Chapter 12 Wastes in the Environment

Old Automobiles In NA, close to 12 million vehicles are discarded In NA, close to 12 million vehicles are discarded 75% of a car can be reused or recycled 75% of a car can be reused or recycled Reduces air and water Reduces air and water pollution pollution Challenge: recycling Challenge: recycling plastic plastic

Automakers making changes Automakers making changes Many companies developing completely recyclable cars Many companies developing completely recyclable cars EU requiring cars to EU requiring cars to be 95% recoverable be 95% recoverable by 2015 by 2015 Old Automobiles

Solid Waste Facts U.S. generates most per capita, with Canada second U.S. generates most per capita, with Canada second How much produced per person per day? How much produced per person per day? Why do we produce so much solid waste? Why do we produce so much solid waste?

Solid Waste Most produced by mining, agriculture, industry Most produced by mining, agriculture, industry Nonmunicipal solid waste Nonmunicipal solid waste 98.5% of waste produced 98.5% of waste produced

Municipal Solid Waste Residential and commercial waste produced in an area Residential and commercial waste produced in an area Heterogeneous mixture Heterogeneous mixture

Disposal Of Solid Waste Open Dumps Open Dumps Now illegal Now illegal Sanitary Landfills Sanitary Landfills Receive close to 55% of the municipal solid waste generated in NA Receive close to 55% of the municipal solid waste generated in NA Compacts waste and buries it under a shallow layer of soil Compacts waste and buries it under a shallow layer of soil Plastic is a special problem, Why? Plastic is a special problem, Why?

Sanitary Landfills ≈ 54% MSW ≈ 54% MSW Dig hole, add waste, compact, bury Dig hole, add waste, compact, bury Liner at the bottom Liner at the bottom Leachate Leachate Liquid that seeps Liquid that seeps down down Collection system Collection system

Sanitary Landfills

Problems With Landfills No location is ideal No location is ideal Methane may build up Methane may build up Leachate may contaminate water supplies Leachate may contaminate water supplies They fill up They fill up Passing problem on Passing problem on

Plastics Fastest growing part of the waste stream Fastest growing part of the waste stream Why do we use so much plastic? Why do we use so much plastic? Don’t degrade Don’t degrade Some countries banning/taxing use Some countries banning/taxing use Photodegradable? Photodegradable? Biodegradable? Biodegradable?

Incineration Burning solid waste Burning solid waste Two benefits Two benefits Volume reduced up to 90% Volume reduced up to 90% Produces heat that Produces heat that can be used can be used Waste-to-energy Waste-to-energy incinerators incinerators Less CO 2 produced Less CO 2 produced

Best materials Best materials Paper, plastics, rubber Paper, plastics, rubber Tires Tires Produce a lot of heat Produce a lot of heat Use instead of coal? Use instead of coal? Incineration

Types Of Incinerators Mass burn: recover energy produced Mass burn: recover energy produced Modular: small, less expensive Modular: small, less expensive Refuse-derived Refuse-derived Remove noncombustible waste Remove noncombustible waste Burn combustibles only Burn combustibles only

Mass Burn Incinerator

Problems With Incineration Air pollution Air pollution Large amounts of ash produced Large amounts of ash produced Bottom ash Bottom ash Fly ash Fly ash No ideal location No ideal location Expensive Expensive Passing problem on Passing problem on

Composting Biodegradable solid waste Biodegradable solid waste Yard waste, food scraps, sewage sludge Yard waste, food scraps, sewage sludge Forms compost Forms compost Uses? Uses?

Reducing Solid Waste Three goals Three goals Reduce Reduce Reuse Reuse Recycle Recycle Needs vs. wants Needs vs. wants Make good choices! Make good choices!

Source Reduction Waste reduced at the source Waste reduced at the source Aluminum cans 35% lighter Aluminum cans 35% lighter Dry-cell batteries contain less mercury Dry-cell batteries contain less mercury Dematerialization Dematerialization Decrease in size and weight of a product as technology improves Decrease in size and weight of a product as technology improves Must be durable! Must be durable!

