Solid and Hazardous Waste

Chapter 21

Core Case Study: E-waste—An Exploding Problem (1)

  Electronic waste, e-waste: fastest growing solid waste problem

  Composition includes •  High-quality plastics •  Valuable metals •  Toxic and hazardous pollutants

Core Case Study: E-waste—An Exploding Problem (2)

  Shipped to other countries •  What happens in China?

  International Basel Convention •  Bans transferring hazardous wastes from

developed countries to developing countries

  European Union •  Cradle-to-grave approach

Core Case Study: E-waste—An Exploding Problem (3)

  What should be done? •  Recycle •  E-cycle •  Reuse •  Prevention approach: remove the toxic materials

Rapidly Growing E-Waste from Discarded Computers and Other Electronics

21-1 What Are Solid Waste and Hazardous Waste, and Why Are They Problems?

  Concept 21-1 Solid waste represents pollution and unnecessary waste of resources, and hazardous waste contributes to pollution, natural capital degradation, health problems, and premature deaths.

We Throw Away Huge Amounts of Useful Things and Hazardous Materials (1)

  Solid waste •  Industrial solid •  Municipal solid waste (MSW) •  Hazardous, toxic, waste

  Hazardous wastes •  Organic compounds •  Toxic heavy metals •  Radioactive waste

We Throw Away Huge Amounts of Useful Things and Hazardous Materials (2)

  80–90% of hazardous wastes produced by developed countries

  Why reduce solid wastes? •  ¾ of the materials are an unnecessary waste of

the earth's resources •  Huge amounts of air pollution, greenhouse gases,

and water pollution

What Harmful Chemicals Are in Your Home?

Fig. 21-2, p. 562

What Harmful Chemicals Are in Your Home?

Cleaning Gardening Disinfectants Pesticides Drain, toilet, and window cleaners

Weed killers Ant and rodent killers

Spot removers Flea powders Septic tank cleaners

Paint Products Paints, stains, varnishes, and lacquers Paint thinners, solvents, and strippers Wood preservatives

Automotive

Artist paints and inks Gasoline Used motor oil

General Antifreeze Dry-cell batteries (mercury and cadmium)

Battery acid Brake and transmission fluid

Glues and cements

Fig. 21-2, p. 562

What Harmful Chemicals Are in Your Home?

Cleaning Disinfectants Drain, toilet, and window cleaners Spot removers Septic tank cleaners

Paint Products Paints, stains, varnishes, and lacquers Paint thinners, solvents, and strippers Wood preservatives Artist paints and inks

Gardening Pesticides Weed killers Ant and rodent killers Flea powders

General Dry-cell batteries (mercury and cadmium)

Glues and cements

Automotive Gasoline Used motor oil Antifreeze Battery acid Brake and transmission fluid

Stepped Art

Natural Capital Degradation: Solid Wastes Polluting a River in Indonesia

Solid Waste in the United States

  Leader in solid waste problem •  What is thrown away?

  Leader in trash production, by weight, per person

  Recycling is helping

Hundreds of Millions of Discarded Tires in a Dump in Colorado, U.S.

Case Study: Trash Production, Recycling in NYC: Past, Present, and Future

  1920–1940: Highest trash due to coal ash

  1962 and 1963: Lowest trash, coal burning phased out

  1964 and 1974: Rise in trash due to throwaway containers

  1999: Mandatory recycling

  2001: Fresh Kills landfill closed, trash hauling

21-2 How Should We Deal with Solid Waste?

  Concept 21-2 A sustainable approach to solid waste is first to reduce it, then to reuse or recycle it, and finally to safely dispose of what is left.

We Can Burn or Bury Solid Waste or Produce Less of It

  Waste Management

  Waste Reduction

  Integrated waste management •  Uses a variety of strategies

Integrated Waste Management

Fig. 21-5, p. 565

Raw materials

Processing and

manufacturing Products

Solid and hazardous wastes generated during

the manufacturing process

Waste generated by households and

businesses

Food/yard waste

Hazardous waste

Remaining mixed waste Plastic Glass Metal Paper

To manufacturers for reuse or for recycling Compost Hazardous waste

management Landfill Incinerator

Fertilizer

Integrated Waste Management: Priorities for Dealing with Solid Waste

Fig. 21-6, p. 565

First Priority Second Priority Last Priority Primary Pollution and Waste Prevention

