Chapter 24 Solid and Hazardous Waste

Overview of Chapter 24 o Solid Waste Types of Solid Waste Types of Solid Waste o Waste Prevention Reducing the Amount of Waste Reducing the Amount of Waste Reusing Products Reusing Products Recycling Materials Recycling Materials o Hazardous Waste Types of Hazardous Waste Types of Hazardous Waste Management of Hazardous Waste Management of Hazardous Waste o Environmental Justice

Solid Waste o US generates more solid waste per capita than any other country 2.1kg per person per day 2.1kg per person per day o Types of Solid Waste Municipal solid waste Municipal solid waste Solid material discarded by homes, office buildings, retail stores, schools, hospitals, prisons, etc Solid material discarded by homes, office buildings, retail stores, schools, hospitals, prisons, etc Relatively small portion of solid waste produced Relatively small portion of solid waste produced Non-municipal solid waste Non-municipal solid waste Solid waste generated by industry, agriculture, and mining Solid waste generated by industry, agriculture, and mining

Composition of Municipal Solid Waste (2012)

Disposal of Solid Waste o Three methods Sanitary Landfills Sanitary Landfills Incineration Incineration Recycling Recycling

Sanitary Landfill o Compacting and burying waste under a shallow layer of soil o Most common method of disposal

Sanitary Landfill o Problems Methane gas production by microorganisms Methane gas production by microorganisms Contamination of surface water & ground water by leachate Contamination of surface water & ground water by leachate Not a long-term remedy Not a long-term remedy Few new facilities being opened Few new facilities being opened Closing a full landfill is very expensive Closing a full landfill is very expensive

Sanitary Landfill o Special Problem of Plastic Much of plastic is from packaging Much of plastic is from packaging Chemically stable and do not readily break down and decompose Chemically stable and do not readily break down and decompose o Special Problem of Tires Cannot be melted and reused for tires Cannot be melted and reused for tires Made from materials that cannot be recycled Made from materials that cannot be recycled Can be incinerated or shredded Can be incinerated or shredded

Incineration o Volume of solid waste reduced by 90% o Produces heat that can make steam to generate electricity Produce less carbon emissions than fossil fuel power plants (right) Produce less carbon emissions than fossil fuel power plants (right)

Incineration o Types of Incinerators Mass burn (below) Mass burn (below) Modular Modular Refuse-derived Refuse-derived

Incinerator o Problems Associated with Incineration Yields air pollution Yields air pollution Produce large amounts of ash Produce large amounts of ash Site selection often controversial Site selection often controversial

Composting o Includes: Food scraps Food scraps Sewage sludge Sewage sludge Agricultural manure Agricultural manure Yard waste Yard waste o Reduces yard waste in landfills o Can be sold or distributed to community

Composting Do’s and Don’ts

Waste Prevention o Three Goals (1) Reduce the amount of waste (1) Reduce the amount of waste (2) Reuse products (2) Reuse products (3) Recycle materials (3) Recycle materials

Reducing Waste o Purchase products with less packaging

Reducing Waste o Source reduction Products are designed and manufactured in ways that decrease the volume of solid waste in the waste stream Products are designed and manufactured in ways that decrease the volume of solid waste in the waste stream o Pollution Prevention Act (1990) o Dematerialization Progressive decrease in the size and weight of a product as a result of technological improvements Progressive decrease in the size and weight of a product as a result of technological improvements

Reusing Products o Refilling glass beverage bottles Heavier glass that costs more Heavier glass that costs more o Japan recycles almost all bottles Reused 20 times Reused 20 times

Recycling Materials o Every ton of recycled paper saves: 17 trees 17 trees 7000 gallons of water 7000 gallons of water 4100 kwatt-hrs of energy 4100 kwatt-hrs of energy 3 cubic yards of landfill space 3 cubic yards of landfill space o Recycle Glass bottles, newspapers, steel cans, plastic bottles, cardboard, office paper Glass bottles, newspapers, steel cans, plastic bottles, cardboard, office paper

US MSW Recycle Rates

Highest Recovery Rates (% Generation) ItemPercent Recovered Lead-acid batteries96% Corrugated boxes91% Steel Cans71% Newspaper70% Major Appliances64% Yard Trimming58% Aluminum Cans55% Tires45% Mixed Paper43%

