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Environmental Geography
Lecture 14Hazardous Waste
Lecture 14: Hazardous Waste
I. Types and Sources of Waste
II. Solid Waste
III. Hazardous Waste
IV. Radioactive Waste
V. Regulation in the United States
VI. What can you do?
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I. Types of Waste
• Sewage: Refuse liquids or waste matter carried off by sewers
• Solid Waste: Assorted discarded materials described as trash, garbage, refuse, and litter from urban and rural land uses.
• Hazardous Waste: A toxic substance that is at risk of exposure or harm to living organisms.
Sewage Solid Waste Hazardous Waste
II. Solid Waste
Landfills Open dumping
What happens to solid waste?
•US produces about 700 million tons of solid waste annually•150 – 200 million tons are municipal solid waste
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II. Solid Waste
Figure 14.1
II. Solid Waste
•With only 5% of the global population, the US is the leader in waste output
•Canada and Australia produce less waste (because of smaller populations)
•Most European countries produce considerably less•The UK, Sweden and Japan produce half as much waste person as the
US.•Countries such as India produce only a small fraction of the per capita
waste of the United States
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III. Hazardous Waste
•Hazardous waste: Toxic materials (DDT, solvents, and lead) are exposed or in some way causing harm.
•Most hazardous waste comes from three sources: chemical manufacturing, primary metal manufacturing, and petroleum refining
6 Classes of Hazardous Waste
1. Heavy metals (e.g. lead, zinc, and arsenic)2. Synthetic organic compounds (e.g. PCB, DDT, and dioxin)3. Petroleum products (e.g. grease, oil, and gasoline4. Acids (e.g. hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid)5. Biological substances (e.g. bacteria and plant toxins)6. Radioactive materials (e.g. nuclear fuel rods and nuclear medical materials
III. Hazardous Waste
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III. Hazardous Waste
III. Hazardous Waste
How did we used to get rid of hazardous waste?
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III. Hazardous Waste
How do we get rid of hazardous waste today?Export
III. Hazardous Waste
How do we get rid of hazardous waste today?Disposal •Secure Landfill
•Surface Impoundment
•Deep – well injection
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III. Hazardous Waste
How do we get rid of hazardous waste today?Disposal •Ocean dumping
IV. Radioactive Waste
Types of Radioactive Waste:•Low Level: Generated by medical facilities, industry, and research
laboratories. Disposal is usually accomplished by burial.
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IV. Radioactive Waste
Types of Radioactive Waste:•High Level: Created from nuclear power plants. Waste is either
reprocessed or stored for radioactive decay.
IV. Radioactive Waste
Types of Radioactive Waste:•High Level: Created from nuclear power plants. Waste is either
reprocessed or stored for radioactive decay.
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V. Regulations
•Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (1976) (RCRA)•The U.S. Superfund Program•Polluter-Pay Laws•Nuclear Waste Policy Act (1982)
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/
VI. What can you do?
•Reduce the amount and toxicity of trash you discard. •Reuse containers and products; repair what is broken or give it to
someone who can repair it. •Recycle as much as possible, which includes buying products with
recycled content.