Secondary Pollution and Waste Prevention

Waste Management

Change industrial process to eliminate use of harmful chemicals

Reuse Treat waste to reduce toxicity

Repair Incinerate waste Use less of a harmful product Recycle Bury waste in landfills Reduce packaging and materials in products

Compost Release waste into environment for dispersal or dilution

Make products that last longer and are recyclable, reusable, or easy to repair

Buy reusable and recyclable products

Fig. 21-6, p. 565

Use less of a harmful product

Last Priority Waste Management

Treat waste to reduce toxicity Incinerate waste Bury waste in landfills

Release waste into environment for dispersal or dilution

First Priority Primary Pollution and Waste Prevention Change industrial process to eliminate use of harmful chemicals

Reduce packaging and materials in products Make products that last longer and are recyclable, reusable, or easy to repair

Second Priority Secondary Pollution and Waste Prevention Reuse Repair Recycle Compost Buy reusable and recyclable products

Stepped Art

Science Focus: Garbology

  William Rathje: analyzes garbage in landfills

  Landfills and trash decomposition

We Can Cut Solid Wastes by Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling (1)

  Waste reduction is based on •  Reduce •  Reuse •  Recycle

  Seven strategies: (1) Redesign manufacturing processes and

products to use less material and energy (2) Redesign manufacturing processes to produce

less waste and pollution

We Can Cut Solid Wastes by Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling (2)

  Seven strategies cont… (3) Develop products that are easy to repair,

reuse, remanufacture, compost, or recycle (4) Eliminate or reduce unnecessary packaging (5) Use fee-per-bag waste collection systems (6) Establish cradle-to grave responsibility (7) Restructure urban transportation systems

What Can You Do? Solid Waste

Fig. 21-7, p. 566 Stepped Art

21-3 Why Is Reusing and Recycling Materials So Important?

  Concept 21-3 Reusing items decreases the use of matter and energy resources and reduces pollution and natural capital degradation; recycling does so to a lesser degree.

Reuse: Important Way to Reduce Solid Waste, Pollution and to Save Money

  Reuse: clean and use materials over and over

  Downside of reuse in developing countries

  Salvaging automobiles parts

  Rechargeable batteries

Case Study: Use of Refillable Containers

  Reuse and recycle •  Refillable glass beverage bottles •  Refillable soft drink bottles made of polyethylene

terephthalate (PET) plastic

  Paper, plastic, or reusable cloth bags •  Pros •  Cons

Energy Consumption Involved with Using Different Types of 350 ml Containers

Fig. 21-8, p. 568

Aluminum can, used once

Steel can, used once

Recycled steel can

Glass drink bottle, used once

Recycled aluminum can

Recycled glass drink bottle

Refillable drink bottle, used 10 times

0 8 16 24 32

Energy (thousands of kilocalories)

What Can You Do? Reuse

There Are Two Types of Recycling (1)

  Primary, closed-loop recycling

  Secondary recycling

  Types of wastes that can be recycled •  Preconsumer: internal waste •  Postconsumer: external waste

There Are Two Types of Recycling (2)

  Do items actually get recycled?

  What are the numbers?

  Will the consumer buy recycled goods?

We Can Mix or Separate Household Solid Wastes for Recycling

  Materials-recovery facilities (MRFs)

  Source separation •  Pay-as-you-throw •  Fee-per-bag

  Which program is more cost effective?

  Which is friendlier to the environment?

We Can Copy Nature and Recycle Biodegradable Solid Wastes

  Composting •  Individual •  Municipal

  Benefits

  Successful program in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Backyard Composter Drum: Bacteria Convert Kitchen Waste into Compost

Case Study: Recycling Paper

  Production of paper versus recycled paper •  Energy use •  Water use •  Pollution

  Countries that are recycling

  Replacement of chlorine-based bleaching chemicals with H2O2 or O2

Case Study: Recycling Plastics (1)

  Plastics: composed of resins

  Most containers discarded: 4% recycled

  Litter: beaches, water •  Significance?

Case Study: Recycling Plastics (2)

  Low plastic recycling rate •  Hard to isolate one type of plastic •  Low yields of plastic •  Cheaper to make it new

Discarded Solid Waste Litters Beaches

Individuals Matter: Mike Biddle’s Contribution to Recycling Plastics

  Mike Biddle and Trip Allen: MBA Polymers, Inc.

