1. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
CHAPTER 16: Solid and Hazardous Waste

2. Core Case Study: Electronic Waste (1)
What is electronic waste or e-waste?
Televisions, computers
Cell phones, iPods
Fastest growing category of waste
80% recyclable
Contains toxic materials

3. Core Case Study: Electronic Waste (2)
Disposal methods
Cradle-to-grave approach
E-recycling industry
Company-sponsored recycling programs
Prevention is best long-term solution

4. Fig. 16-1, p. 403

5. 16-1 What Are Solid Waste and Hazardous Waste, and Why Are They Problems?
Concept Solid waste represents pollution and unnecessary waste of resources, and hazardous waste contributes to pollution, natural capital degradation, health problems, and premature deaths.

6. Wasting Resources (1) Solid Waste Industrial solid waste
Mining
Agriculture
Industry
Municipal solid waste
Homes
Businesses

7. Wasting Resources (2) Hazardous or toxic waste
Threatens human health or the environment
Poisonous
Reactive
Corrosive
Flammable
Developed countries produce 80-90%

8. Wasting Resources (3) Solid waste and hazardous waste
About 3/4 unnecessary resource waste
Create air and water pollution, land degradation

9. Fig. 16-2, p. 405

10. What Harmful Chemicals Are in Your Home?
Cleaning
Gardening
Disinfectants
Pesticides
Drain, toilet, and window cleaners
Weed killers
Ant and rodent killers
Spot removers
Flea powders
Septic tank cleaners
Paint Products
Paints, stains,
varnishes, and lacquers
Paint thinners, solvents,
and strippers
Figure 16.2: Harmful chemicals found in many homes. The U.S. Congress has exempted
disposal of these materials from government regulation. Question: Which of these
chemicals are in your home?
Wood preservatives
Automotive
Artist paints and inks
Gasoline
Used motor oil
General
Antifreeze
Dry-cell batteries
(mercury and cadmium)
Battery acid
Brake and
transmission fluid
Glues and cements
Fig. 16-2, p. 405

11. What Harmful Chemicals Are in Your Home?
Cleaning
Disinfectants
Drain, toilet, and window cleaners
Spot removers
Septic tank cleaners
Gardening
Pesticides
Weed killers
Ant and rodent killers
Flea powders
Paint Products
Paints, stains, varnishes, and lacquers
Paint thinners, solvents, and strippers
Wood preservatives
Artist paints and inks
Automotive
Gasoline
Used motor oil
Antifreeze
Battery acid
Brake and transmission fluid
Figure 16.2: Harmful chemicals found in many homes. The U.S. Congress has exempted
disposal of these materials from government regulation. Question: Which of these
chemicals are in your home?
General
Dry-cell batteries (mercury and cadmium)
Glues and cements
Stepped Art
Fig. 16-2, p. 405

12. Fig. 16-3, p. 405

13. Case Study: Solid Waste in the United States
Produces 1/3 of world’s solid waste
Mining, agricultural, industrial – 98.5%
Municipal solid waste – 1.5%
High-waste economy
Examples

16. 16-2 How Should We Deal with Solid Waste?
Concept A sustainable approach to solid waste is first to reduce it, then to reuse or recycle it, and finally to safely dispose of what is left.

17. Dealing with Solid Waste
Waste management
Waste reduction
Integrated waste management

18. Fig. 16-4, p. 407

19. Raw materials
Processing and
manufacturing
Products
Solid and hazardous
wastes generated during
the manufacturing process
Waste generated by
households and
businesses
Figure 16.4: Integrated waste management: Wastes are reduced through reuse, recycling, and composting or managed by burying
them in landfills or incinerating them. Most countries rely primarily on burial and incineration. Question: What happens to the solid
waste you produce?
Food/yard
waste
Hazardous
waste
Remaining
mixed waste
Plastic
Glass
Metal
Paper
To manufacturers for reuse or
for recycling
Hazardous waste
management
Compost
Landfill
Incinerator
Fertilizer
Fig. 16-4, p. 407

