Waste Chapter 19

Hazardous Waste  Hazardous Waste- any waste that is a risk to the health of humans or other living things –Toxic- Poisonous –Corrosive- will dissolve metal –Explosive- will explode

Hazardous Waste  Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)- requires producers of hazardous waste to keep records of hazardous waste from the time of production until it is properly disposed of.  Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (Superfund Act)- gives the EPA the right to sue companies that improperly handle hazardous waste –1,200 sites (only 75 have been cleaned)

Hazardous Waste

 U.S. produces 252 metric tons of hazardous waste –Reduce the amount produced –Reuse –Conversion to nonhazardous waste –Land disposal –Biological treating of waste –Incineration –Exporting hazardous wasted

Hazardous Waste  Land disposal –Deep well injection- waste is pumped into a vacant layer of rock below the water table –Surface Impoundment- waste are pumped into a pond with a sealed bottom and collect

Hazardous Waste

 Most cities offer some sort of hazardous waste collection

The Garbage Story