  Leaders in plastic recycling

  Plants in •  U.S. •  China •  Australia

Science Focus: Bioplastics (1)

  Plastics from soybeans: not a new concept

  Key to bioplastics: catalysts

  Sources •  Corn •  Soy •  Sugarcane

Science Focus: Bioplastics (2)

  Sources cont… •  Switchgrass •  Chicken feathers •  Some garbage •  CO2 from coal-burning plant emissions

  Benefits: lighter, stronger, cheaper, and biodegradable

Recycling Has Advantages and Disadvantages

  Advantages

  Disadvantages

Trade-Offs: Recycling, Advantages and Disadvantages

Fig. 21-12, p. 573

TRADE-OFFS Recycling

Advantages Disadvantages Reduces air and water pollution

Can cost more than burying in areas with ample landfill space

Saves energy Reduces mineral demand May lose money for

items such as glass and some plastics Reduces greenhouse

gas emissions Reduces solid waste production and disposal Reduces profits for

landfill and incinerator owners Helps protect

biodiversity Can save landfill space

Source separation is inconvenient for some people Important part of

economy

We Can Encourage Reuse and Recycling (1)

  What hinders reuse and recycling?

  Encourage reuse and recycling •  Government

•  Increase subsidies and tax breaks for using such products

•  Decrease subsidies and tax breaks for making items from virgin resources

We Can Encourage Reuse and Recycling (2)

•  Fee-per-bag collection •  New laws •  Citizen pressure

21-4 The Advantages and Disadvantages of Burning or Burying Solid Waste

  Concept 21-4 Technologies for burning and burying solid wastes are well developed, but burning contributes to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and buried wastes eventually contribute to pollution and land degradation.

Burning Solid Waste Has Advantages and Disadvantages

  Waste-to-energy incinerators

  600 Globally •  Most in Great Britain

  Advantages

  Disadvantages

Solutions: A Waste-to-Energy Incinerator with Pollution Controls

Fig. 21-13, p. 575

Electricity

Turbine Smokestack Crane Steam

Generator

Furnace Wet scrubber

Boiler

Electrostatic precipitator

Waste pit

Water added

Conveyor Bottom

ash Dirty

water Fly ash

Ash for treatment, disposal in landfill, or use as landfill cover

Trade-Offs: Incineration, Advantages and Disadvantages

Burying Solid Waste Has Advantages and Disadvantages

  Open dumps

  Sanitary landfills

Solutions: State-of-the-Art Sanitary Landfill

When landfill is full, layers of soil and clay seal in trash

Topsoil

Sand Electricity generator building Clay

Garbage Methane storage and compressor building

Leachate treatment system

Probes to detect methane leaks

Pipes collect explosive methane for use as fuel to generate electricity

Methane gas recovery well

Leachate storage tank Compacted

solid waste

Leachate pipes Garbage Leachate pumped

up to storage tank for safe disposal

Groundwater monitoring well Sand

Synthetic liner

Leachate monitoring well Sand Groundwater

Clay Clay and plastic lining to prevent leaks; pipes collect leachate from bottom of landfill

Subsoil

Trade-Offs: Sanitary Landfills, Advantages and Disadvantages

Fig. 21-16, p. 576

TRADE-OFFS

Sanitary Landfills

Advantages Disadvantages No open burning Noise and traffic Little odor Dust Low groundwater pollution if sited properly

Air pollution from toxic gases and trucks

Can be built quickly Releases greenhouse gases (methane and CO2) unless they are collected Low operating costs

Can handle large amounts of waste

Slow decomposition of wastes

Filled land can be used for other purposes

Output approach that encourages waste production

No shortage of landfill space in many areas

Eventually leaks and can contaminate groundwater

21-5 How Should We Deal with Hazardous Waste?

  Concept 21-5 A sustainable approach to hazardous waste is first to produce less of it, then to reuse or recycle it, then to convert it to less hazardous materials, and finally, to safely store what is left.

We Can Use Integrated Management of Hazardous Waste

  Integrated management of hazardous wastes •  Produce less •  Convert to less hazardous substances •  Rest in long-term safe storage

  Increased use for postconsumer hazardous waste

Integrated Hazardous Waste Management

Fig. 21-17, p. 577

Produce Less Hazardous Waste

Convert to Less Hazardous or Nonhazardous Substances

Put in Perpetual Storage

Change industrial processes to reduce or eliminate hazardous waste production

Natural decomposition Landfill Incineration Underground

injection wells

Recycle and reuse hazardous waste

Thermal treatment Surface impoundments Chemical, physical, and

biological treatment Underground salt formations Dilution in air or water

Case Study: Recycling E-Waste

  70% goes to China •  Hazardous working conditions

  Reduce toxic components in electronics

  2008: Basal Action Network •  Instituted e-Stewards Initiative

We Can Detoxify Hazardous Wastes

  Collect and then detoxify •  Physical methods •  Chemical methods •  Use nanomagnets •  Bioremediation •  Phytoremediation

