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Waste

Waste. Chapter 19. Solid Waste. Objectives 1. Name one characteristic that makes a material biodegradable. 2. Identify two types of solid waste. 3. Describe how a modern landfill works. 4. Name two environmental problems caused by landfills. Generation of Wastes.

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Waste

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  1. Waste Chapter 19

  2. Solid Waste Objectives 1. Name one characteristic that makes a material biodegradable. 2. Identify two types of solid waste. 3. Describe how a modern landfill works. 4. Name two environmental problems caused by landfills.

  3. Generation of Wastes • Every year the US generates 10 billion metric tons of solid waste (discarded material) • We are generating 2X more wastes than 40 years ago

  4. The average person throws away 4.4 lbs of solid wastes a day • Many states ship it off • We are running out of space to put our waste

  5. Types of Wastes • Biodegradable can be broken down • Newspapers, cotton fibers… • Non biodegradable can not be broken down • Plastics, polyester, nylon

  6. Plastic material creates a huge disposal problem • Made from petroleum • Literally will never decompose in our land fills

  7. Types • Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) • Waste produced by households and businesses • 70% is manufacturing wastes • 2% of all solid waste

  8. What we throw away % type • 38.1 paper • 12.1 yard waste • 10.9 food • 10.5 plastics • 7.8 metals • 6.6 rubber, leather, other textiles • 5.5 glass • 5.3 wood • 3.2 other

  9. Manufacturing, Mining, and agricultural wastes • 56% of total is Manufacturing waste • Scrap metal, plastics, paper, sludge, ash

  10. 9% of total is Agricultural waste • Is biodegradable but pesticides may contaminate • Remaining portion belongs to mining • Piles of mine debris

  11. Solid Waste Management • 57% of all waste is sent to landfills • 28% is burned • 28 % is recycled (an increase of 22% since 1970)

  12. Landfills • Permanent waste disposal facilities • Need to contain wastes, no contact with ground water

  13. Problems • Leachate-liquid that has passes through compacted solid waste in a landfill • Contains contaminates • Should be monitored

  14. Methane • Produced by decomposing organic wastes • Usually pumped out and burned as fuel • Leaks occur and if ignited can cause an explosion

  15. Safeguarding landfills • Resource Conservation and Resource Act (RCRA) 1976 (1986) • Requires landfills to reduce pollution

  16. Lined with clay and plastic • Collection of leachate • Vent pipes

  17. NIMBY • NOT IN MY BACK YARD • Total number of land fills in 1988 was 8000 • In 1999 the total number was 2300

  18. Many filled to capacity • EPA estimated within 10 years active land fills will fill to capacity

  19. Incinerators • Can reduce wastes by 75% • Can produce polluting gases • Material can be toxic

  20. Reducing Solid Wastes Objectives 1. Identify three ways you can produce less waste. 2. Describe how you can use your consumer buying power to reduce solid waste. 3. List the steps that an item must go through to be recycled. 4. List two benefits of composting. 5. Name one advantage and one disadvantage to producing degradable plastic.

  21. Source Reduction Method of reducing solid waste • Any change in design, manufacture, purchase, or use of materials or products to reduce amount of toxicity before they become MSW

  22. Reducing Solid Waste • Buy less • Less packaging, rechargeable batteries, use products that last longer

  23. Recycle • Process of reusing materials or recovering valuable materials from the waste or scrap • Saves energy, water, and other resources

  24. Examples 95% less energy is used to make aluminum cans from recycled cans than from ore 75% less E is used to make steel from scrap than from ore

  25. Steps in recycling • Material is collected and sorted • Material is taken to a processing facility • Material is made into a product • New product is sold to consumers

  26. Composting • 15% of are waste can be composted • Biodegradable • Compost- a dark, brown crumbly material made of decomposed plant and animal material

  27. Changing the material we use • Using products that can be recycled • Degradable plastics

  28. Hazardous Waste Objectives 1. Name two characteristics of hazardous waste. 2. Describe one law that governs hazardous waste. 3. Describe two ways in which hazardous waste is disposed.

  29. Hazardous waste is any waste that is a risk to the health of humans or other living things

  30. Types • Dyes, cleaners, solvents • PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) • Plastics, solvents, lubricants, sealants • Heavy metals • Pesticides

  31. Radioactive • RCRW (Recource Conservation and Recovery Act – 1976) requires records of disposal • Super Fund Act 1980 – EPA right to sue, order cleanup

  32. Hazardous Waste Management • US produces 252 metric tons of waste every year How do we manage it? • Prevent or use less • Reuse it • Change to non hazardous material

  33. Land Disposal • Deep well injection • Surface impoundment • Biologically treating • Use of bacteria • Plants • Biological chemicals • Burn It • Export it

  34. Hazardous Wastes at Home • Dispose of properly • Includes batteries, household chemicals, oil

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