Waste

Chapter 19

Solid Waste

Objectives

1. Name one characteristic that makes a material biodegradable.

2. Identify two types of solid waste.

3. Describe how a modern landfill works.

4. Name two environmental problems caused by landfills.

Generation of Wastes

• Every year the US generates 10 billion metric tons of solid waste (discarded material)–We are generating 2X more wastes than 40 years ago

–The average person throws away 4.4 lbs of solid wastes a day•Many states ship it off

•We are running out of space to put our waste

Types of Wastes

• Biodegradable can be broken down–Newspapers, cotton fibers…

• Non biodegradable can not be broken down–Plastics, polyester, nylon

• Plastic material creates a huge disposal problem

–Made from petroleum

–Literally will never decompose in our land fills

• Types

–Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)

•Waste produced by households and businesses

–70% is manufacturing wastes

•2% of all solid waste

What we throw away % type• 38.1 paper• 12.1 yard waste• 10.9 food • 10.5 plastics• 7.8 metals• 6.6 rubber, leather, other textiles• 5.5 glass• 5.3 wood• 3.2 other

–Manufacturing, Mining, and agricultural wastes

•56% of total is Manufacturing waste

–Scrap metal, plastics, paper, sludge, ash

•9% of total is Agricultural waste

–Is biodegradable but pesticides may contaminate

•Remaining portion belongs to mining

–Piles of mine debris

Solid Waste Management

• 57% of all waste is sent to landfills–28% is burned

–28 % is recycled (an increase of 22% since 1970)

• Landfills

–Permanent waste disposal facilities

–Need to contain wastes, no contact with ground water

–Problems

•Leachate-liquid that has passes through compacted solid waste in a landfill

–Contains contaminates

–Should be monitored

•Methane–Produced by decomposing organic wastes

–Usually pumped out and burned as fuel

–Leaks occur and if ignited can cause an explosion

–Safeguarding landfills

•Resource Conservation and Resource Act (RCRA) 1976 (1986)

–Requires landfills to reduce pollution

»Lined with clay and plastic

»Collection of leachate

»Vent pipes

• NIMBY–NOT IN MY BACK YARD

–Total number of land fills in 1988 was 8000

–In 1999 the total number was 2300

•Many filled to capacity

–EPA estimated within 10 years active land fills will fill to capacity

• Incinerators

–Can reduce wastes by 75%

–Can produce polluting gases

–Material can be toxic

Reducing Solid Wastes

Objectives

1. Identify three ways you can produce less waste.

2. Describe how you can use your consumer buying power to reduce solid waste.

3. List the steps that an item must go through to be recycled.

4. List two benefits of composting.

5. Name one advantage and one disadvantage to producing degradable plastic.

• Source Reduction

Method of reducing solid waste•Any change in design, manufacture, purchase, or use of materials or products to reduce amount of toxicity before they become MSW

Reducing Solid Waste

• Buy less•Less packaging, rechargeable batteries, use products that last longer

• Recycle–Process of reusing materials or recovering valuable materials from the waste or scrap

–Saves energy, water, and other resources

Examples

95% less energy is used to make aluminum cans from recycled cans than from ore

75% less E is used to make steel from scrap than from ore

• Steps in recycling

1.Material is collected and sorted

2.Material is taken to a processing facility

3.Material is made into a product

4.New product is sold to consumers

–Composting•15% of are waste can be composted

•Biodegradable•Compost- a dark, brown crumbly material made of decomposed plant and animal material

–Changing the material we use

•Using products that can be recycled

•Degradable plastics

Hazardous Waste

Objectives

1.Name two characteristics of hazardous waste.

2.Describe one law that governs hazardous waste.

3.Describe two ways in which hazardous waste is disposed.

• Hazardous waste is any waste that is a risk to the health of humans or other living things

• Types

–Dyes, cleaners, solvents

–PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls)

–Plastics, solvents, lubricants, sealants

–Heavy metals

–Pesticides

–Radioactive•RCRW (Recource Conservation and Recovery Act – 1976) requires records of disposal

•Super Fund Act 1980 – EPA right to sue, order cleanup

Hazardous Waste Management

• US produces 252 metric tons of waste every yearHow do we manage it?–Prevent or use less–Reuse it–Change to non hazardous material

• Land Disposal–Deep well injection–Surface impoundment

• Biologically treating–Use of bacteria–Plants–Biological chemicals

• Burn It• Export it

Hazardous Wastes at Home

–Dispose of properly

•Includes batteries, household chemicals, oil