Waste The U.S. produces 11 billion tons of waste per year. Industrial waste –about 400 million metric tons per year in the U.S. Municipal Waste- A combination of household and commercial refuse

Waste Water Treatment

Waste Stream The Waste Stream - flow of varied wastes that we all produce, from domestic garbage and yard wastes to industrial commercial, and construction refuse. –Many would be valuable if they were not mixed with other forms of garbage.

Open Landfills

Ocean Dumping Sources –Unregulated dumping Ships Coastal Communities –14 Billion pounds of garbage are dumped in the ocean each year

Landfills

Incineration

Recycling

»Recycling is so rapid that half of all the aluminum cans now on grocery shelves will be made into another can within two months. »Challenges »Americans still throw away nearly 350,000 tons of aluminum beverage containers each year, enough to make 3,800 Boeing 747s »Benefits »Costs less than disposal ($35/ton vs. $80/ton) »Reduces pressure on landfills »Reduces demand for raw resources. »Reduces energy consumption and air pollution. »Producing aluminum from recycling saves 95% of the energy.

Recycling is Catching On

Composting – biological degradation or breakdown of organic matter under oxygen rich conditions.

Remember, Reduce and Reuse, first, then Recycle

Hazardous Waste