chapter 24 solid waste. waste us generates more solid waste per capita than any other country –__...

Chapter 24Chapter 24

Solid WasteSolid Waste

WasteWaste

US generates more solid waste per US generates more solid waste per capita than any other countrycapita than any other country– __ kg solid waste/day/person__ kg solid waste/day/person

Municipal Solid WasteMunicipal Solid Waste

Solid materials Solid materials discarded by discarded by homes, offices, homes, offices, retail stores, retail stores, restaurants, restaurants, schools, prisons, schools, prisons, hospitals etc.hospitals etc.

Non-municipal Solid WasteNon-municipal Solid Waste

Mining wastes (~___%) agriculture Mining wastes (~___%) agriculture (~___%) and industry (~__%)(~___%) and industry (~__%)

4 Ways to get rid of Solid Waste4 Ways to get rid of Solid Waste

1) Dump it1) Dump it– _____________._____________.– __________________________

2) Bury it2) Bury it– Sanitary landfillsSanitary landfills– Get __% of waste todayGet __% of waste today– Place waste in a lined hole & cover it each day Place waste in a lined hole & cover it each day

with thin layer of soilwith thin layer of soil– Landfills lined with leachateLandfills lined with leachate– Charges tipping fees to accept wastesCharges tipping fees to accept wastes

4 Ways to get rid of Solid Waste 4 Ways to get rid of Solid Waste (cont.)(cont.)

2) Bury it-Landfills (continued)2) Bury it-Landfills (continued)– Land fill citing needs to consider area’s Land fill citing needs to consider area’s

climate, likelihood of flooding & climate, likelihood of flooding & geology/soil properties/topographygeology/soil properties/topography

– ProblemsProblemsmethane gas generation (including methane gas generation (including

explosivity)explosivity)Leachate leaksLeachate leaks

– Landfills monitored for 30 yrs. after Landfills monitored for 30 yrs. after closureclosure


3) Burn it-Incineration3) Burn it-Incineration– 2 positive aspects- volume of solids reduced by 2 positive aspects- volume of solids reduced by

50% and produces heat that can be captured 50% and produces heat that can be captured for energyfor energy

Waste to energy incinerators produce Waste to energy incinerators produce substantially less carbon dioxide emissions substantially less carbon dioxide emissions than equivalent power plants.than equivalent power plants.

Best materials for incineration= paper, Best materials for incineration= paper, plastics, and rubber (glass does not burn, plastics, and rubber (glass does not burn, food has high moisture content.)food has high moisture content.)


3) Burn it-Incineration (continued)3) Burn it-Incineration (continued) Types of Incinerators-Types of Incinerators-

– Mass burn incinerators-Mass burn incinerators-– Modular incinerators-Modular incinerators-– Refuse- derived fuel incinerators- Refuse- derived fuel incinerators-

Problems w/ Problems w/ Incinerators-Incinerators-– Some waste produces toxic chemicals Some waste produces toxic chemicals

such as paper=dioxins or plastics= such as paper=dioxins or plastics= polyvinyl chloride polyvinyl chloride


3) Burn it-Incineration (continued)3) Burn it-Incineration (continued) Pollution control devicesPollution control devices

– Lime scrubbers-neutralize acid gasLime scrubbers-neutralize acid gas– Electrostatic Ppt-pullout particular & Electrostatic Ppt-pullout particular &

negative charged materialnegative charged material Bottom ash or slag-Bottom ash or slag- Fly ash-ash from the flue (chimney) Fly ash-ash from the flue (chimney)

that is trapped by air pollution that is trapped by air pollution control devicescontrol devices


4) Compost it-compost organic 4) Compost it-compost organic wastes & use it for compost (mixed wastes & use it for compost (mixed in soil) or mulch (put on top of the in soil) or mulch (put on top of the soil)soil)

Product Stewardship-manufacturers Product Stewardship-manufacturers assume responsibility for their assume responsibility for their products from cradle to grave products from cradle to grave