How Can You Reduce? Use reusable grocery bags Use reusable grocery bags Eliminate your junk mail! Eliminate your junk mail! Mail Preference Service Mail Preference Service Don’t use paper plates, cups, towels Don’t use paper plates, cups, towels Use a lunchbox & reusable containers Use a lunchbox & reusable containers Buy in concentrate Buy in concentrate Buy in bulk Buy in bulk

Buy durable products Buy durable products Use rechargeable batteries Use rechargeable batteries Buy items with the least amount of packaging Buy items with the least amount of packaging Eat less fast food Eat less fast food Think about your purchases before you buy Think about your purchases before you buy How Can You Reduce?

Reusing Products Many reduce ideas also good for reusing! Many reduce ideas also good for reusing! Donate or sell used items Donate or sell used items Should beverage containers be refillable? Should beverage containers be refillable? Why don’t we reuse items? Why don’t we reuse items?

Recycling Reclaiming a resource Reclaiming a resource Use it for same or different product Use it for same or different product ≈ 32% MSW ≈ 32% MSW Increased during the 1990s Increased during the 1990s There must be a market for recycled goods There must be a market for recycled goods Buy items made from recycled materials! Buy items made from recycled materials!

Recycling Benefits Conserves resources Conserves resources Saves energy Saves energy Creates jobs Creates jobs

Recycling Concerns Generates pollution: de-inking paper Generates pollution: de-inking paper Separation may be difficult Separation may be difficult Market fluctuates Market fluctuates Still encourages consumption Still encourages consumption

Recycling Paper ≈ 1/3 rd of waste in Canada is paper and paperboard ≈ 1/3 rd of waste in Canada is paper and paperboard Denmark ≈ 97% of its paper is recycled Denmark ≈ 97% of its paper is recycled Legislation can make a difference: how? Legislation can make a difference: how? Buy recycled paper! Buy recycled paper!

Recycling Glass Each year Canadians throw away 6 million tones of glass Each year Canadians throw away 6 million tones of glass Forms cullet Forms cullet Make new products Make new products Add to roadways: glassphalt Add to roadways: glassphalt

Recycling Metals Aluminum Aluminum Big success story! Big success story! In U.S. ≈ 44% beverage cans recycled In U.S. ≈ 44% beverage cans recycled Other metals also recycled Other metals also recycled May be difficult: why? May be difficult: why?

Recycling Plastic In Canada, plastic equals 7% of total weight in a typical landfill In Canada, plastic equals 7% of total weight in a typical landfill May be more expensive to recycle: why? May be more expensive to recycle: why? Challenge: different kinds Challenge: different kinds Separation necessary Separation necessary

Recycling Tires EPA indicates ≈ 36% of tires recycled EPA indicates ≈ 36% of tires recycled What are they used for? What are they used for? Future holds many opportunities Future holds many opportunities

Recycling electronics and Electrical Equipment In Canada, provincial responsibility to regulate electronic waste In Canada, provincial responsibility to regulate electronic waste “Take Back” program exists in a number of promises “Take Back” program exists in a number of promises E-waste is still a massive problem in Canada E-waste is still a massive problem in Canada Exporting used electronics to places like Guiyu, China is a huge problem Exporting used electronics to places like Guiyu, China is a huge problem

Integrated Waste Management Development of an overall waste management plan Development of an overall waste management plan Use the three R’s and other disposal methods Use the three R’s and other disposal methods

Hazardous Waste Any discarded chemical that threatens human health or the environment Any discarded chemical that threatens human health or the environment Reactive, corrosive, ignitable & toxic substances Reactive, corrosive, ignitable & toxic substances ≈ 1% of North America solid waste stream ≈ 1% of North America solid waste stream 700,000+ chemicals known to exist 700,000+ chemicals known to exist

Love Canal Neighborhood in Niagara Falls, NY Neighborhood in Niagara Falls, NY Hooker Chemical Co. Hooker Chemical Co. Disposed of toxic waste in canal Disposed of toxic waste in canal After filled, covered with topsoil After filled, covered with topsoil and donated land and donated land

School and houses built School and houses built Toxic waste oozed out Toxic waste oozed out 1978: many families evacuated 1978: many families evacuated 1990: area safe for resettlement 1990: area safe for resettlement Love Canal

Types of Hazardous Wastes Acids Acids Dioxins Dioxins Abandoned explosives Abandoned explosives Heavy metals Heavy metals Infectious waste Infectious waste Nerve gas Nerve gas Organic solvents Organic solvents PCBs PCBs

