Waste ManagementWaste Management

(Chapter 24)(Chapter 24)

Chapter Overview QuestionsChapter Overview Questions

What is solid waste and how much do we What is solid waste and how much do we produce?produce?

How can we produce less solid waste?How can we produce less solid waste? What are the advantages and disadvantages What are the advantages and disadvantages

of reusing recycled materials?of reusing recycled materials? What are the advantages and disadvantages What are the advantages and disadvantages

of burning or burying solid waste?of burning or burying solid waste? What is hazardous waste and how can we What is hazardous waste and how can we

deal with it?deal with it?

Chapter Overview Questions (contChapter Overview Questions (cont’’d)d)

What can we do to reduce exposure to lead What can we do to reduce exposure to lead and mercury?and mercury?

How can we make the transition to a more How can we make the transition to a more sustainable low-waste society?sustainable low-waste society?

Core Case Study: Core Case Study: Love Canal — There Is No Love Canal — There Is No ““AwayAway””

Between 1842-1953, Hooker Chemical Between 1842-1953, Hooker Chemical sealed multiple chemical wastes into steel sealed multiple chemical wastes into steel drums and dumped them into an old canal drums and dumped them into an old canal excavation (Love Canal).excavation (Love Canal).

In 1953, the canal was filled and sold to In 1953, the canal was filled and sold to Niagara Falls school board for $1.Niagara Falls school board for $1.

The company inserted a disclaimer denying The company inserted a disclaimer denying liability for the wastes.liability for the wastes.

Core Case Study: Core Case Study: Love Canal — There Is No Love Canal — There Is No ““AwayAway””

In 1957, Hooker Chemical warned the school In 1957, Hooker Chemical warned the school not to disturb the site because of the toxic not to disturb the site because of the toxic waste.waste. In 1959 an elementary school, playing fields and In 1959 an elementary school, playing fields and

homes were built disrupting the clay cap covering homes were built disrupting the clay cap covering the wastes.the wastes.

In 1976, residents complained of chemical smells In 1976, residents complained of chemical smells and chemical burns from the site.and chemical burns from the site.

Core Case Study: Core Case Study: Love Canal — There Is No Love Canal — There Is No ““AwayAway””

President Jimmy President Jimmy Carter declared Carter declared Love Canal a Love Canal a federal disaster federal disaster area.area. The area was The area was

abandoned in 1980 abandoned in 1980 (left).(left).

Core Case Study: Core Case Study: Love Canal — There Is No Love Canal — There Is No ““AwayAway””

It still is a controversy as to how much the It still is a controversy as to how much the chemicals at Love Canal injured or caused chemicals at Love Canal injured or caused disease to the residents.disease to the residents.

Love Canal sparked creation of the Love Canal sparked creation of the Superfund law, which forced polluters to pay Superfund law, which forced polluters to pay for cleaning up abandoned toxic waste for cleaning up abandoned toxic waste dumps.dumps.

WASTING RESOURCESWASTING RESOURCES

Solid wasteSolid waste: any unwanted or discarded : any unwanted or discarded material we produce that is not a liquid or material we produce that is not a liquid or gas.gas. Municipal solid waste (MSW)Municipal solid waste (MSW): produce directly : produce directly

from homes.from homes. Industrial solid wasteIndustrial solid waste: produced indirectly by : produced indirectly by

industries that supply people with goods and industries that supply people with goods and services.services.

Hazardous (toxic) wasteHazardous (toxic) waste: threatens human : threatens human health or the environment because it is toxic, health or the environment because it is toxic, chemically active, corrosive or flammable.chemically active, corrosive or flammable.

WASTING RESOURCESWASTING RESOURCES

Solid wastes Solid wastes polluting a river in polluting a river in Jakarta, Indonesia. Jakarta, Indonesia. The man in the The man in the boat is looking for boat is looking for items to salvage or items to salvage or sell.sell.

WASTING RESOURCESWASTING RESOURCES

The United States produces about a third of The United States produces about a third of the worldthe world’’s solid waste and buries more than s solid waste and buries more than half of it in landfills.half of it in landfills. About 98.5% is industrial solid waste.About 98.5% is industrial solid waste. The remaining 1.5% is MSW.The remaining 1.5% is MSW.

• About 55% of U.S. MSW is dumped into landfills, 30% About 55% of U.S. MSW is dumped into landfills, 30% is recycled or composted, and 15% is burned in is recycled or composted, and 15% is burned in incinerators.incinerators.