Special ProblemsSpecial Problems

Polymers-plastics composed of Polymers-plastics composed of repeating carbon compoundsrepeating carbon compounds– Photodegradable-break down in sunlightPhotodegradable-break down in sunlight– Biodegradable-break down by Biodegradable-break down by

microorganismsmicroorganisms Problem w/ tire: made of vulcanized Problem w/ tire: made of vulcanized

rubber which cannot be melted or rubber which cannot be melted or reusedreused– Fire hazardFire hazard– Collect water => breeding spotCollect water => breeding spot

Waste PreventionWaste Prevention

1) Reduce amount of waste1) Reduce amount of waste– Design/manufacture products in such a way to Design/manufacture products in such a way to

decrease volume of solid & hazardous waste decrease volume of solid & hazardous waste =>source reduction=>source reduction

Dematerialization-progressive decrease in Dematerialization-progressive decrease in the size & weight of the product as result of the size & weight of the product as result of technological improvements.technological improvements.– Only results in source reduction if new product is Only results in source reduction if new product is

as durable as the one it replaces.as durable as the one it replaces. Pollution Prevention Act-law focuses on Pollution Prevention Act-law focuses on

reduced generation of pollutants at their reduced generation of pollutants at their point of originpoint of origin


2) Reuse2) Reuse– Can reuse bottles, clothes, etc.Can reuse bottles, clothes, etc.– Bottle reuse has dropped because Bottle reuse has dropped because

thicker ones cost more to transport & thicker ones cost more to transport & centralization of bottling facilities make centralization of bottling facilities make it economically difficult to reuseit economically difficult to reuse

3) Recycling3) Recycling– 1 ton recycled paper saves: 17 trees, 1 ton recycled paper saves: 17 trees,

7,000 gal water, 4,100 Kw/hr energy, & 7,000 gal water, 4,100 Kw/hr energy, & 3 yol3 landfill space3 yol3 landfill space


3) Recycling (continued)3) Recycling (continued)– Also generates jobs & revenue (pos.)Also generates jobs & revenue (pos.)– Uses energy & creates pollution (neg.)Uses energy & creates pollution (neg.)

Problems w/ composite materials Problems w/ composite materials waste separationwaste separation

Average family of 4 recycles >454 kg Average family of 4 recycles >454 kg (1,000 lb) of aluminum, cans, bottles, (1,000 lb) of aluminum, cans, bottles, containers, newspapers, & cardboard.containers, newspapers, & cardboard.


3) Recycling (continued)3) Recycling (continued) US recycles __% of municipal solid wasteUS recycles __% of municipal solid waste

– Paper __%Paper __%– Glass __%Glass __%– AluminumAluminum– MetalMetal– Plastic < ___ %Plastic < ___ %– Tires ___%Tires ___%

into tire productsinto tire products into rubberized asphaltinto rubberized asphalt

Waste PreventionWaste Prevention 3) Recycling (continued)3) Recycling (continued) Cullet- crushed glass used/recycled into Cullet- crushed glass used/recycled into

new glass productsnew glass products Aluminum recycling uses a fraction of the Aluminum recycling uses a fraction of the

energy to make new canenergy to make new can More recycling when economy is strongMore recycling when economy is strong Plastic not recycled much as its less costly Plastic not recycled much as its less costly

to make it from raw materialto make it from raw material PET is recycled more than any other PET is recycled more than any other

plastic/polystyrene (Styrofoam) not really plastic/polystyrene (Styrofoam) not really recyclesrecycles

Means of Controlling Solid WasteMeans of Controlling Solid Waste

Fee-per-bag approachFee-per-bag approach Source reductionSource reduction Hazardous WasteHazardous Waste

– Hazardous or toxic waste- any discarded Hazardous or toxic waste- any discarded chemical that threatened human health chemical that threatened human health or the environmentor the environment1% of solid waste stream1% of solid waste streamMaterials that are reactive, corrosive, Materials that are reactive, corrosive,

explosive or toxicexplosive or toxic

Hazardous Solid WasteHazardous Solid Waste

Examples of hazardous waste:Examples of hazardous waste: Dioxins:Dioxins:

– By product of chlorine combustionBy product of chlorine combustion– Hospitals=largest polluters of dioxin; Hospitals=largest polluters of dioxin;

others are hospitals, paper/pulp, coalothers are hospitals, paper/pulp, coal– Delays fetal development, cognitive Delays fetal development, cognitive

damage, decrease sperm productiondamage, decrease sperm production

Hazardous Solid WasteHazardous Solid Waste

PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)– Group of 209 industrial chemicals composed of Group of 209 industrial chemicals composed of

carbon, hydrogen & chlorinecarbon, hydrogen & chlorine– Used for cooling fluids, hydraulics fluids, fire Used for cooling fluids, hydraulics fluids, fire

retardants, adhesives, lubricants, inks, etc.retardants, adhesives, lubricants, inks, etc.– Harm skin, eyes, reproductive capacity Harm skin, eyes, reproductive capacity

gastrointestinal system, endocrine disruptersgastrointestinal system, endocrine disrupters

High temp incineration-effective way High temp incineration-effective way to destroy PCBsto destroy PCBs

Means of Controlling Hazardous Means of Controlling Hazardous Solid WasteSolid Waste

ERNS- Emergency Response ERNS- Emergency Response Notification SystemNotification System

Principle of inherent safety- industrial Principle of inherent safety- industrial process are redesigned to involve process are redesigned to involve less toxic materials so that accidents less toxic materials so that accidents are prevented.are prevented.

Means of Controlling Hazardous Means of Controlling Hazardous Solid WasteSolid Waste

2 Federal laws dictating hazardous waste 2 Federal laws dictating hazardous waste management:management:

1) Resource Conservation & Recovery Act1) Resource Conservation & Recovery Act--– Identify which waste is hazardous and to provide guide lines Identify which waste is hazardous and to provide guide lines

& standards in states for hazardous waste management & standards in states for hazardous waste management programs (e.g. disposal)programs (e.g. disposal)

2)Comprehensive Environmental 2)Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation & Liability Act Response Compensation & Liability Act (CERCLA)- (CERCLA)-

– Superfund Act- formed to tackle cleaning up hazardous waste Superfund Act- formed to tackle cleaning up hazardous waste sitessites

– Created National Priorities List (NPL) which lists the baddest Created National Priorities List (NPL) which lists the baddest of the badof the bad

– 1/51/5thth of NPL sites are open dumps or sanitary landfills of NPL sites are open dumps or sanitary landfills

Means of Controlling Hazardous Solid Means of Controlling Hazardous Solid WasteWaste

Primary Responsible Parties-Primary Responsible Parties-– Current land ownerCurrent land owner– Prior ownersPrior owners– Anyone who dumped waste on the landAnyone who dumped waste on the land– Anyone who transported waste to a particular Anyone who transported waste to a particular

sitesite Treatment OptionsTreatment Options

– Excavate & landfillExcavate & landfill– BioremediationBioremediation– PhytoremediationPhytoremediation– fixationfixation– Soil gas/vapor extractionSoil gas/vapor extraction– IncinerationIncineration– RecyclingRecycling– Soil washingSoil washing


3 ways to deal w/ toxic waste3 ways to deal w/ toxic waste

1.1. Source reductionSource reduction

2.2. Conversion to less hazardous Conversion to less hazardous material/wastematerial/waste

3.3. Long-term storageLong-term storage Environmental JusticeEnvironmental Justice

– Every citizen, regardless of age, race, gender, Every citizen, regardless of age, race, gender, social class or other factor is entitled to social class or other factor is entitled to adequate protection from environmental adequate protection from environmental hazardshazards


Basel Convention- restricts the Basel Convention- restricts the international transport of hazardous wasteinternational transport of hazardous waste– Allows countries to export hazardous waste only Allows countries to export hazardous waste only

w/ prior consent of importing countries plus any w/ prior consent of importing countries plus any countries through which waste is transportedcountries through which waste is transported

Integrated Waste Management- using Integrated Waste Management- using combined techniques of 3Rs to create an combined techniques of 3Rs to create an over all waste management planover all waste management plan

Voluntary simplicity- recognizing that Voluntary simplicity- recognizing that individual happiness & quality of life are individual happiness & quality of life are not tied to the accumulation of material not tied to the accumulation of material goodsgoods

chapter 24 solid waste. waste us generates more solid waste per capita than any other country –__...

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