1. Recycling, Solid and Hazardous Wastes
CHAPTER 16

3. Life cycle
Life cycle analysis is a study of input and output of resources from each product.

4. What is Solid Waste?
Discarded material that is thrown away. NOT USEFUL.
2012: 251 million tons of trash created; ~35% of this was recycled or composted.
Average American creates ~4.38 lbs of trash/day

5. Humans vs. other animals

6. 2012 Total MSW Generation
Note what could be composted!!!

7. E-Waste Computer monitors and TVs contain mercury, cadmium, lead
The recycling of this is costly on many levels.
$$$$ to recycle; most ends up in China

8. 3 Rs
Reduce and Refuse- source reduction- less materials to produce. Ex: 2 pieces of paper to one.
Reuse
Recycle
Closed loop- same product is created. Al cans
Open loop- tires into carpet

9. IKEA and Mushrooms
Using packaging made from mushrooms that will decompose in a garden within weeks.

10. Composting
decomposition of organic matter, such as food and yard wastes, into humus, a soil- like material

11. Managing Solid Waste Incineration (Energy Recovered From Waste)- ~19%
Landfills- open dumps and sanitary- ~54%
Recycling- ~27%

12. RCRA 1976- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
Regulates the management of non-hazardous solid waste in landfills
Encourages minimizing waste production.
Controls hazardous waste with a “cradle to grave”

13. NIMBY
Placement of land-fills, incinerators, etc in locations against public opinion.
Tend to be placed in poor areas- environmental injustice.

14. Incineration ~20% of U.S. waste disposal Reduces volume quickly
Toxic must be land-filled; “safe” ash can be used in road construction materials
Waste to Energy program
Burning of plastics can produce DIOXINS and HCl

16. Modern Sanitary Landfill
Important details:
1. Leachate (contaminated rainwater that has moved through the layers) collection system
Plastic and CLAY liners
Methane gas collection system

17. Landfills Landfills must be positioned 6 FT ABOVE the water table
Can’t be placed close to geologic faults, wetlands, or flood plains

18. Leachate Collection System
Leachate is the “liquid” collected by the system.
Results from biodegradable materials like food, paper; Chemicals- batteries (Cadmium), cleaners, paints
Organic materials should not be put in landfills- METHANE

19. Land fill Tipping Fees
$35/ton charged by the landfill (average).

20. Capping landfills when full- Reclamation can begin

21. Low groundwater pollution if sited properly Can be built quickly
Trade-Offs
Sanitary Landfills
Advantages
Disadvantages
No open burning
Little odor
Low groundwater pollution if
sited properly
Can be built quickly
Low operating costs
Can handle large amounts of waste
Filled land can be used for other
purposes
No shortage of landfill space in
many areas
Noise and traffic
Dust
Air pollution from toxic gases and volatile organic
compounds
Releases greenhouse gases (methane and CO2) unless they are collected
Groundwater contamination
Slow decomposition of wastes
Discourages recycling waste reduction
Eventually leaks and
can contaminate
groundwater

22. Math Practice
Annual precipitation in City Aqua’s landfill is 100 mm/yr and 50% of this runs off the landfill. This landfill has surface area of 5,000 m2. The leachate collection system is 80% efficient.
Calculate the volume of water in cubic meters (m3) that infiltrates the landfill annually mm/year= 0.1 m/yr
0.1 m/yr x 5,000 m2 x .5= 250 m3
2.How much leachate in m3 is treated annually?
250 m3 x .8= 200m3

23. Reusing-What can you do?
Use reusable plastic or glass containers.
Use rechargeable batteries & recycle them.
Use cloth grocery bags.
Carry lunches in reusable containers rather than plastic bags or aluminum foil.

24. Recycling Reprocesses solid waste into a new product.
Cuts energy use by 95%.
Curbside recycling- The Big Five:
aluminum cans, glass bottles, paper, plastic and steel/tin cans.

25. Bottled Water

26. Hazardous Waste
Any discarded solid or liquid material that is TOXIC, FLAMABLE, CORROSIVE, or REACTIVE.
By-products of pesticide and plastic production.
Developed countries create 80-90%
U.S.- regulated under Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

27. Superfund Legislation
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liabilities Act (CERCLA); 1980
“Superfund” to clean up abandoned sites
Hazard Ranking System (HRS)
National Priority List (NPL)

28. DIOXIN Dioxin Results from incineration of plastics, bleaching paper
Causes cancer and is
an endocrine disruptor.

29. Treating HW Physical methods- Filtering Incineration
Surface impoundments- ponds, pits, or lagoons that store HW.
Secured landfills
Biological- -bioremediation (bacteria), phytoremediation (plants)

30. Brownfields
Abandoned sites that contain hazardous chemicals (industrial or commercial)
~450,000 sites in the U.S. but only 40,000 have been cleaned up and redeveloped.

31. Case Study #2 Times Beach, Mo
A rural town of 2,240 residents.
Russell Bliss sprayed the dirt roads with “waste oil” contained dioxin
On Dec 23, EPA announced it had identified dangerous levels of dioxin in Times Beach's soil.
Feb. 23, 1983 the EPA announced the town's buyout for $32 million
Today- State Park- can be seen off State Route 66

32. Case Study #3 Love Canal Niagara Falls, NY
Toxic wastes (82 compounds, 11 carcinogens) were buried by Hooker Chemical company. Benzene, Dioxin 1940s-1950s….
1978 residents starting noticing problems…..
August 1978 President Carter declared sections of the site federal disaster areas.
Led to the enactment of CERCLA-SUPERFUND

33. Minamata Japan and Mercury Posioning

34. Case Study #1 Bhopal, India Dec 1984
World’s worst industrial accident- explosion at Union Carbide pesticide plant.
Toxic cloud over 30 sq miles and 600,000 people were exposed.
8,000 died within a few days, 23,000 died over the years, and 120,000+ left with chronic illnesses.
1989- Union carbide paid 470 million (without admitting negligence)