Solid and Hazardous Waste 21 Solid and Hazardous Waste

Core Case Study: E-Waste – An Exploding Problem Electronic waste (e-waste) is the fastest growing solid waste problem Most ends up in landfills and incinerators Composition includes: High-quality plastics Valuable metals Toxic and hazardous pollutants

Core Case Study: E-Waste – An Exploding Problem (cont’d.) Shipped to other countries International Basel Convention Bans transferring hazardous wastes from developed countries to developing countries European Union Cradle-to-grave approach

Figure 21-1: These workers in Taizhou City in China’s Zhejiang Province are recovering valuable materials from scrap computers shipped from the United States. Question: Have you disposed of an electronic device lately? If so, how did you dispose of it? Fig. 21-1, p. 576

21-1 What Are Solid Waste and Hazardous Waste, and Why Are They Problems? Solid waste contributes to pollution and includes valuable resources that could be reused or recycled Hazardous waste contributes to pollution, as well as to natural capital degradation, health problems, and premature deaths

We Throw Away Huge Amounts of Useful Things Solid waste Industrial solid waste Mines, farms, industries Municipal solid waste (MSW) Trash Waste ends up in: Rivers, lakes, the ocean, and natural landscapes

Hazardous Waste Is a Serious and Growing Problem Hazardous waste (toxic waste) Threatens human health of the environment Classes of hazardous waste Organic compounds Toxic heavy metals Radioactive waste

Case Study: Solid Waste in the United States Leader in solid waste problem In trash production, by weight, per person 98.5% of all solid waste is industrial waste Most wastes break down very slowly If at all

Figure 21-5: A year’s worth of solid waste produced by family of four in San Diego, California. Recyclable items are on the left and the rest of their MSW is on the right. Fig. 21-5, p. 579

21-2 How Should We Deal with Solid Waste? A sustainable approach to solid waste is: First to reduce it Then to reuse or recycle it Finally, to safely dispose of what is left

We Can Burn, Bury, or Recycle Solid Waste or Produce Less of It Waste management Reduce harm, but not amounts Waste reduction Use less and focus on reuse, recycle, compost Integrated waste management Uses a variety of strategies

To manufacturers for reuse or for recycling Compost Landfill Raw materials Processing and manufacturing Products Solid and hazardous wastes generated during the manufacturing process Waste generated by households and businesses Figure 21-6: We can reduce wastes by refusing or reducing resource use and by reusing, recycling, and composting what we discard, or we can manage them by burying them in landfills or incinerating them. Most countries rely primarily on burial and incineration. Question: What happens to the solid waste you produce? Food/yard waste Hazardous waste Remaining mixed waste Plastic Glass Metal Paper To manufacturers for reuse or for recycling Hazardous waste management Compost Landfill Incinerator Fertilizer Fig. 21-6, p. 581

We Can Cut Solid Wastes by Refusing, Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling Waste reduction is based on: Refuse – don’t use it Reduce – use less Reuse – use it over and over Recycle Composting Using bacteria to decompose biodegradable waste

Refusing, Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling (cont’d.) Six strategies: Change industrial processes to eliminate harmful chemicals Redesign manufacturing process to use less material and energy Develop products that are easy to recycle Eliminate unnecessary packaging Use fee-per-bag waste collection systems Establish cradle-to grave responsibility

What We Should Do What We Do Reduce Bury (67%) Reuse Recycle/Compost (23.7%) Recycle/Compost Incinerate (9%) Incinerate Reuse (0.2%) Figure 21-7: Priorities recommended by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences for dealing with municipal solid waste (left) compared with actual waste-handling practices in the United States based on data (right). Question: Why do you think most countries do not follow most of the scientific-based priorities listed on the left? Bury Reduce (<0.1%) Fig. 21-7, p. 581

21-3 Why Are Refusing, Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling So Important? By refusing and reducing resource use and by reusing and recycling what we use, we: Decrease our consumption of matter and energy resources Reduce pollution and natural capital degradation Save money

There Are Alternatives to the Throwaway Economy We increasingly substitute throwaway items for reusable ones In general, reuse is on the rise One solution: taxing plastic shopping bags Ireland, Taiwan, the Netherlands

