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Chapter 16 Solid Waste. Introduction to Solid Waste. Regulations 1965 Solid Waste Disposal Act 1976 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 1984 Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments to RCRA 1990 Pollution Prevention Act. Classification of Solid Waste.
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Introduction to Solid Waste Regulations • 1965 Solid Waste Disposal Act • 1976 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act • 1984 Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments to RCRA • 1990 Pollution Prevention Act
Classification of Solid Waste • Non-Hazardous Solid Waste (according to RCRA) “Any garbage, refuse, sludge from a waste treatment plant, water supply treatment plant or air pollution control facility and other discarded material, including solid, liquid, semisolid, or contained gaseous material resulting from industrial, commercial, mining and agricultural operations and from community activities” • Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Paper, cardboard, glass, ferrous metals, plastics, aluminum, rubber and leather, textiles, wood, food wastes and other.
Classification of Solid Waste • Hazardous Waste (according to RCRA) • cause or contribute significantly to serious, irreversible incapacitating illness or mortality, OR • pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of or otherwise managed Toxic, Reactive, Ignitable or Corrosive
MSW Collection & Disposal • Historic emphasis on collection • Unacceptable disposal methods: • Feed for hogs • Dumping in water • Open dumping
MSW Collection & Disposal • Current Acceptable disposal methods: A. Source reduction & reuse • Product package reuse • Package or product redesign that reduces material or toxicity • Reducing use or modifying practices.
MSW Disposal B. Resource recovery • Recycling • source separation • materials recovery facility (MURFs) • producing and selling recyclable material Advantages? Disadvantages? Government incentives: • “bottle bills” • Prohibition of disposal of certain wastes • Minimum recycled content mandate
MSW Disposal • Composting Utilizing natural biochemical decay to transform organic wastes into products for use as soil conditioner,…. • preparation • digestion • curing • finishing
MSW Disposal C. Landfilling • Disadvantages: • tipping fee • Ground settling • Anaerobic decomposition • Leachate
MSW Disposal Solution to proper landfilling: • Careful site selection • RCRA subtitle D (1993): new landfill requirements Landfilling has become expensive as a result but is still the most used waste disposal method in the US (61% in 1999).
MSW Disposal D. Combustion • Waste to Energy (WTE) plants. • Advantages? • By mid 1990s, increased • By 1999 just 119 incinerators were operational • Air emissions: dioxins, heavy metals, other pollutants • 1991 tighter controls approved by the Clean Air Act Amendments: • Air emission controls to capture products of incomplete combustion