1. Chap 16 – Waste Review 1/14/16

2. Waste There is no away Prevention is safer/cheaper than clean-up Einstein: “a clever person solves a problem…a wise one avoids it” 1 st – Reduce, 2 nd – Reuse, 3 rd – Recycle

3. Sometimes: Not lack of desire – lack of leadership (as with many environmental issues) Industry/Lobbyists exert political pressure Very hard to get new standards/restrictions into law Opposed by Industry - Economy trumps

4. Example CERCLA – Superfund law – Congress wouldn’t renew tax on oil & gas that expired in 1995 – Obama promised to reinstate, but couldn’t get thru Congress – So taxpayers have to foot the bill

5. Material Flow What do I mean by a linear flow? How does Nature work?

6. Material Flow Human Economy: Mostly linear Nature: Closed loop

7. Throw-a-way society Poor / developing countries – Waste? Weathly / Developed countries – Disposable products? – What is Planned Obsolescence?

8. Throw-a-way society Poor / developing countries – Very little waste – most material reused/recycled junk/scrap dealers Weathly / Developed countries – Disposable products became the norm – Planned Obsolescence Products designed to be replaced Increases consumption & waste

9. Who produces the most trash

10. US leads the world in trash production, per capita – US: 4.5% of world’s pop, but produces 1/3 of the world’s trash. China is catching up in sheer volume, China expected to produce 3x current amount by 2025

11. Two reasons to be concerned? 1. 2.

12. Two reasons to be concerned 1. Wasting of earth’s finite resources 2. Creating: Air pollution Water pollution Land degradation Solid and hazardous waste

13. Municipal Solid Waste – MSW – Where from? – ____% Industrial Solid Waste – ____% – ___________ – 56% – ______________ – 33% – _____________ – 10%

14. Municipal Solid Waste – MSW – homes, schools, businesses – 2% Industrial Solid Waste – 98% – Manufacturing – 56% – Mining – 33% – Agriculture – 10%

15. MSW – Where does it come from? - _______________ Biggest category? ___% Organic ___% Recyclable

16. MSW – Where does it come from? - Mostly organic – 64%

17. What Makes Up The Solid Waste Stream? Another way to look at MSW: By Source Biggest source: ?

18. What Makes Up The Solid Waste Stream? Another way to look at MSW: By Source Biggest source: Containers & packaging

19. MSW – what do we do with it? – Where does it go? How much do we recycle

20. MSW – what do we do with it? – Mostly landfills

21. Landfills – regulated by federal law (____) Creates 2 waste products: 1. liquid? 2. Gas?

22. Landfills – regulated by federal law (RCRA) Creates: leachate (garbage juice) – which can contain hazardous materials Methane (natural gas) – anytime organic waste decomposes anaerobically

23. Must have: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

24. Must have: Liner Compressed & covered each day Leachate collection & monitoring Mounded clay cap – to help water runoff instead of infilitrate Gas (Methane) collection & monitoring (anerobically decomposing organic waste) Ground water monitored Located: above water table, away from water sources, faults, population centers

25. Landfills ProsCons

26. Landfills Pros Can hold a lot Cheapest/most convenient Can use methane for energy US has space Land can be reclaimed when closed Accepts most MSW (not hazardous waste) Cons Can leak/contaminate NIMBY Methane produced Requires a lot of land Truck traffic Incomplete decomposition Subsidence

27. Incineration - Burning MSW can be win-win ProCon

28. Incineration - Burning MSW can be win-win Pro Generate electricity Waste to energy plants Save $ No fossil fuels Reduce volume by 90% Con Ash is more concentrated More toxic Air pollution – Hg, dioxins, fly ash (particulate matter) Expensive to build Competes with recycling material to burn Siting – NIMBY

29. Composting describe process ProsCons

30. Composting Pros Can Reduce volume going in landfills by 64% –Reduces methane produced –Organic matter in landfills decompose anaerobically → produce methane Produces humus –Fertilizer –Enhances soil texture –Retains moisture Anyone can do it –Large or small scale Can be sold or distributed to community Cons Takes time and space Can be inconvenient –Need to monitor C:N ratio 30:1 for best microbial action Add moisture Aerate/Agitate to add O 2 If not properly maintained –Can smell bad –Attract flies, rats, etc

31. Hazardous Waste What is it? – No perfect outcome, once produced What are problems in ecosystems? Types?

32. Hazardous Waste What is it? – Dangerous, toxic, reactive, corrosive, explosive, health effects No perfect outcome, once produced Persistant & Bioaccumlates in ecosystems Types – Industrial chemicals Solvents, POPs, VOCs, acids, petroleum products – household cleaning supplies, auto, batteries, paint, pesticides – Heavy metals Lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, chromium – Radioactive waste