Recycling o Recycling Paper US recycles % US recycles % Many developed countries are higher Many developed countries are higher o Recycling Glass US recycles 34% glass containers US recycles 34% glass containers Costs less than new glass Costs less than new glass Can be used to make glassphalt (right) Can be used to make glassphalt (right)

Recycling o Recycling Aluminum Making new can from recycled one costs far less than making a brand new one Making new can from recycled one costs far less than making a brand new one 55% of Aluminum drinking cans recycled 55% of Aluminum drinking cans recycled

Recycling o Recycling Metals other than Aluminum Lead, gold, iron, steel, silver and zinc Lead, gold, iron, steel, silver and zinc Metallic composition is often unknown Metallic composition is often unknown Makes recycling difficult Makes recycling difficult o Recycling Plastic About 14% is recycled About 14% is recycled Less expensive to make from raw materials Less expensive to make from raw materials

Recycling o Recycling Tires Few products are made from old tires Few products are made from old tires Playground equipment Playground equipment Trashcans Trashcans Garden hose Garden hose Carpet Carpet Roofing materials Roofing materials 45% of tires are currently recycled to make other products 45% of tires are currently recycled to make other products

Integrated Waste Management

Hazardous Waste o Any discarded chemical that threatens human health or the environment Reactive, corrosive, explosive or toxic chemicals Reactive, corrosive, explosive or toxic chemicals o Types of Hazardous Waste Dioxins Dioxins PCBs PCBs Radioactive waste Radioactive waste

Disposal o Landfill These have thicker liners and collection tanks. These have thicker liners and collection tanks. o Surface Impoundment Ground is dug up and lined with plastic. Liquid is allowed to evaporate out. Solids are then sent to landfills Ground is dug up and lined with plastic. Liquid is allowed to evaporate out. Solids are then sent to landfills o Deep Well Injection A well is dug deep into the ground past the water table and injects waste (long storage option). A well is dug deep into the ground past the water table and injects waste (long storage option).

Management of Hazardous Waste o Hazardous Waste Landfill

Nevada Test Site

Management of Hazardous Waste o Chemical accidents National Response Center notified National Response Center notified Typically involves oil, gasoline or other petroleum spill Typically involves oil, gasoline or other petroleum spill o Current Management Policies Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (1976, 1984) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (1976, 1984) Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (1980) Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (1980)

Management of Hazardous Waste o Cleaning up existing hazardous waste: superfund program 400,000 waste sites 400,000 waste sites Leaking chemical storage tanks and drums (right) Leaking chemical storage tanks and drums (right) Pesticides dumps Pesticides dumps Piles of mining wastes Piles of mining wastes o Must be cleaned up

Management of Hazardous Waste o Superfund National Priorities List 2006: 1558 sites on the list 2006: 1558 sites on the list States with the greatest number of sites States with the greatest number of sites New Jersey (115) New Jersey (115) California (93) California (93) Pennsylvania (93) Pennsylvania (93) New York (86) New York (86) Michigan (65) Michigan (65)

Management of Hazardous Waste o Biological Treatment of Hazardous Chemicals Bioremediation Bioremediation Phytoremediation Phytoremediation o Management the Waste we are Producing Now (1) source reduction (1) source reduction (2) conversion to less hazardous materials (2) conversion to less hazardous materials (3) long-term storage (3) long-term storage

Case-In-Point Hanford Nuclear Reservation

Environmental Justice o Environmental Justice and Ethical Issues Right of every citizen, regardless of age, race, gender, social class, to adequate protection from environmental hazards Right of every citizen, regardless of age, race, gender, social class, to adequate protection from environmental hazards Fundamental human right Fundamental human right Grassroots campaign Grassroots campaign o Mandating environmental Justice- Federal Level

Environmental Justice o International Waste Management Developed countries sometimes send their waste to developing countries Developed countries sometimes send their waste to developing countries Less expensive than following laws within the country Less expensive than following laws within the country Controversial aspect of waste management Controversial aspect of waste management Basel Convention (1989) Basel Convention (1989) Restricts international transport of hazardous waste Restricts international transport of hazardous waste