SOLID & HAZARDOUS

WASTE

TYPES OF WASTEMunicipal 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.

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.

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

heavy metalsCadmium

Potential health effects include:

•Learning disabilities

•Lung disease and cancer

•Kidney disease

•Weak bonesFound in/used to produce:

•Children's metal jewelry

•Batteries

•Pigments

•Plastics

•Photovoltaic devices

LeadPotential 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)

•MiscarriageFound in/used to produce:

•Children's jewelry

•Toys

•Ceramics

•Lipstick

•Paint

•Candy

MercuryPotential 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

TYPES OF WASTE

•98.5 % is Non-Municipal Solid Waste

from industry, agriculture, mining, oil &

gas production, sewage sludge.

Hazardous Waste

•FLAMMABLE

•CHEMICALLY UNSTABLE

•CORROSIVE

•CARCINOGENS - cancer causing

•MUTAGENS- DNA altering

•TERATOGENS- birth defect causing

•TOXINS - disease causing

TYPES OF WASTE

•Hazardous waste

•CARCINOGENS - cancer causing

•MUTAGENS- DNA altering

•TERATOGENS- birth defect causing

•TOXINS - disease causing

TREATMENT & DISPOSAL

•Incinerate - Great Britain ~90%

•landfills - United States ~55%

•ocean dumping - illegal in most countries

~ 60% of debris on U.S. beaches is are plastics

Disposal - incinerationPros

Reduces overall mass of wasteCan be used to generate

electricity

ConsAsh contains heavy

metalsCreates air pollutantsContributes to acid

rainRelatively expensive

Disposal - Landfills

WASTE PREVENTION3 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.

•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.

HISTORICAL - Love Canal1894- canal started to connect Lakes Erie & Ontario (went bankrupt)

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

1976-77 Investigation reveals widespread contamination

1979 Evacuation of pregnant women & young children

1980 CERCLA enacted

LEGISLATION

•Resource Recovery Act - Establishes waste management programs

•CERCLA (Superfund) - pays to clean up abandoned hazardous sites or holds polluter accountable if possible