Chapter 16: Waste Management Big Question: Is Zero Waste Possible?

Lesson 16 / ESRM 100 / University of Washington Municipal Solid Waste Paper comprises 35%. Single largest item is newsprint.

Lesson 16 / ESRM 100 / University of Washington Early Concepts of Waste Disposal Dilution and dispersion Concentration and containment Problem of limited space for landfills, and their high cost NIMBY

Lesson 16 / ESRM 100 / University of Washington Modern Trends Zero-waste and the principal of industrial ecology Turn waste into a resource rather than a pollutant Use taxes as an incentive?

Lesson 16 / ESRM 100 / University of Washington Integrated Waste Management Reduce Reuse Recycle 80-90% of US waste stream could be recovered by recycling Important to develop markets for recycled products.

Lesson 16 / ESRM 100 / University of Washington Materials Management Recycling alone can’t do the whole job. Conserve materials by: Eliminating subsidies for virgin materials; “Green building” incentives for new construction; Financial penalties for negative practices; and Increase number of new jobs in technology of resource reuse and reduction.

Lesson 16 / ESRM 100 / University of Washington Solid Waste Management Problems include illegal dumping and hazardous waste in landfills. On-site disposal by Kitchen garbage disposal units Composting of kitchen and garden waste Incineration Incineration reduces volume of waste and may generate electrical power. But may cause air pollution and generate toxic ash.

Lesson 16 / ESRM 100 / University of Washington Open Dumps Still in use, primarily in developing countries Generate a nuisance: pests, health hazard, air and water pollution.

Lesson 16 / ESRM 100 / University of Washington Municipal Solid Waste

Lesson 16 / ESRM 100 / University of Washington Modern Landfills Modern landfills incorporate multiple barriers to leachate and gas.

Lesson 16 / ESRM 100 / University of Washington Hazardous Waste

Lesson 16 / ESRM 100 / University of Washington Hazardous-Waste Legislation Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976 What qualifies as “hazardous”? Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980

Lesson 16 / ESRM 100 / University of Washington Hazardous-Waste Management: Land Disposal Secure landfills are designed to confine waste and leachate. Some argue that there is no such thing as a really secure landfill.

Lesson 16 / ESRM 100 / University of Washington Land Application: Microbial Breakdown Applying waste materials to near-surface soil may be an efficient way to treat certain biodegradable industrial waste. Importance of biopersistence. When biodegradable waste is added to the soil, it is attacked by microflora.

Lesson 16 / ESRM 100 / University of Washington Surface Impoundment A controversial way to store or dispose of hazardous waste. Surface impoundments are prone to seepage.

Lesson 16 / ESRM 100 / University of Washington Deep-Well Disposal Another controversial method involves injecting waste into deep wells below all freshwater aquifers.

Lesson 16 / ESRM 100 / University of Washington Land Disposal and Treatment Land disposal and treatment of hazardous waste may contaminate the environment.

Lesson 16 / ESRM 100 / University of Washington Alternatives to Land Disposal of Hazardous Waste A combination of source reduction, recycling and resource recovery, treatment, and incineration: - Reclaim/reuse useful chemicals - Treatment to reduce toxicity - Reduce the volume of waste items

Lesson 16 / ESRM 100 / University of Washington Pollution Prevention The early emphasis was on waste disposal. Prevention is the growing emphasis: purchasing the proper amount of raw materials; exercising better control of manufacturing materials; substituting nontoxic chemicals; and improving engineering and design of manufacturing

Chapter 16: Waste Management Questions? your TA.