  Incineration

  Using a plasma arc torch

Solutions: Phytoremediation

Trade-Offs: Phytoremediation, Advantages and Disadvantages

Fig. 21-19, p. 579

TRADE-OFFS

Phytoremediation

Advantages Disadvantages Easy to establish Slow (can take

several growing seasons) Inexpensive Effective only at depth plant roots can reach

Can reduce material dumped into landfills Some toxic organic

chemicals may evaporate from plant leaves

Produces little air pollution compared to incineration Some plants can

become toxic to animals Low energy use

Trade-Offs: Plasma Arc, Advantages and Disadvantages

Fig. 21-20, p. 580

TRADE-OFFS

Plasma Arc

Advantages Disadvantages Small High cost

Produces CO2 and CO Mobile. Easy

to move to different sites Can release

particulates and chlorine gas

Can vaporize and release toxic metals and radioactive elements

Produces no toxic ash

We Can Store Some Forms of Hazardous Waste

  Burial on land or long-term storage

  Deep-well disposal

  Surface impoundments

  Secure hazardous landfills

Trade-Offs: Deep-Well Disposal, Advantages and Disadvantages

Fig. 21-21, p. 580

TRADE-OFFS

Deep-Well Disposal

Advantages Disadvantages

Safe method if sites are chosen carefully

Leaks or spills at surface

Leaks from corrosion of well casing

Wastes can often be retrieved if problems develop

Existing fractures or earthquakes can allow wastes to escape into groundwater

Output approach that encourages waste production

Easy to do

Low cost

Surface Impoundment in Niagara Falls, New York, U.S.

Trade-Offs Surface Impoundments, Advantages and Disadvantages

Fig. 21-23, p. 581

TRADE-OFFS

Surface Impoundments

Advantages Disadvantages Low construction costs

Groundwater contamination from leaking liners (or no lining) Low operating

costs Air pollution from volatile organic compounds Can be built

quickly Overflow from flooding Wastes can often

be retrieved if necessary Disruption and

leakage from earthquakes Can store wastes

indefinitely with secure double liners

Output approach that encourages waste production

Solutions: Secure Hazardous Waste Landfill

Fig. 21-24, p. 582

Bulk waste

Gas vent

Topsoil

Earth Plastic cover

Sand Impervious clay cap

Clay cap

Impervious clay

Water table

Earth Leak detection system

Groundwater

Double leachate collection system

Plastic double liner

Reactive wastes in drums

Groundwater monitoring well

What Can You Do? Hazardous Waste

Case Study: Hazardous Waste Regulation in the United States

  1976: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

  1980: Comprehensive Environmental, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), or Superfund •  Pace of cleanup has slowed •  Superfund is broke

  Laws encouraging the cleanup of brownfields

Leaking Barrels of Toxic Waste at a Superfund Site in the United States

21-6 How Can We Make the Transition to a More Sustainable Low-Waste Society?

  Concept 21-6 Shifting to a low-waste society requires individuals and businesses to reduce resource use and to reuse and recycle wastes at local, national, and global levels.

Grassroots Action Has Led to Better Solid and Hazardous Waste Management

  “Not in my backyard”

  Produce less waste •  “Not in anyone’s backyard” •  “Not on planet Earth”

Providing Environmental Justice for Everyone Is an Important Goal

  Environmental Justice

  Which communities in the U.S. have the largest share of hazardous waster dumps?

Countries Have Developed International Treaties to Reduce Hazardous Waste (1)

  1989 Basel Convention •  1995: Amended •  2008: Ratified by 192 countries, but not

•  The United States •  Afghanistan •  Haiti

Countries Have Developed International Treaties to Reduce Hazardous Waste (2)

  2000: Delegates from 122 countries completed a global treaty •  Control 12 persistent organic pollutants

  2000: Swedish Parliament Law •  By 2020 ban all chemicals that are persistent and

can accumulate in living tissue

We Can Make the Transition to Low-Waste Societies

  Norway, Austria, and the Netherlands •  Committed to reduce resource waste by 75%

  East Hampton, NY, U.S. •  Reduced solid waste by 85%

  Follow guidelines to prevent pollution and reduce waste

Animation: Economic types