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8.3: Hazardous Materials and Integrated Waste Managment. Chapter 16. Haz -Mats. s ,l,g Harmful to humans/ecosystems 20,000 generators in US Produce 36 million tonnes Only 5% recycled Households: 1.5 million tonnes. Haz -Mats.
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8.3: Hazardous Materials and Integrated Waste Managment Chapter 16
Haz-Mats • s,l,g • Harmful to humans/ecosystems • 20,000 generators in US • Produce 36 million tonnes • Only 5% recycled • Households: 1.5 million tonnes
Haz-Mats • Any discarded chemical that threatens human health or the environment • Flammable, Reactive, corrosive, explosive or toxic chemicals • TOXIC: cancers, mutations, birth defects
Haz-Mat Sources • Cleaning machinery • Manufacturing computer parts • Dry cleaners • Auto service stations • Households: over cleaners • Fuels, solvents, lubricants, pesticides
Haz-Mats • Townships: Semi annual haz-mat collection days • Treatment before disposal: VERY Expensive • SOURCE REDUCTION • Switch to less toxic option
Haz-Mat Legislation • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) • Cradle to grave documentation • Federal Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendment (HSWA)
Haz-Mat Legislation • Comprehensive Environmental response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) (Superfund Act) • Tax producers • Clean-up abandoned sites where unknown ownership • National Priorities List (NPL) (16.18) • NJ: 114 sites alone, NY/PA 94 each
Superfund National Priorities List • 2006: 1558 sites on the list • States with the greatest number of sites • New Jersey (115) • California (93) • Pennsylvania (93) • New York (86) • Michigan (65)
Just because you are on the NPL there are MORE contaminated sites (114-v-9,000)
HAZARDOUS WASTES • Management the Waste we are Producing Now • (1) source reduction • (2) conversion to less hazardous materials • (3) long-term storage
Produce Less Waste Manipulate processes to eliminate or reduce production Recycle and reuse Convert to Less Hazardous or Nonhazardous Substances Chemical physical, and biological treatment Ocean and atmospheric assimilation Thermal treatment Land treatment Incineration Put in Perpetual Storage Aridregion unsaturated zone Underground injection Waste piles Surface impoundments Salt formations Landfill Dealing with Hazardous Wastes
Love Canal, NY • People had abnormally high incidents of cancer • 1970’s Lois Gibbs • 1983 Superfund Designation • 1994 taken off the NPL list
Brownfields • Brownfields Program 1995 • Contaminated Industrial commercial areas that are not Superfunds • Cleanup/remediation before they can be redeveloped • Old factories, industrial areas, waterfronts • Gas stations, dry cleaners • Landfills • Rail yards
Brownfields • State/local cleanup • Do not hold the polluter responsible • Phytoremediation
Detoxifying Wastes • Bioremediation • Microorganisms break down wastes • Phytoremediation • Removal of wastes from the soil
Cleaning up existing hazardous waste: superfund program • Leaking chemical storage tanks and drums • Pesticides dumps • Piles of mining wastes • Must be cleaned up
Plastic cover Gas vent Earth Impervious clay cap Sand Topsoil Clay cap Leak detection system Bulk waste Reaction wastes in dreams Impervious clay Earth Groundwater monitoring well Water table Groundwater Double leachate collection system Plastic double liner Hazardous Waste Landfill Fig. 21.16, p. 539
Waste transporter Elevator shaft Hazardous waste Support column Inspector Above Ground Hazardous Waste Disposal Fig. 21.17, p. 540
Advantages Disadvantages Safe method if sites are chosen carefully Wastes can be retrieved if problems develop Low cost Leaks or spills at surface Leaks from corrosion of well casing Existing fractures or earth quakes can allow wastes to escape into groundwater Encourages waste production Deep-well Disposal
International Waste Management =Toxic colonialism • Developed countries sometimes send their waste to developing countries • Less expensive than following laws within the country • Controversial aspect of waste management • Basel Convention (1989) • Restricts international transport of hazardous waste
Case Studies: Dioxins • Potentially highly toxic chlorinated hydrocarbons Sources of Dioxins • Waste incineration • Fireplaces • Coal-fired power plants • Paper production • Sewage sludge
Haz-Mats-International • Let’s Just Ship it to Africa! • Khian Sea, Philadelphia • Basel Convention • Indian Hg imported into US for reprocessing
Life-Cycle Analysis (Cradle to Grave Analysis) • Maps the materials used and released throughout the lifetime of the product • Opener: paper cup-v-polystyrene cup • Environmental impacts quantified • Economic impact quantified • Social impacts quantified • Green Glass example
Life-Cycle Analysis (Cradle to Grave Analysis) • Cost of disposal: Direct payment or indirect payment • ~recyclables cost les than MSW for disposal • Global market forces influence prices of recyclables
Integrated Waste Management • Holistic approach • W. McDonough’s book Cradle to Cradle • New approach to manufacturing • Develop products for disassembly • Ex: Volkswagen • Ex: carpeting
WST: Recycling eWaste in Chile • Lead, mercury, cadmium • Switzerland-v-US • Fully assembled products are exported as eWaste • “Recyla” • Green Seal: the manufacturing company is responsible for the safe disposal of their product • Jobs & worker safety • 1% to 5% GOAL 10% Pay to recycle today, or our children will pay in the future….
WTS: Nike Reuse-A-Sneaker • Poor unsafe working conditions • Inadequate wages • Toxic solvents, adhesives, and rubber manufacturing • VOC’s • Imposed a Cradle to Grave Analysis • “Nike Considered”: likert scale of sustainability at each step in the process • Friendlier adhesives/rubber • Organic Exchange Cotton • Reuse-A-Shoe • Nike Grind