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SOLID & HAZARDOUS WASTE

SOLID & HAZARDOUS WASTE. TYPES OF WASTE. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) mostly paper and organics (from lawns . . .), then plastics, which does not decompose without oxygen and moisture. Paper is easy to recycle, yet is most of our waste.

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SOLID & HAZARDOUS WASTE

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  1. SOLID & HAZARDOUSWASTE

  2. TYPES OF WASTE Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) mostly paper and organics (from lawns . . .), then plastics, which does not decompose without oxygen and moisture. Paper is easy to recycle, yet is most of our waste. Plastic is difficult to recycle, but does not easily decompose in landfills.

  3. e-waste E-waste includes TV’s, computers, cell phones, some toys . . . E-waste is routinely exported by developed countries to developing ones. In the US, it is estimated that 50-80 percent of the waste collected for recycling is being exported in this way. Small percentage of overall waste, but often contains heavy metals such as lead (accumulates in bones), mercury & cadmium (neurotoxins), nickel, copper, gold and berylium as well as PVCs which can damage the nervous system.

  4. E-waste banned • Massachusetts was first to ban e-waste from landfills. • 18 more states now ban e-waste • 25 states have passed e-waste recycling laws

  5. heavy metals Mercury Potential health effects include: • Fetal developmental problems • Fetal neurological problems • Kidney effects • Central nervous system effects • Gastrointestinal effects • Respiratory effectsFound in/used to produce: • Antiques • Appliances • Button Cell Batteries • Paint • Skin-lightening creams • Electronics • Jewelry • Lamps/Light bulbs • Sporting Equipment • Television Sets • Thermometers Lead Potential health effects include: Brain damage • Nervous system damage • Behavior and learning problems • Lower IQ • Hearing problems • Anemia • Hypertension • Decreased kidney function • Reproductive problems (in both men and women) • Miscarriage Found in/used to produce: • Children's jewelry • Toys • Ceramics • Lipstick • Paint • Candy Cadmium Potential health effects include: • Learning disabilities • Lung disease and cancer • Kidney disease • Weak bones Found in/used to produce: • Children's metal jewelry • Batteries • Pigments • Plastics • Photovoltaic devices

  6. Mercury Potential health effects include: • Fetal developmental problems • Fetal neurological problems • Kidney effects • Central nervous system effects • Gastrointestinal effects • Respiratory effects Found in/used to produce: • Antiques • Appliances • Button Cell Batteries • Paint • Skin-lightening creams • Electronics • Jewelry • Lamps/Light bulbs • Sporting Equipment • Television Sets • Thermometers

  7. TYPES OF WASTE • 98.5 % is Non-Municipal Solid Waste from industry, agriculture, mining, oil & gas production, sewage sludge.

  8. Hazardous Waste • FLAMMABLE • CHEMICALLY UNSTABLE • CORROSIVE • CARCINOGENS - cancer causing • MUTAGENS- DNA altering • TERATOGENS- birth defect causing • TOXINS - disease causing

  9. TREATMENT & DISPOSAL • Incinerate - Great Britain ~90% • landfills - United States ~55% • ocean dumping - illegal in most countries ~ 60% of debris on U.S. beaches is plastics

  10. Disposal - incineration Pros Reduces overall mass of waste Can be used to generate electricity Cons Ash contains heavy metals Creates air pollutants Contributes to acid rain Relatively expensive

  11. Disposal - Landfills

  12. WASTE PREVENTION • 3 R’S reduce source of waste, less expensive that trash collection & disposal (once established), can be industry & public, contributes to more jobs . . .) • REDUCE - less packaging, buy less (best low-waste approach) • REUSE - shopping bags, water bottles . . . 2nd best approach • RECYCLE - plastics and cans . . . U.S. recycles ~25% of MSW. May cause pollution & uses energy. Cost more than dumping.

  13. 4th R - Repurpose - Using an item for something other than the initial intent. For example. Making coffee cans into flower pots. • 5th R - Refuse - say no. shop smarter • Compost - Yard waste (organics) can be used to prevent erosion, fill in strip mined lands and for other soil improvements.

  14. HISTORICAL - Love Canal • 1894- canal started to connect Lakes Erie & Ontario (went bankrupt)

  15. HISTORICAL - Love Canal • 1942 - Hooker Chemicals starts dumping 82 known different chemicals (some carcinogenic) • 1953 Company fills the canal and sells the land to Niagara Falls Board of Education • 1955 Elementary school opens • 1959 Chemical seepage into basements is noticed/reported • 1974 Barrels of chemicals are exposed

  16. HISTORICAL - Love Canal • 1976-77 Investigation reveals widespread contamination • 1979 Evacuation of pregnant women & young children • 1980 CERCLA enacted

  17. LEGISLATION • Resource Conservation & Recovery Act - Establishes waste management programs. Tracks hazardous waste from cradle to grave • CERCLA (Superfund) - pays to clean up abandoned hazardous sites or holds polluter accountable if possible

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