Figure 21-11: Individuals matter Figure 21-11: Individuals matter. There are many ways to reuse the items we purchase. Question: Which of these suggestions have you tried and how did they work for you? Fig. 21-11, p. 583

There Is Great Potential for Recycling Primary, closed-loop recycling Materials recycled into same type Secondary recycling Materials converted to other products: tires Types of wastes that can be recycled Preconsumer, internal waste generated in manufacturing process Postconsumer, external waste generated by product use

There Is Great Potential for Recycling (cont’d.) With incentives, the U.S. could recycle and compost 80% of its municipal solid waste Composting Mimics nature’s recycling of nutrients Resulting organic matter can be used to: Supply plant nutrients Slow soil erosion Retain water Improve crop yield

We Can Mix or Separate Household Solid Wastes for Recycling Materials-recovery facilities (MRFs) Can encourage increased trash production Source separation Pay-as-you-throw Fee-per-bag

Recycling Paper Production of paper versus recycled paper Energy use – world’s fifth largest consumer Water use Pollution Easy to recycle Uses 64% less energy Produces 35% less water pollution Produces 74% less air pollution

Recycling Plastics Plastics Currently only 7% is recycled in the U.S. Composed of resins created from oil and natural gas Currently only 7% is recycled in the U.S. Many types of plastic resins Difficult to separate

Recycling Has Advantages and Disadvantages Net economic health Environmental benefits Disadvantages Costly Single-pickup system No separation needed

Trade-Offs Recycling Advantages Disadvantages Reduces energy and mineral use and air and water pollution Can cost more than burying in areas with ample landfill space Reduces greenhouse gas emissions Reduces profits for landfill and incinerator owners Figure 21-14: Recycling solid waste has advantages and disadvantages (Concept 21-3). Questions: Which single advantage and which single disadvantage do you think are the most important? Why? Reduces solid waste Inconvenient for some Fig. 21-14, p. 585

21-4 The Advantages and Disadvantages of Burning or Burying Solid Waste Technologies for burning and burying solid wastes are well developed However, burning contributes to air and water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and buried wastes eventually contribute to the pollution and degradation of land and water resources

Burning Solid Waste Has Advantages and Disadvantages Waste-to-energy incinerators To heat water or produce electricity Landfills emit more air pollutants than modern waste-to-energy incinerators Toxic chemicals that are filtered must be disposed of or stored

Electrostatic precipitator Electricity Smokestack Steam Turbine Crane Generator Furnace Wet scrubber Boiler Electrostatic precipitator Waste pit Water added Figure 21.13: Solutions. A waste-to-energy incinerator with pollution controls burns mixed solid wastes and recovers some of the energy to produce steam to use for heating or producing electricity. Questions: Would you invest in such a project? Why or why not? Bottom ash Dirty water Conveyor Fly ash To waste treatment plant Ash for treatment, disposal in landfill, or use as landfill cover Fig. 21-15, p. 588

Waste-to-Energy Incineration Trade-Offs Waste-to-Energy Incineration Advantages Disadvantages Reduces trash volume Expensive to build Produces a hazardous waste Produces energy Concentrates hazardous substances into ash for burial Figure 21-16: Incinerating solid waste has advantages and disadvantages (Concept 21-4). These trade-offs also apply to the incineration of hazardous waste. Questions: Which single advantage and which single disadvantage do you think are the most important? Why? Emits some CO2 and other air pollutants Sale of energy reduces cost Encourages waste production Fig. 21-16, p. 588

Burying Solid Waste Has Advantages and Disadvantages Sanitary landfills Compacted layers of waste between clay or foam Bottom liners; containment systems Open dumps Widely used in less-developed countries Rare in developed countries Large pit Sometimes garbage is burned

