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Using Resources Wisely

Using Resources Wisely . Unit 8. Why do we care about using resources wisely? https :// www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTznEIZRkLg Notes: . The Urban Environment, Creating Livable, Sustainable Cities. Chapter 13. Urbanization. 2009 was a turning point Why are urban areas growing?

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Using Resources Wisely

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  1. Using Resources Wisely Unit 8

  2. Why do we care about using resources wisely? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTznEIZRkLg Notes:

  3. The Urban Environment, Creating Livable, Sustainable Cities Chapter 13

  4. Urbanization • 2009 was a turning point • Why are urban areas growing? • Where do most US citizens live? • Where do most people in developing countries live? • Megacities • What environmental factors influenced the location of urban areas?

  5. Suburban Sprawl • Mid-1900’s saw a dramatic shift • Why? • Sprawl • Caused by population growth and per capita land consumption • Problems with sprawl • Transportation • Pollution • Health • Land use • Economics

  6. Creating Livable Cities • City/Urban Planning • Ex: Washington D.C. • Ex: Daniel Burnham’s Plan of Chicago • Regional Planning • Ex: Portland’s UGB • Zoning • Smart Growth Plans • “New Urbanism” • Transportation Options • Parks, Parklands, Open Spaces • Greenways, Greenbelts

  7. Impacts of Urbanism • Environmental Effects • Resource Sinks • Efficiency • Increased consumption • Preservation of land • Export of waste • Pollution • Noise • Heat • Innovation

  8. Urban Sustainability • Urban ecology • Efficient use of resources • Recycling • Technology • External costs taken into account • Tax incentives for sustainable practices • Use of local resources • Organic waste and wastewater for soil fertility • Use of urban agriculture • Green Buildings • LEED Program

  9. Urbanization Video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w33hPL4tdNg&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PL18E0A99839339DEANotes:

  10. Environmental Health and Toxicology Chapter 14

  11. Environmental Health • Environmental Hazards • Physical Hazards • Chemical Hazards • Biological Hazards • Cultural Hazards • Indoor Health Hazards • Radon, Asbestos, Lead, PEDE’s • Disease • Noninfectious • Infectious • Toxicology • Balance of Risk and Rewards

  12. Toxins in the environment • Natural Toxins • Manufactured Toxins • Biological • Artificial • NAWQA • 2002 study • 2006 study • Toxins in our bodies • Silent Spring • Rachel Carson, DDT • Biological Magnification

  13. Types of Toxicants • Carcinogens • Mutagens • Teratogens • Neurotoxins • Allergens • Endocrine distruptors

  14. Toxicants in the environment • Water • Air • Pesticide Drift • Persistence • Bioaccumulation • Biomagnification *Not all toxicants are synthetic, not all synthetic chemicals are toxic!

  15. How do we study hazards • Wildlife Studies • Guillette and his aligators • Hayes and his frogs • Case History approach • Epidemiological studies • Chernobyl • Dose-response analysis • Dose-response curve • LD-50 • ED-50 • Overall Issues • Individuals vary in their responses • Issues with endocrine disruptors • Our Stolen Future • Acute versus Chronic exposure • Synergistic effects

  16. Classic Dose Curves

  17. Risk Assessment/Management • Based on probability • Perception versus reality • Assessment versus management • Innocent until proven guilty versus precautionary principle

  18. Laws and Regulations Domestic • FDA • Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938 • Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act of 1947 (FIFRA) • Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) • Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976 (TSCA) • Too weak? International • REACH: Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals • POP: Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants

  19. Managing Our Waste Chapter 22

  20. Types of waste • Municipal solid waste • Industrial solid waste • Hazardous waste

  21. Managing Waste • Goals: • Minimize amount of waste generated • Recover and recycle waste • Dispose of waste safely • Methods: • Source reduction • Waste stream • Recycling • Composting

  22. Municipal Solid Waste • http://begreenpackagingstore.com/pages/trash-time-decomposition • Paper, yard waste, food scraps, plastics = 70% of waste in the US • Consumption = waste • “throw-away” society • Disposal Methods • Open dumping • Incineration • Landfills • Sanitary Landfills • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) • Recovering (composting/recycling)

  23. Modern Landfills • How do they work? • Where can they be located? • Leachate • Engineered cover/cap • Transformation after closure? • Problems with Fresh Kills Landfill? • Drawbacks?

  24. Incineration and Energy • Incineration is a way to reduce pressure on landfills • How do they work? • Scrubbers • Energy can be gained from incineration • WTE: waste-to-energy • Energy can be gained from landfill gas

  25. Reducing waste is a better option • Reduce • Reuse • Composting • Recycling (a 3 step process) • Collection and shipment to materials recovery facilities (MRF’s) • Use of materials in industry to make new products • Consumer purchase of recycled products • Local Programs • http://www.recyclefirsttrashlast.org/ • Future of recycling? • Growth • Materials already in landfills? • Financial incentives • Bottle bills • http://www.how2recycle.info/

  26. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GorqroigqM&feature=plcp Story of Stuff21:25

  27. Industrial Solid Waste • 97% is wastewater! • Influenced by • Regulation • Economics • Industrial ecology wants a more sustainable industry • Life cycle analysis • Driving force???? • Examples • American Airlines • ZERI

  28. Hazardous Waste • Defined by the EPA • Ignitable • Corrosive • Reactive • Toxic • Sources? • Diverse • Organic compounds • Heavy Metals • E-waste

  29. Hazardous Waste Disposal • History? • Designated sites • SWALCO • RCRA requirements • Permits/mandates • Developing v. Developed Nations • Methods: • Landfills • Surface impoundment • Deep-well injection • Special situations • Radioactive waste • Superfund sites (CERCLA: Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act, 1980) • Polluter-pays principle? • Examples • Love Canal • Times Beach • Brownfields

  30. Sustainable Solutions Chapter 24

  31. Why Colleges and High Schools? • Audits • Recycling and waste reduction are common • RecycleMania • Trash audits/Landfill on the Lawn • Opportunities for green buildings • Importance of water conservation • Easy to improve energy efficiency • Students! • Carbon neutrality is a goal

  32. Why Colleges and High Schools? • Dining options • Local • Sustainable • Transportation Alternatives • Bikes, biodiesel • Purchasing Power! • Native plants/habitats/landscapes • Curriculum • Organizations help campuses

  33. Sustainability • Triple Bottom Line • Social • Economic • Environmental • Our well being depends on a healthy environment! • Saving money • New jobs • Less dependence on other countries • Desire to live in clean areas

  34. Strategies of Sustainability • Citizens influence on politics • Consumers influence: purchasing power • Rethinking ideas • Economic growth • Quality of life • Population Growth • Technology • Industry mimicking natural systems • Local self-sufficiency in a global world • Thinking long term • Promoting research and education

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