33. Hazardous Waste Heavy metals - Neurotoxins Describe Health effects Synthetic Organics Describe Health effects

34. Hazardous Waste Heavy metals - Neurotoxins Damage Brain & nerve function Metal retardation Hyperactivity, Shortened attention span, Behavior disorder Kidney & Skeleton damage Death Synthetic Organics Persistent Organic Pollutants -POPs VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) Pesticides, dioxins, solvents Disrupt systems – Endocrine Gender benders Thyroid disorders – Reproductive – Birth defects – Reduced fertility – Immune – Cancer – Death

35. Stockholm Convention International Treaty Describe

36. Stockholm Convention International Treaty POP – Persistent Organic Pollutants Nearly every person on earth has detectable blood levels Long term health effects Cancer, gender bender, immune, behaviors Stockholm Convention 2001/2009 – Global treaty – Banned dirty dozen: DDT, PCBs – US has signed, but not ratified

37. Federal Laws 1. 2.

38. Federal Laws RCRA - Resource Conservation and Recovery Act – Regulates hazardous waste from “cradle to grave” EPA regulates the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste – Regulates disposal of solid waste in landfills – sets standards CERCLA - Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act – Commonly known as Superfund program. – Clean up abandoned waste sites

39. – Superfund sites: ? – Brownfields – ?

40. – Superfund sites: on NPL – most severe contamination Love Canal 1 st one – Near Niagra Falls, NY – Metal drums of toxic waste, buried, corroded – Carcinogens (benzene), POPs (dioxin), caustics Can take a long time to identify, put on NPL, clean up – Brownfields – not as contaminated Under state/local jurisdiction

41. Brownfield - Remediation / Clean up PROs CONS

42. Brownfield - Remediation / Clean up PROs Creates habitat Reduces runoff & contamination Cities can reuse existing urban land – reduce urban sprawl Increase property values, aesthetics Decreases health risks to those living near Provides area for housing, business Increase environmental awareness CONS Expensive Have to do something with waste – move problem to another area There is no away Disturbing ground: Increase risk of contamination Habitat destruction Soil erosion Hazardous material could become airborne

43. Solutions - Hazardous Waste 1. First choice??

44. Solutions - Hazardous Waste 1. Reduce / prevent / source reduction – Alternative material: alcohol instead of mercury thermometer – Increase efficiency – Reuse: rechargeable batteries – Govt regulation: ban DDT, fines, taxes, credit for recycling – Recycle: during manufacturing process products – take back to manufacturer: car batteries – Alternative energy source: wind, solar, geothermal

45. Solutions - Hazardous Waste 2.2 nd choice Three methods?

46. Solutions - Hazardous Waste 2. Convert to less toxic – Biological – using living organisms including microbes/bacteria Bioremediation – bacteria & enzymes – eat/convert Phytoremediation – plants - absorb Mycoremediation - fungus mycelium – absorb, heavy metals – Chemical – combustion/incineration, neutralization, other reactions – Physical – filtering, charcoal

47. Solutions - Hazardous Waste 3. 3 rd choice – examples

48. Solutions - Hazardous Waste 3. Long term storage – Special disposals sites – inside mountains – Landfills – secure – Deep well injection – fracking fluid – Surface impoundment – Export to other countries – have less stringent environmental laws

49. E-waste Why is it a problem?

50. E-waste Hazardous waste Small % of total volume But growing problem Heavy metals & Synthetic Organics (POPs) Export to Developing nations Environmental Justice Issues Contaminating their environment Health effects for poor, desperate people Need to recycle responsibly

51. E-waste Solutions 1. ? 2. ? 3. ? 4.?

52. E-waste Solutions Prevent Don’t allow to enter waste stream Hazardous waste collection sites Recycle/reuse New tech / alternative materials Rechargeable batteries Redesign manufacturing Use non-hazardous materials Incentives / Disincentives Place restrictions Enforce laws (RCRA) Rebates / discounts for alt material or recycling Tax / deposit / Surcharge on products Education Inform public Health & environmental concerns Availability of new tech / alternative material Methods of recycling

53. Life Cycle Analysis Describe

54. Life Cycle Analysis Evaluate impact thru lifetime of product: Materials, Energy, Pollution used/created – Mining raw materials – Manufacturing process – Shipping/Transportation at all steps – Use: Reuse/Recycle – Disposal Can evaluate true cost – Including externalities

55. Integrated Waste Management Describe

56. Integrated Waste Management Strategies to reduce environmental impact at all steps of Life Cycle – reduce, reuse, recycle, incineration, landfills, etc – Emphasis on to Cradle to Cradle – Reduce waste stream – Mimic nature: where there is no waste – Circle instead of linear