20. Fig. 16-5, p. 407

21. First Priority
Primary Pollution and Waste Prevention
Change industrial process to eliminate use of harmful chemicals
Use less of a harmful product
Reduce packaging and materials in products
Make products that last longer and are recyclable, reusable, or easy to repair
Second Priority
Second Pollution and Waste Prevention
Reuse
Repair
Recycle
Compost
Buy reusable and recyclable products
Last Priority
Waste Management
Treat waste to reduce toxicity
Incinerate waste
Bury waste in landfills
Release waste into environment for dispersal or dilution
Figure 16.5: Integrated waste management: priorities suggested by the U.S. National Academy of Scientists for dealing with solid waste.
To date, these waste reduction priorities have not been followed in the United States or in most other countries. Instead, most efforts are devoted to waste management (bury it or burn it).
Question: Why do you think most countries do not follow these priorities, which are based on consensus science?
(Data from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. National Academy of Sciences)
Stepped Art
Fig. 16-5, p. 407

22. Producing Less Waste
Refuse
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle

23. Fig. 16-6, p. 408

24. Reducing Resource Use, Waste, and Pollution (1)
Redesign processes and products to use less material
Redesign processes and products to generate less waste
Make products easy to repair, reuse, remanufacture, compost, or recycle

25. Reducing Resource Use, Waste, and Pollution (2)
Eliminate or reduce unnecessary packaging
Use fee-per-bag waste collection systems
Establish cradle-to-grave laws

26. Science Focus: Garbology
Garbologists
Like archaeologists
Trash persists for decades

27. 16-3 Why Is Reusing and Recycling Materials So Important?
Concept Reusing items decreases the use of matter and energy resources and reduces pollution and natural capital degradation; recycling does so to a lesser degree.

28. Reuse Reuse as a form of waste reduction Salvaging
Yard sales, flea markets, secondhand stores, auctions, newspaper ads, Craigslist, ebay
Technology: rechargeable batteries
Refillable containers and cloth bags

29. Fig. 16-7, p. 409

30. Recycling (1) Five major types of materials can be recycled
Paper products
Glass
Aluminum
Steel
Plastics (some)

31. Recycling (2) Primary (closed-loop) recycling Secondary recycling
Preconsumer (internal) waste
Postconsumer (external) waste
Feasibility and marketing

32. Mixed Versus Separate Household Recycling
Material recovery facilities (MRF)
Can be expensive
Source separation
By households and businesses
Glass, paper, metals, plastics, compostable

33. Composting Decomposing bacteria Household composting
Organic waste collection facilities
Successful large-scale composting
Odor control
Exclude toxic materials

34. Individuals Matter: Recycling Plastics
5% plastics recycled
MBA Polymers, Inc – commercial recycling process
Mike Biddle and Trip Allen, co-founders
Pellets cheaper than virgin plastics
More environmentally friendly

35. Fig. 16-8, p. 411

36. Trade-Offs Recycling Advantages Disadvantages
Reduces air and water
pollution
Saves energy
Reduces mineral demand
Reduces greenhouse
gas emissions
Reduces solid waste
production and disposal
Helps protect biodiversity
Can save landfill space
Important part of economy
Can cost more than
burying in areas with
ample landfill space
May lose money for items such as glass and some plastics
Reduces profits for landfill and incinerator owners
Source separation is
inconvenient for some
people
Figure 16.8: Advantages and disadvantages of recycling solid waste (Concept 16-3). Questions: Which
single advantage and which single disadvantage do you think are the most important? Why?
Fig. 16-8, p. 411

37. Science Focus: Bioplastics
Most plastics are organic polymers produced from petrochemicals
Bioplastics are made from plant materials
Biodegradable
Composting

38. Encouraging Reuse and Recycling
Market prices must reflect true costs
Even economic playing field: taxes/subsidies
Stabilize prices for recycled materials
Fee-per-bag waste collection
Better-informed public

39. 16-4 Advantages and Disadvantages of Burning or Burying Solid Waste?
Concept Technologies for burning and burying solid wastes are well developed, but burning contributes to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and buried wastes can eventually contribute to air and water pollution and land degradation.