Electronic Waste: A Growing ProblemElectronic Waste: A Growing Problem

E-waste consists of E-waste consists of toxic and hazardous toxic and hazardous waste such as PVC, waste such as PVC, lead, mercury, and lead, mercury, and cadmium.cadmium.

The U.S. produces The U.S. produces almost half of the almost half of the world's e-waste but world's e-waste but only recycles about only recycles about 10% of it.10% of it.

INTEGRATED WASTE INTEGRATED WASTE MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT

We can manage the solid wastes we produce We can manage the solid wastes we produce and reduce or prevent their production.and reduce or prevent their production.

Solutions: Reducing Solid WasteSolutions: Reducing Solid Waste

RefuseRefuse: to buy items that we really don: to buy items that we really don’’t t need.need.

ReduceReduce: consume less and live a simpler : consume less and live a simpler and less stressful life by practicing simplicity.and less stressful life by practicing simplicity.

ReuseReuse: rely more on items that can be used : rely more on items that can be used over and over.over and over.

RepurposeRepurpose: use something for another : use something for another purpose instead of throwing it away.purpose instead of throwing it away.

RecycleRecycle: paper, glass, cans, plastics…and : paper, glass, cans, plastics…and buy items made from recycled materials.buy items made from recycled materials.

• Follow the five Rs of resource use: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle.

• Buy products in concentrated form whenever possible.

• Read newspapers and magazines online.

• Use e-mail in place of conventional paper mail.

• Refill and reuse a bottled water container with tap water.

• Do not use throwaway paper and plastic plates, cups and eating utensils, and other disposable items when reusable or refillable versions are available.

• Buy things that are reusable, recyclable, or compostable, and be sure to reuse, recycle, and compost them.

• Rent, borrow, or barter goods and services when you can.

• Ask yourself whether you really need a particular item.

What Can You Do?

Solid Waste

REUSEREUSE

Reusing products is an important way to Reusing products is an important way to reduce resource use, waste, and pollution in reduce resource use, waste, and pollution in developed countries.developed countries.

Reusing can be hazardous in developing Reusing can be hazardous in developing countries for poor who scavenge in open countries for poor who scavenge in open dumps.dumps. They can be exposed to toxins or infectious They can be exposed to toxins or infectious

diseases.diseases.

How People Reuse MaterialsHow People Reuse Materials

Children looking for Children looking for materials to sell in an materials to sell in an open dump near open dump near Manila in the Manila in the Philippines.Philippines.

Case Study: Using Refillable Case Study: Using Refillable ContainersContainers

Refilling and reusing containers uses fewer Refilling and reusing containers uses fewer resources and less energy, produces less resources and less energy, produces less waste, saves money, and creates jobs.waste, saves money, and creates jobs. In Denmark and CanadaIn Denmark and Canada’’s Price Edwards Price Edward’’s Island s Island

there is a ban on all beverage containers that there is a ban on all beverage containers that cannot be reused.cannot be reused.

In Finland 95% of soft drink and alcoholic In Finland 95% of soft drink and alcoholic beverages are refillable (Germany 75%).beverages are refillable (Germany 75%).

REUSEREUSE

Reducing resource Reducing resource waste: energy waste: energy consumption for consumption for different types of different types of 350-ml (12-oz) 350-ml (12-oz) beverage beverage containers.containers.

RECYCLINGRECYCLING

Recycling many plastics is chemically and Recycling many plastics is chemically and economically difficult.economically difficult. Many plastics are hard to isolate from other Many plastics are hard to isolate from other

wastes.wastes. Recovering individual plastic resins does not Recovering individual plastic resins does not

yield much material.yield much material. The cost of virgin plastic resins is lower than The cost of virgin plastic resins is lower than

recycled resins due to low fossil fuel costs.recycled resins due to low fossil fuel costs. There are new technologies that are making There are new technologies that are making

plastics biodegradable.plastics biodegradable.

Important part of economy

Source separation is inconvenient for some people

Reduces profits from landfills and incinerators

Reduces air and water pollution

Saves energy

Reduces mineral demand

Reduces greenhouse gas emissions

Reduces solid waste production and disposal

Helps protect biodiversity

Can save money for items such as paper, metals, and some plastics

Does not save landfill space in areas with ample land

May lose money for items such as glass and most plastic

DisadvantagesAdvantages

Trade-Offs

Recycling

Burning Solid WasteBurning Solid Waste

Waste-to-energy incinerator with pollution Waste-to-energy incinerator with pollution controls that burns mixed solid waste.controls that burns mixed solid waste.

