Solid and Hazardous Waste G. Tyler Miller’s Living in the Environment 13 th Edition Chapter 21 G. Tyler Miller’s Living in the Environment 13 th Edition Chapter 21 Dr. Richard Clements Chattanooga State Technical Community College Modified by Charlotte Kirkpatrick Dr. Richard Clements Chattanooga State Technical Community College Modified by Charlotte Kirkpatrick

Key Concepts  Types and amounts of wastes  Methods to reduce waste  Methods of dealing with wastes  Hazardous waste regulation in the US

Wasting Resources  Industrial and agricultural waste  Municipal solid waste  US: 1,700 lb/person/year: (54% in landfills, 30% recycled or composted and 16% incinerated) Fig p. 526 Fig p. 526

Hazardous Wastes  Contains one or more of 39 toxic, mutagenic, carcinogenic or teratogenic compounds at levels that exceed established limits: (see sect. 11-3)  Catches fire easily: gasoline, paints, solvents  Reactive, explosive or able to release toxic fumes: acids, bases, ammonia, and bleach  Corrodes metal containers: industrial cleaning agents, oven and drain cleaners

Not Hazardous Wastes  Radioactive wastes  Household wastes  Mining wastes  Oil and gas drilling wastes  Liquids containing organic hydrocarbons  Cement kiln dust See Table 21-1 p. 527  <100 kg (220 lb) per month  Therefore hazardous waste laws do not regulate 95% of the country’s hazardous waste

Producing Less Waste and Pollution  Waste management (high waste approach) see list page 526  Waste management (high waste approach) see list page 526  Burying, burning, shipping  Waste prevention (low waste approach)  Reduce, reuse, recycle  Chemical or biological treatment  Burial

Dealing with Material Use and Wastes Fig p. 528

Dealing with Hazardous Wastes Fig p. 530

Solutions: Cleaner Production  Ecoindustrial revolution  Industrial ecology: cleaner production see p. 536  Closed material cycles  Wastes become raw materials  Industrial ecology: cleaner production see p. 536  Closed material cycles  Wastes become raw materials  Biomimicry see fig p.532 Refer to Solutions p. 533

Figure 21-5 Page 532 Surplus Sulfur Pharmaceutical plant Local farmers Fish farming Cement manufacturer Area homes Wallboard factory Greenhouses Oil refinery Sulfuric acid producer Electric power plant Sludge Waste Heat Waste Heat Waste Heat Waste Heat Waste Heat Surplus Natural gas Surplus Natural gas Waste Calcium sulfate Industrial Ecosystem Waste from one business become the raw materials for another

Solutions: Selling Services Instead of Things ( p )  Service-flow economy instead of materials flow  Uses a minimum amount of material  Products last longer  Products are easier to maintain, repair, and recycle  Customized services needed by customers See Individuals Matter p. 534

Reuse  Extends resource supplies  Maintains high-quality matter  Reduces energy use  Refillable beverage containers  Reusable shipping containers and grocery bags See Solutions p. 535  Bad news: we continue to replace reusable material with throwaway materials

Recycling  Primary (closed- loop): reproduce the same product  Post consumer waste: wastes discarded by the consumer  Secondary or downcycling (open loop): Reproduce a new product Fig p. 535

Characteristics of Recyclable Materials  Easily isolated from other waste  Available in large quantities  Valuable  Pay-as-you-throw garbage collection

Benefits of Recycling Fig p. 536

Recycling in the US  Centralized recycling of mixed waste (MRFs)  Separated recycling  Economic benefits  Increasing recycling in the US See Case Study p. 540

Outside users Pipeline Shredder Energy recovery (steam and electricity) Incinerator (paper, plastics, rubber, food, yard waste) Food, grass, leaves Separator MetalsRubberGlassPlasticsPaper ResidueCompost Recycled to primary manufacturers Landfill and reclaiming disturbed land Fertilizer Consumer (user) Figure 21-8 Page 538 Materials Recovery Facility (MRF’s)

Case Studies: Recycling Aluminum, Wastepaper, and Plastics  40% of aluminum recycled in US  Recycled aluminum uses over 90% fewer resources  Paper: preconsumer vs. postconsumer recycling  10% or less of plastic recycled in US  Plastics can be very difficult to recycle

Detoxifying Wastes  Bioremediation  Microorganisms break down wastes  Phytoremediation  Removal of wastes from the soil

Burning Wastes  Mass burn incineration  Air pollution  Waste to energy Fig p. 543

Wastes to Energy Incinerator

Burying Wastes  Sanitary landfill  Leachate collection  Monitoring wells  Emit greenhouse gases (CO 2 and methane)  Space near where waste is produced

Sanitary Landfill Fig p. 544

Sanitary Landfill

Deep-well Disposal of Liquid Hazardous Waste Fig p. 546

Hazardous Waste Landfill Fig p. 547

Above Ground Hazardous Waste Disposal Fig p. 547

Surface Impoundments Excavated depressions such as ponds, pits, or lagoons for disposing of liquid hazardous wastes

Exporting Wastes  Shipping to developing countries  Potentially huge profits for exporters  Basel Convention on Hazardous Waste  Many developing countries refusing wastes

Case Studies: Lead  Lead poisoning (neurotoxin) major problem in children; leads to death and survivors can suffer form palsy, partial paralysis, blindness, and mental retardation Primary Sources of Lead  Leaded gasoline (phased out by 1986)  Lead paint (banned in 1970)  Lead in plastics  Lead in plumbing  Progress is being made in reducing lead

Sources of Lead

Case Studies: Mercury  Vaporized elemental Mercury  Fish contaminated with methyl mercury  Natural inputs  Emission control  Prevention of contamination

Mercury Cycling

Case Studies: Chlorine  Environmentally damaging and potential health threat Sources of Chlorine  Plastics  Solvents  Paper and pulp bleaching  Water disinfection  Many safer and cheaper substitutes are available

Case Studies: Dioxins  Potentially highly toxic chlorinated hydrocarbons  Waste incineration  Fireplaces  Coal-fired power plants  Paper production Sources of Dioxins  Sewage sludge

Hazardous Waste Regulation in the United States  Resource Conservation and Recovery Act: ID hazardous wastes and set standards, firms with more than 100 kg of hazardous waste must be permitted, cradle to grave monitoring  Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act: a.k.a. Superfund Act  National Priority List  Polluter-pays principle  Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act: a.k.a. Superfund Act  National Priority List  Polluter-pays principle  Brownfields: abandoned industrial and commercial sites that in most cases are contaminated: clean up and converted See Solutions p. 554

Solutions: Achieving a Low-Waste Society  Local grassroots action: bottom up change to fight environmental injustice  POP’s Treaty: International ban on 12 persistent organic pollutants (the dirty dozen) see list p. 555  Cleaner production  Improved resource productivity  Service flow economies

Four Key Principles to Live by Everything is connected There is no away for our wastes Dilution is not always the solution to pollution The best and cheapest way to deal with waste and pollution is to produce less of them and then reuse and recycle most of the materials we use. Everything is connected There is no away for our wastes Dilution is not always the solution to pollution The best and cheapest way to deal with waste and pollution is to produce less of them and then reuse and recycle most of the materials we use.