When landfill is full, layers of soil and clay seal in trash Topsoil Sand Electricity generator building Methane storage and compressor building Clay Garbage Leachate treatment system Probes to detect methane leaks Pipes collect explosive methane for use as fuel to generate electricity Methane gas recovery well Leachate storage tank Compacted solid waste Figure 21-17: Solutions. A state-of-the-art sanitary landfill is designed to eliminate or minimize environmental problems that plague older landfills. Question: Some experts say that these landfills will eventually develop leaks and could emit toxic liquids. How do you think this could happen? Garbage Groundwater monitoring well Leachate pipes Leachate pumped up to storage tank for safe disposal Sand Synthetic liner Leachate monitoring well Groundwater Sand Clay and plastic lining to prevent leaks; pipes collect leachate from bottom of landfill Clay Subsoil Fig. 21-17, p. 589

Trade-Offs Sanitary Landfills Advantages Disadvantages Low operating costs Noise, traffic, and dust Releases greenhouse gases (methane and CO2) unless they are collected Can handle large amounts of waste Filled land can be used for other purposes Output approach that encourages waste production Figure 21-18: Using sanitary landfills to dispose of solid waste has advantages and disadvantages (Concept 21-4). Questions: Which single advantage and which single disadvantage do you think are the most important? Why? No shortage of landfill space in many areas Eventually leaks and can contaminate groundwater Fig. 21-18, p. 589

21-5 How Should We Deal with Hazardous Waste? A more sustainable approach to hazardous waste: First, produce less of it Then, reuse or recycle it Then, convert it to less-hazardous materials Finally, safely store what is left

We Can Use Integrated Management of Hazardous Waste Integrated management of hazardous wastes Produce less Convert to less hazardous substances Rest in long-term safe storage Increased use for postconsumer hazardous waste

Produce Less Hazardous Waste Change industrial processes to reduce or eliminate hazardous waste production Recycle and reuse hazardous waste Convert to Less Hazardous or Nonhazardous Substances Natural decomposition Incineration Thermal treatment Chemical, physical, and biological treatment Dilution in air or water Put in Perpetual Storage Landfill Underground injection wells Surface impoundments Underground salt formations Figure 21-20: Integrated hazardous waste management: The U.S. National Academy of Sciences has suggested these priorities for dealing with hazardous waste (Concept 21-5). Question: Why do you think most countries do not follow these priorities? Stepped Art Fig. 21-20, p. 591

Case Study: Recycling E-Waste 70% goes to China Hazardous working conditions Includes child workers U.S. produces roughly 50% of the world’s e-waste Recycles only 14%

We Can Detoxify Hazardous Wastes Collect and then detoxify Physical methods Chemical methods Use nanomagnets Bioremediation Phytoremediation Incineration Using a plasma arc torch

Radioactive contaminants Organic contaminants Inorganic metal contaminants Poplar tree Indian mustard Brake fern Sunflower Willow tree Landfill Oil spill Figure 21-22: Solutions. Phytoremediation involves using various types of plants that function as pollution sponges to clean up contaminants such as radioactive substances (left), organic compounds (center), and toxic metals (right) from soil and water. Polluted groundwater in Decontaminated water out Polluted leachate Soil Soil Groundwater Groundwater Rhizofiltration Roots of plants such as sunflowers with dangling roots on ponds or in greenhouses can absorb pollutants such as radioactive strontium-90 and cesium-137 and various organic chemicals. Phytostabilization Plants such as willow trees and poplars can absorb chemicals and keep them from reaching groundwater or nearby surface water. Phytodegredation Plants such as poplars can absorb toxic organic chemicals and break them down into less harmful compounds which they store or release slowly into the air. Phytoextraction Roots of plants such as Indian mustard and brake ferns can absorb toxic metals such as lead, arsenic, and others and store them in their leaves. Plants can then be recycled or harvested and incinerated. Fig. 21-22, p. 593

We Can Store Some Forms of Hazardous Waste Burial on land or long-term storage Last resort only Deep-well disposal 64% of hazardous liquid wastes in the U.S. Surface impoundments Lined pools for evaporation Secure hazardous waste landfills Expensive

