Copyright © 2008 Pearson Prentice Hall, Inc.

From Landfill to School

Municipal Solid Waste: Disposal and Recovery

Factors Contributing to Increasing Amounts of MSW

Changing Lifestyles

Disposable Materials: Diapers

Excessive Packaging

The Solid-Waste Problem Disposal of municipal solid waste Landfills Combustion: waste to energy Costs of municipal solid-waste disposal

Disposal of Municipal Solid-Waste (MSW) The solid-waste problem: –We generate huge amounts of MSW, and it is increasingly expensive to dispose of it in ways that are environmentally responsible and protective of human health.

MSW Components

The Fate of MSW

New Orleans Dump

Problems of Landfills Leachate generation and groundwater contamination Methane production Incomplete decomposition Settling

Improving Landfills Located above water table and away from airports Contoured floor for leachate-collection system Covered with earthen material Ground-water monitoring wells

New Landfills Emphasis on groundwater protection.

Landfills Siting: Public Reactions LULU (locally unwanted landuse) NIMBY (not in my backyard) NIMTOO (not in my term of office)

Interstate Transfer of MSW

Trash to Treasure (Table 18-1) Highest (more than 1 million tons) net importers of MSW –Pennsylvania –Virginia –Michigan –Ohio

Trash to Treasure (Table 18-1) Highest (more than 1 million tons) net exporters of MSW –New York –New Jersey –Ontario, Canada –Missouri

Combustion Advantages Reduction trash weight (70%) and volume (90%) - increases life of landfill Control of toxic or hazardous substances –Fly ash –Bottom ash Same trash collection procedures Two-thirds are WTE facilities in compliance with Clean Air Act regs.

Combustion Advantages Produce 2,700 megawatts of electricity meeting power needs of 2.3 million homes Resource recovery

Combustion Drawbacks Cost of construction Uninterrupted MSW stream flow Combustion ash loaded with hazardous substances – disposed in secure landfill Siting – offensive odors Competition with recycling efforts

Waste-to-Energy Operating Facility

Costs of MSW Disposal Tipping fees increase: $34 to $263/ton Illegal dumping –Tires –Refrigerators –Car parts

Solutions to the Solid-Waste Problem Source reduction The recycling solution Municipal recycling Regional recycling options

Source Reduction Less weight Internet information transfer Resale and donation of durable goods Lengthening a product’s life cycle Refusing bulk mail Composting

Yard Sales

The Recycling Solution Paper to paper. Newspaper = 13% MSW stream. Worth $30/ton. Ton of newspapers = 17 trees.

The Recycling Solution Paper Glass Plastic Metals Yard wastes Textiles Old tires Compost Refabrication Synthetic lumber Sand or gravel Insulation Strengthens recycled paper Highways Match

A Trex Deck

Trex Materials Plastic grocery bags Reclaimed pallet wrap Waste wood

Municipal Recycling 75% MSW recyclable if: –Mandatory –Easy to do –Incentives –Political and industrial support

State Recycling Rates

MSW Recycling in the United States

Curbside Recycling

Wastepaper Exports

Regional Recycling Options Materials recovery facilities (MRFs) Mixed waste processing Mixed waste and yard trimmings composting

Materials Recovery

Public Policy and Waste Management The regulatory perspective Integrated waste management

The Regulatory Perspective Solid waste disposal act 1965 Resource recovery act 1970 and1976 Resource conservation and recovery act (RCRA) of 1976 Superfund act 1980 Hazardous and solid waste amendments 1984

Integrated Waste Management Waste reduction Safe waste disposal Recycling and reuse Pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) trash pickup

Pay-as-you-throw Trash Pickup

End of Chapter 18 PPT by Clark E. Adams