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Solid Wastes Prior to 1900, most waste disposal involved burying waste in ground Perception of garbage dumps as breeding grounds for disease incinerators Burning garbage common until more stringent emissions standards in 1970’s Incineration replaced by newer landfills
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Solid Wastes • Prior to 1900, most waste disposal involved burying waste in ground • Perception of garbage dumps as breeding grounds for disease incinerators • Burning garbage common until more stringent emissions standards in 1970’s • Incineration replaced by newer landfills • Recently: Modern incinerators w/emissions controls • Landfills • Decreasing in number • 7924 in 1988 vs. 1908 in 2009 • Becoming larger • Total capacity didn’t change between 1988 & 2002 • Becoming increasingly full (?) • Possible sources of toxic chemicals leaching into ground water (older landfills especially) • Increasingly difficult to find new sites (NIMBY)
Solid Wastes • Alternatives • Source reduction
Solid Wastes • Alternatives • Source reduction • Pro: • Reduced waste stream • Increased production efficiency ($$) • Energy conservation • Reduced GHG emissions • Con: • Retooling of some infrastructure • Changing of consumer behavior
Solid Wastes • Alternatives • Recycling • Reuse sometimes included • Reprocessing of materials • Why recycle?