Trade-Offs Deep-Well Disposal Advantages Disadvantages Safe if sites are chosen carefully Leaks from corrosion of well casing Emits CO2 and other air pollutants Wastes can often be retrieved Figure 21-24: Injecting liquid hazardous wastes into deep underground wells has advantages and disadvantages. Questions: Which single advantage and which single disadvantage do you think are the most important? Why? Output approach that encourages waste production Low cost Fig. 21-24, p. 594

Trade-Offs Surface Impoundments Advantages Disadvantages Low cost Water pollution from leaking liners and overflows Wastes can often be retrieved Air pollution from volatile organic compounds Figure 21-26: Storing liquid hazardous wastes in surface impoundments has advantages and disadvantages. Questions: Which single advantage and which single disadvantage do you think are the most important? Why? Can store wastes indefinitely with secure double liners Output approach that encourages waste production Fig. 21-26, p. 594

Figure 21-28: Individuals matter Figure 21-28: Individuals matter. You can reduce your output of hazardous wastes (Concept 21-5). Questions: Which two of these measures do you think are the most important ones to take? Why? Fig. 21-28, p. 595

Case Study: Hazardous Waste Regulation in the United States 1976 – Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) EPA sets standards and gives permits Cradle to grave Covers only 5% of hazardous wastes

Case Study: Hazardous Waste Regulation in the United States (cont’d.) 1980 – Comprehensive Environmental, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) National Priorities List 2013 – 1320 Superfund sites; 365 cleaned Pace of cleanup has slowed Superfund is broke Laws encouraging the cleanup of brownfields Abandoned industrial sites

Figure 21-29: Leaking barrels of toxic waste found at a Superfund site that has since been cleaned up. Fig. 21-29, p. 596

21-6 How Can We Make the Transition to a More Sustainable Low-Waste Society? Shifting to a low-waste society requires individuals and businesses to: Reduce resource use Reuse and recycle wastes at local, national, and global levels

Grassroots Action Has Led to Better Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Prevent construction of: Incinerators, landfills, treatment plants, polluting chemical plants Something must be done with hazardous wastes

Providing Environmental Justice for Everyone Is an Important Goal Everyone is entitled to protection from environmental hazards Which communities in the U.S. have the largest share of hazardous waste dumps? Environmental discrimination

We Can Encourage Reuse and Recycling Factors that hinder reuse and recycling: Market prices do not include harmful costs Economic playing field is uneven Demand for recycled products fluctuates Governments can pass laws requiring companies to reuse and recycle

Reuse, Recycling, and Composting Present Economic Opportunities Freecycle network Upcycling Recycling materials into products of higher value Dual-use packaging

International Treaties Have Reduced Hazardous Waste Basel Convention 1992 – in effect 1995 amendment – bans all transfers of hazardous wastes from industrialized countries to less-developed countries 2012 – ratified by 179 countries, but not the United States

International Treaties Have Reduced Hazardous Waste (cont’d.) 2000 – delegates from 122 countries completed a global treaty Control 12 persistent organic pollutants (POPs) DDT, PCBs, dioxins Everyone on earth has POPs in blood 2000 – Swedish Parliament law By 2020 ban all chemicals that are persistent and can accumulate in living tissue

We Can Make the Transition to Low-Waste Societies Norway, Austria, and the Netherlands Committed to reduce resource waste by 75% Key principles Everything is connected There is no away Producers and polluters should pay We can mimic nature by recycling and composting

Case Study: Industrial Ecosystems: Copying Nature Resource exchange webs Waste as raw material Ecoindustrial parks Two major steps of biomimicry Observe how natural systems respond Apply to human industrial systems

Three Big Ideas The order of priorities for dealing with solid waste should be to: Produce less of it Reuse and recycle as much of it as possible Safely burn or bury what is left

Three Big Ideas (cont’d.) The order of priorities for dealing with hazardous waste should be to: Produce less of it Reuse or recycle it Convert it to less hazardous material Safely store what is left

Three Big Ideas (cont’d.) View solid wastes as wasted resources, and hazardous wastes as materials that we should not be producing in the first place

Tying It All Together: E-Waste and Sustainability Reduce outputs of solid hazardous waste Mimic nature’s chemical cycling process Reuse and recycle Integrated waste management Include harmful environmental and health costs in market prices