Dioxins Group of 75 chemical compounds Group of 75 chemical compounds Formed by combustion of chlorine compounds Formed by combustion of chlorine compounds Incineration, smelters, paper mills Incineration, smelters, paper mills

Emitted in smoke Emitted in smoke Settle on land Settle on land Incorporated into food web Incorporated into food web Virtually everyone has them in their body Virtually everyone has them in their body Carcinogenic Carcinogenic Dioxins

PCBs Polychlorinated biphenyls Polychlorinated biphenyls Group of 209 industrial chemicals Group of 209 industrial chemicals manufactured between manufactured between Cooling fluids, vacuum pumps, inks Cooling fluids, vacuum pumps, inks Dangers discovered in 1968 Dangers discovered in 1968

Harm skin, eyes, reproductive organs, GI tract Harm skin, eyes, reproductive organs, GI tract Hormone disrupters Hormone disrupters Intellectual impairments Intellectual impairments Carcinogenic? Carcinogenic? Hard to get out of Hard to get out of environment environment Some bacteria can degrade Some bacteria can degrade PCBs

Managing Hazardous Waste Technology exists for environmentally sound management Technology exists for environmentally sound management Very expensive! Very expensive! No country currently has an effective program No country currently has an effective program Using fewer Using fewer chemicals would help chemicals would help

Chemical Accidents In Canada, each province has a “hazmat team” In Canada, each province has a “hazmat team” Most involve oil, gasoline, petroleum Most involve oil, gasoline, petroleum Principle of inherent safety Principle of inherent safety Use less toxic materials Use less toxic materials Fewer dangerous accidents Fewer dangerous accidents 1984, Bhopal chemical spill, one of the worst in world’s history 1984, Bhopal chemical spill, one of the worst in world’s history

Public Policy & Toxic Waste Cleanup Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act Canadian Environmental Protection Act, Clean Air Act, Canada Water Act, Ocean Dumping Control Act Canadian Environmental Protection Act, Clean Air Act, Canada Water Act, Ocean Dumping Control Act

Basel Convention A global convention under the United Nations A global convention under the United Nations Goal is to harmonize hazardous waste disposal among nations Goal is to harmonize hazardous waste disposal among nations As of October 2006, 168 countries were a part of the convention As of October 2006, 168 countries were a part of the convention

Managing Toxic Waste Production Three ways Three ways Source reduction Source reduction Conversion to less hazardous materials Conversion to less hazardous materials Long-term storage Long-term storage

Source Reduction Most effective approach Most effective approach Green chemistry Green chemistry Redesigning chemical processes Redesigning chemical processes Reduce environmental harm Reduce environmental harm Will not eliminate hazardous waste Will not eliminate hazardous waste

Convert Materials Reduce dangerous compounds to less dangerous ones Reduce dangerous compounds to less dangerous ones High-temperature incineration High-temperature incineration PCBs  water, CO 2 PCBs  water, CO 2 Still must dispose of ash Still must dispose of ash

Long-Term Storage Hazardous waste landfills Hazardous waste landfills Strict environmental criteria and design Strict environmental criteria and design Leaching must be prevented Leaching must be prevented

Hazardous Waste Landfill

Eco Canada Career Focus Consider a career as a Hazardous Waste Technician Consider a career as a Hazardous Waste Technician Handle, process, pack and track hazardous waste for shipment, treatment and disposal Handle, process, pack and track hazardous waste for shipment, treatment and disposal

Case Study: Montreal’s Waste Management Plan Waste management is a big concern for industrial societies Waste management is a big concern for industrial societies Montreal implemented a Metropolitan Waste Management Master Plan (MWMMP) Montreal implemented a Metropolitan Waste Management Master Plan (MWMMP) Plan outlines reduction, recovery, reuse, and disposal Plan outlines reduction, recovery, reuse, and disposal Focuses on increased citizen involvement Focuses on increased citizen involvement

Aims to recover and reuse 60 % of waste Aims to recover and reuse 60 % of waste Is the MWMMP meeting it’s goals? Is the MWMMP meeting it’s goals? Meanwhile other cities in Canada are diverting between 52and 60% of their waste Meanwhile other cities in Canada are diverting between 52and 60% of their waste Case Study: Montreal’s Waste Management Plan