solid and hazardous waste chapter 21 “solid wastes are only raw materials we’re too stupid to...
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Solid and Hazardous Waste
Chapter 21
“Solid wastes are only raw materials we’re too stupid to
use.”
Arthur C. Clarke
Key Concepts
Types and amounts of wastes
Methods to reduce waste
Methods of dealing with waste
Hazardous waste regulation in the US
Wasting Resources
Industrial and agriculture wasteMunicipal solid waste
Fig. 21-2, pg. 526
US: 1,600 lb/person
Hazardous Wastes
NOT Hazardous Wastes
Radioactive wastes
Household wastes
Mining wastes
Oil and gas drilling wastes
Liquids containing organic hydrocarbons
Cement kiln dust
< 100 kg (220 lb) per month
Producing Less Waste and Pollution
Waste management (high waste approach)
Burying, burning, shipping
Waste prevention (low waste approach)
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Chemical or biological treatmentBurial
Dealing with Material Use and Wastes
Fig. 21-3, pg 528
Dealing with Hazardous Wastes
Fig. 21-4, pg 530
Solutions: Cleaner Production
Refer to Solutions p. 533
Solutions: Selling Services Instead of Things
Service-flow economyUses a minimum amount of materialProducts last longerProducts are easier to maintain, repair, and recycleCustomized services needed by customers
See Individuals Matter, pg. 534
Reuse
See Solutions pg. 535
Extends resource suppliesMaintains high-quality matterReduced energy useRefillable beverage containersReusable shipping containers and grocery bags
Recycling
Fig. 21-6, p 535
Primary (closed-loop)Post consumer wasteSecondary (open loop)
Characteristics of Recyclable Materials
Easily isolated from other waste
Available in large quantities
Valuable
Pay-as-you-throw garbage collection
Benefits of Recycling
Fig. 21-7 pg. 536
Recycling in the US
Centralized recycling of mixed waste (MRFs)
Separated recycling
Economic benefits
Increasing recycling in the US
See Case Study pg. 540
Case Studies: Recycling Aluminum, Wastepaper, and Plastics
40% of aluminum recycled in US
Recycled aluminum uses over 90% fewer resources
Paper: preconsumer vs. postconsumer recycling
10% or less of plastic recycled in US
Plastics can be very difficult to recycle
Detoxifying Wastes
Bioremediation
Microorganisms break down wastes
Phytoremediation
Removal of wastes from the soil
Burning Wastes
Mass burn incineration
Air pollution
Waste to energy
Fig. 21-11, pg. 543
Burying Wastes
Sanitary landfill
Leachate collection
Monitoring wells
Emit greenhouse gases (CO2 and methane)
Space near where waste is produced
Sanitary Landfill
Fig. 21-12, pg. 544
Deep-well Disposal
Fig. 21-14, pg. 546
Hazardous Waste Landfill
Fig. 21-16, pg. 547
Above Ground Hazardous Waste Disposal
Fig. 21-17, pg. 547
Exporting Wastes
Shipping to developing countries
Potentially huge profits for exporters
Basel Convention on Hazardous Waste
Many developing countries refusing wastes
Case Studies: Lead
Lead poisoning major problem in children
Leaded gasoline (phased out by 1986)Lead paint (banned in 1970)Lead in plasticsLead in plumbing
Progress is being made in reducing lead
Primary Sources of Lead
Case Studies: Mercury
Vaporized elemental Mercury
Fish contaminated with methyl mercury
Natural inputs
Emission control
Prevention of contamination
Case Studies: Chlorine
Environmentally damaging and potential health threat
Plastics
Solvents
Paper and pulp bleaching
Water disinfectionMany safer and cheaper substitutes are available
Sources of Chlorine
Case Studies: Dioxins
Potentially highly toxic chlorinated hydrocarbons
Waste incineration
Fireplaces
Coal-fired power plants
Paper productions
Sewage sludge
Sources of Dioxins
Hazardous Waste Regulation in the United States
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
Superfund
National Priority List
Polluter-pays principle
Brownfields
See Solutions pg. 554
Solutions: Achieving a Low-Waste Society
Local grassroots action
International ban on 12 persistent organic pollutants (the dirty dozen)
Cleaner production
Improved resource productivity
Service flow economies
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