40. Fig. 16-9, p. 413

41. Electricity
Smokestack
Turbine
Steam
Crane
Generator
Electrostatic
precipitator
Furnace
Wet
scrubber
Boiler
Water
added
Waste
pit
Dirty
water
Conveyor
Bottom
ash
Figure 16.9: Solutions: a waste-to-energy incinerator with pollution controls that burns mixed solid wastes and recovers
some of the energy to produce steam used for heating or producing electricity. Great Britain burns about 90% of its MSW in
incinerators, compared to 13% in the United States and 8% in Canada. Questions: Would you invest in such a project? Why
or why not?
Fly ash
Ash for treatment,
disposal in landfill, or
use as landfill cover
Fig. 16-9, p. 413

42. Fig , p. 414

43. Trade-Offs Incineration Disadvantages Advantages
Reduces trash
volume
Less need for
landfills
Low water
pollution
Concentrates
hazardous
substances into
ash for burial
Sale of energy
reduces cost
Modern controls
reduce air
Some facilities
recover and sell
metals
Expensive to build
Costs more than
short-distance hauling to landfills
Difficult to site because
of citizen opposition
Some air pollution and
CO2 emissions
Older or poorly managed facilities can release large amounts
of air pollution
Output approach that
encourages waste
production
Can compete with
recycling for burnable
materials such as
newspaper
Figure 16.10: Advantages and disadvantages of incinerating solid waste (Concept 16-4). These trade-offs also apply to the incineration
of hazardous waste. Since 1985, more than 280 new incinerator projects have been delayed or canceled in the United States
because of high costs, concern over air pollution, and intense citizen opposition. Questions: Which single advantage and which single
disadvantage do you think are the most important? Why?
Fig , p. 414

44. Burying Solid Wastes
Open dumps
Sanitary landfills
Leachates

45. Fig , p. 414

46. When landfill is full,
layers of soil and clay
seal in trash
Topsoil
Sand
Methane storage
and compressor
building
Clay
Electricity
generator
building
Leachate
treatment system
Garbage
Probes to
detect
methane
leaks
Methane gas
recovery well
Pipes collect explosive
methane for use as fuel
to generate electricity
Leachate
storage
tank
Compacted
solid waste
Figure 16.11: Solutions: state-of-the-art sanitary landfill, which is designed to eliminate or minimize environmental problems that
plague older landfills. Since 1997, only modern sanitary landfills are allowed in the United States. As a result, many small, older landfills
have been closed and replaced by larger and more regional landfills. Question: Some experts say that these landfills will eventually
develop leaks, which could emit toxic liquids. How do you think this could happen?
Groundwater
monitoring
well
Leachate
pipes
Garbage
Leachate pumped
up to storage tank
for safe disposal
Sand
Synthetic liner
Leachate
monitoring
well
Sand
Groundwater
Clay and plastic lining
to prevent leaks; pipes
collect leachate from
bottom of landfill
Clay
Subsoil
Fig , p. 414

47. Fig , p. 415

48. Trade-Offs Sanitary Landfills Advantages Disadvantages
No open burning
Noise and traffic
Little odor
Dust
Low groundwater pollution
if sited properly
Air pollution from toxic gases
and trucks
Can be built quickly
Releases greenhouse gases
(methane and CO2) unless
they are collected
Low operating costs
Can handle large amounts
of waste
Figure 16.12: Advantages and disadvantages of using sanitary landfills to dispose of
solid waste (Concept 16-4). Questions: Which single advantage and which single
disadvantage do you think are the most important? Why?
Slow decomposition of wastes
Filled land can be used for
other purposes
Output approach that
encourages waste production
No shortage of landfill space
in many areas
Eventually leaks and can
contaminate groundwater
Fig , p. 415

49. 16-5 How Should We Deal with Hazardous Waste?
Concept A more sustainable approach to hazardous waste is first to produce less of it, then to reuse or recycle it, then to convert it to less hazardous materials, and finally to safely store what is left.

50. Fig , p. 415

51. (Data from U.S. National Academy of Sciences)
Produce Less Hazardous Waste
Change industrial processes to reduce or eliminate hazardous waste production
Recycle and reuse hazardous waste
Convert to Less Hazardous or Nonhazardous Substances
Natural decomposition
Incineration
Thermal treatment
Chemical, physical, and biological treatment
Dilution in air or water
Put in
Perpetual Storage
Landfill
Underground injection wells
Surface impoundments
Underground salt formations
Figure 16.13: Integrated hazardous waste management: priorities suggested by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences for dealing with hazardous waste (Concept 16-5). To date, these priorities have not been followed in the United States and in most other countries.
Question: Why do you think most countries do not follow these priorities?
(Data from U.S. National Academy of Sciences)
Stepped Art
Fig , p. 415

