What is done with Waste/Trash?

Solid Waste: Generation of Waste

Back in the day, there was fewer people… resulting in more space to place waste Now the average person produces 4.4 pounds of waste a day When human population goes up… what happens to the land space?

Non biodegradable products are placed in containers and taken to factories which breakdown the products to be reused again.

Biodegradable Waste can be broken down by biological process and are made from natural products. Microorganisms have developed the abilities to break these down. Examples: newspapers, food waste, feces, etc. Waste that cannot be broken down by biological processes due to them being made up of synthetic material & chemicals Examples: styrofoam, plastic, glass, metal, etc. Plastics-Made from petroleum and natural gases (hydrogen & carbon) Nonbiodegradable

1. Municipal Waste What is thrown out on a daily basis- produced by households and businesses Makes up about 2% (236 million tons a year) Example: If you take the standard garbage truck and wrap it 6 times around the Earth Waste that is plastic, scarp metal, paper, sludge and ash 2. Manufacturing Waste

3. Mining Waste Rocks and Minerals Crops and Manure Is this type of waste biodegradable? 4. Agricultural Waste

Some waste in the US is sent to landfills, incinerated or is recycled Landfills: permanent waste disposal facilities. Each day waste is placed there and covered with plastic, soil or both Problems: Leachate- (watery liquid) seeps down through the landfill and collects dissolved chemicals and decomposing garbage Methane that is produced from decomposing material which is flammable and can cause fires

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Build more landfills, but are running out of space because decomposing rate is slower than trash build up 1988= 8,000 landfills, 2005= 1,700

Instead of storing waste, it is collected and burned. Benefits- reduces the amount of waste by producing ash Disadvantage- creates smoke/gas (CO2) and contributes to air pollution

Biodegradable Nonbiodegradable

Creative Writing: Imagine that you are a piece of trash 1. Chose if you will be biodegradable or nonbiodegradable and tell me what specifically what type waste you are) 2. Describe the process that would occur if you had to go through these 3 types of management. Through the eyes of the trash explain what happen during each process below. 1- landfills 2-recycling 3-incinerating

How much trash does the one person generate in one year?