

C. paper

D. heat

B

Which statement is correct in regards to methane gas production?

A. aerobic methane gas-producing bacteria produce methane

B. anaerobic methane gas-producing bacteria produce methane

C. acidic conditions prohibit methane production

D. acidic conditions do not influence methane production

B

What contaminant may accompany methane production if large amounts of sulfate are also present?

A. CuSO4

B. sodium sulfate

C. H2S

D. hydrogen cyanide

C

The most common problem associated with the disposal of hazardous waste is:

A. leaching from landfills and dumps

B. breeding ground for insects

C. groundwater contamination

D. unauthorized dumping

C

PCBs have been used in which systems/devices?

A. lubrication systems

B. transformers

C. heat transfer systems

D. all of the above

D

Which is not an essential factor in the combustion phase of an incinerator?

A. moisture

B. time

C. temperature

D. turbulence

A

The direction of operation in involving a sanitary landfill should be:

A. with the prevailing wind

B. perpendicular to the wind

C. against the wind

D. does not matter

A

Homes containing garbage disposals should have a septic tank capacity increased by what % in order to accommodate the increased organic loading?

A. 10%

B. 100%

C. 50%

D. does not matter

C

After collection, there are four main steps involved in resource recovery. Place in correct order:

a. size reduction, recovery, separation, utilization

b. size reduction, separation, recovery, utilization

c. recovery, separation, size reduction, utilization

d. separation, size reduction, recovery, utilization

B

Refuse collection frequency depends largely on the length of time required for fly eggs to mature through the larval stages into adults. Under optimum summer temperatures, maturation time is:

A. 1-3 days

B. 3-7 days

C. 7-10 days

D. 2-3 weeks

C

Which of the following is an unacceptable operating practice at a sanitary landfill?

A. all exposed refuse should be covered with six inches of soil at the end of each day's operation

B. all refuse should be spread as dumped, compacted into thick layers as it is hauled in

C. a specific time and lace should be designated for the dumping of sewage sludge, agricultural wastes and toxic substances

D. sufficient stand-by equipment should be available in case of breakdown of equipment

C

The most satisfactory basis for measuring quantities of solid waste is by:

A. volume

B. volume and weight

C. volume per cubic yard

D. weight

D

The type of sanitary landfill that should be developed on essentially flat land sited in dry areas is:

A. depression landfills

B. area landfills

C. progressive excavation landfills

D. cut and cover landfills

B

Compactibility of soil in landfills depends primarily on:

A. the point at which refuse is discharged on the fill

B. the type of refuse to be compacted

C. the moisture content of the soil

D. the gradient of the particle size of the soil

D

The depth of the earth required on the final surface of a sanitary landfill is:

A. 6 inches

B. 2 feet

C. 6 feet

D. 3 feet

B

On the basis of weight, which of the following materials constitutes the largest component of domestic solid waste?

A. metal

B. paper

C. plastics

D. glass

B

Refuse in an established sanitary landfill decomposes by the bacterial process of

A. aerobic decomposition

B. psychrophilic decomposition

C. thermophilic decomposition

D. anaerobic decomposition

D

Under RCRA, the EPA has developed standards and procedures that must be followed be all persons that:

A. generate, transport, treat, store or dispose of hazardous waste

B. generate, transport, store and dispose of hazardous waste

C. generate, transport and dispose of hazardous waste

D. treat of hazardous waste

A

The Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA) is mainly concerned with:

A. water

B. energy

C. solid wastes

D. air

C

Which of the following conditions may minimize the problem of leachate?

A. dilution as a result of high rainfall

B. properly located landfills in areas of high rainfall

C. low rainfall and high transpiration rate

D. low transpiration rate and low rainfall

C

Which component of solid waste storage, collection and disposal must be subsidized from the other?

A. no part requires subsidy from the other

B. disposal from collection fees

C. collection from disposal fees

D. recycling takes care of any needed subsidy

B

The two most common methods of sanitary landfill operation are

A. composting and recycling

B. open dump and burning

C. area method and trench method

D. wet area and dry area

C

Hazardous wastes should not be put in ordinary sanitary landfills because:

A. the waste could contaminate the surrounding air, land, or soil

B. people don't like to see these wastes in the same pile as fill

C. animals may be harmed by or disseminate the wastes

D. people may pilfer wastes and be harmed by them

A

When aerobic synthesis occurs in a landfill, it is expected that the refuse is:

A. in the early stages of decomposition

B. biologically stable

C. chemically inert

D. near the final stage of decomposition

A

Advantages of the land disposal of digested sewage (sludge) include all except:

A. addition of some nutrients to the soil

B. improving aeration of tight soils

C. an aid to erosion control of treated soil

D. build-up of heavy metals in the soil

D

A solid waste manager is trying to reduce lead in the solid waste stream. What should be targeted in the municipal waste stream as a major contributor to the environment?

A. fluorescent bulbs

B. lead acid batteries

C. household batteries

D. rechargeable batteries

B

All of the following are considered advantages of using the "shredded solid waste" landfill method except:

A. It does not cause odors

B. It may require daily earth cover

C. It will readily absorb precipitation

D. It reduces insect breeding

C

Which of the following is not a type of hazardous waste incinerator?

A. Pressurized

B. Fluidized

C. Fixed hearth

D. Rotary kiln

A

Which federal law regulates underground storage tanks for hazardous substances?

A. Clean Water Act

B. Federal Water Pollution Control Act

C. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

D. Solid Waste Disposal Act

D

A measure of the probability and severity of adverse effects under specific conditions best describes:

A. Risk

B. Hazard

C. Exposure

D. Toxicity

A

Which of the following sampling devices is best for collecting undisturbed soil samples?

A. Auger

B. Shelby tube

C. Split spoon

D. Veihmeyer rod

C