52. Detoxifying Hazardous Waste
Bioremediation
Phytoremediation
Incineration
Plasma arc torch

53. Storing Hazardous Waste
Deep-well disposal
Below aquifers in dry, porous rock
Surface impoundments
70% in U.S. have no liners
90% may threaten groundwater
Secure landfills

54. Fig , p. 417

55. Fig , p. 417

56. Trade-Offs Surface Impoundments Advantages Disadvantages
Low construction
costs
Groundwater
contamination from
leaking liners (or no
lining)
Low operating
costs
Air pollution from
volatile organic
compounds
Overflow from
flooding
Can be built
quickly
Wastes can often
be retrieved if
necessary
Figure 16.15: Advantages and disadvantages of storing liquid hazardous wastes in surface impoundments. Questions: Which single
advantage and which single disadvantage do you think are the most important? Why?
Disruption and leakage from earthquakes
Can store wastes
indefinitely with
secure double
liners
Output approach that
encourages waste
production
Fig , p. 417

57. Fig , p. 418

58. Bulk waste Gas vent Topsoil Plastic cover Earth Sand Impervious
clay cap
Clay
cap
impervious
clay
Water
table
Figure 16.16: Solutions: secure hazardous waste landfill.
Earth
Leak
detection
system
Groundwater
Double leachate
collection system
Plastic
double
liner
Reactive
wastes
in drums
Groundwater
monitoring
well
Fig , p. 418

59. Fig , p. 418

60. Case Study: Hazardous Waste Regulation in the United States (1)
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
EPA administers
Cradle to grave
Laws regulate only 5% of hazardous wastes

61. Case Study: Hazardous Waste Regulation in the United States (2)
Superfund
created
Cleans hazardous waste sites
Nov. 2008: 1,255 sites on list; 322 sites cleaned
Now broke
Taxpayers pay for cleanup, not polluters
Brownfields
Turning toxic areas into parks and nature reserves

62. Dealing with Lead Poisoning
Neurotoxin
Especially harmful to children
: number of children with unsafe blood lead levels dropped from 85% to 1.4%
Government banned leaded gasoline (1976) and lead-based paint (1970)
100 countries still use leaded gasoline

63. Fig , p. 419

64. Solutions Lead Poisoning Prevention Control
Phase out
leaded gasoline
worldwide
Phase out waste
incineration
Ban use of lead
solder
in computer and
TV monitors
Ban lead glazing
for ceramicware
used to serve
food
Test blood for
lead by age 1
Replace lead pipes
and plumbing fixtures containing lead solder
Remove leaded paint and lead dust from older houses and apartments
Sharply reduce lead emissions from incinerators
Remove lead from TV sets and computer
monitors before
incineration or land disposal
Figure 16.18: Individuals matter: There are several ways to help protect children from lead poisoning. Questions: Which two of
these solutions do you think are the most important? Why?
Test for lead in existing ceramic-ware used
to serve food
Ban candles
withlead cores
Test existing candles for lead
Wash fresh fruits and vegetables
Fig , p. 419

65. 16-6 How Can We Make the Transition to a More Sustainable Low-Waste Society?
Concept Shifting to a low-waste society requires individuals and organizations to reduce resource use and to reuse and recycle wastes at local, national, and global levels.

66. Achieving a Low-Waste Society
Grassroots action
Environmental justice
International treaties
Basel Convention
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
Dirty dozen

67. Five Principles for Achieving a Low-Waste Society
Everything is connected
There is no “away” for wastes
Polluters and producers must pay for wastes
Different categories of hazardous waste and recyclable waste should not be mixed
Reuse, recycle, and compost solid wastes

68. Three Big Ideas from This Chapter - #1
The order of priorities for dealing with solid waste should be to reduce, reuse, recycle as much of it as possible and to safely dispose of what is left.

69. Three Big Ideas from This Chapter - #2
The order of priorities for dealing with hazardous waste should be to produce less of it, reuse or recycle it, convert it to less hazardous material, and safely store what is left.

70. Three Big Ideas from This Chapter - #3
We need to view solid wastes as wasted resources and hazardous wastes as materials that we should not be producing in the first place.

71. Animation: Economic Types
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72. Animation: Carbon Bonds
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73. Animation: Resources Depletion and Degradation
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74. Video: China Computer Waste
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