Reduces trash volume

Can compete with recycling for burnable materials such as newspaper

Output approach that encourages waste production

Older or poorly managed facilities can release large amounts of air pollution

Some air pollution

Difficult to site because of citizen opposition

Costs more than short-distance hauling to landfills

Expensive to build

Some facilities recover and sell metals

Modern controls reduce air pollution

Sale of energy reduces cost

Concentrates hazardous substances into ash for burial or use as landfill cover

Low water pollution

Less need for landfills

Trade-Offs

Incineration

Advantages Disadvantages

Burying Solid WasteBurying Solid Waste

Most of the worldMost of the world’’s MSW is buried in landfills s MSW is buried in landfills that eventually are expected to leak toxic that eventually are expected to leak toxic liquids into the soil and underlying aquifers.liquids into the soil and underlying aquifers. Open dumpsOpen dumps: are fields or holes in the ground : are fields or holes in the ground

where garbage is deposited and sometimes where garbage is deposited and sometimes covered with soil. Mostly used in developing covered with soil. Mostly used in developing countries.countries.

Sanitary landfillsSanitary landfills: solid wastes are spread out in : solid wastes are spread out in thin layers, compacted and covered daily with a thin layers, compacted and covered daily with a fresh layer of clay or plastic foam.fresh layer of clay or plastic foam.

Sand

When landfill is full,layers of soil and clayseal in trash

Methane storageand compressorbuilding

Leachatestoragetank

Leachatemonitoringwell

Groundwatermonitoringwell

Electricitygeneratorbuilding Leachate

treatment system

Methane gasrecovery well

Compactedsolid waste

Leachatepipes

Leachate pumpedup to storage tankfor safe disposal

GroundwaterClay and plastic liningto prevent leaks; pipescollect leachate frombottom of landfill

Topsoil

SandClaySubsoil

Probes todetectmethaneleaks

Garbage

Garbage

Syntheticliner

Sand

Clay

Pipes collect explosive methane as used as fuel to generate electricity

No open burning

Trade-Offs

Sanitary Landfills

Advantages Disadvantages

Eventually leaks and can contaminate groundwater

Discourages recycling, reuse, and waste reduction

Slow decompositionof wastes

Groundwater contamination

Releases greenhouse gases (methane and CO2)unless they are collected

Air pollution from toxic gases and volatile organiccompounds

Dust

Noise and traffic

No shortage of landfill space in many areas

Filled land can be used for other purposes

Can handle large amounts of waste

Can be built quickly

Low operating costs

Low groundwaterpollution if sited properly

Little odor

Case Study: What Should We Do with Case Study: What Should We Do with Used Tires?Used Tires?

We face a dilemma in deciding what to We face a dilemma in deciding what to so with hundreds of millions of so with hundreds of millions of discarded tires. These tires are health discarded tires. These tires are health hazards.hazards.

Discarded tires can collect water; Discarded tires can collect water; stagnant water is a breeding ground stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes that transmit diseases for mosquitoes that transmit diseases such as West Nile virus.such as West Nile virus.

Tire fire in Spain. Such fires are Tire fire in Spain. Such fires are almost impossible to put out, can burn almost impossible to put out, can burn for weeks to years, and release large for weeks to years, and release large amounts of toxic air pollutants into the amounts of toxic air pollutants into the troposphere.troposphere.

Why do we have landfills?Why do we have landfills?

Protect groundwaterProtect groundwater Protect surface waterProtect surface water Protect air qualityProtect air quality Control pathogenic migrationControl pathogenic migration

EPA Criteria for Hazardous WasteEPA Criteria for Hazardous Waste ToxicityToxicity Persistence in the environmentPersistence in the environment Degradability in the environmentDegradability in the environment Bioaccumulation potentialBioaccumulation potential Hazardous Characteristics: ignitibility, Hazardous Characteristics: ignitibility,

corrosivity, reactivity, Toxicity Characteristic corrosivity, reactivity, Toxicity Characteristic Leachate Procedure (TCLP)Leachate Procedure (TCLP)

DioxinsDioxins Regulated by TSCARegulated by TSCA Group of more than 70 different chlorinated Group of more than 70 different chlorinated

dioxinsdioxins By-product of certain manufacturing By-product of certain manufacturing

processesprocesses CarcinogenCarcinogen TeratogenTeratogen MutagenMutagen

BioaccumulatorsBioaccumulators Chlorinated InsecticidesChlorinated Insecticides CarbamatesCarbamates OrganophosphatesOrganophosphates Herbicides Herbicides MetalsMetals

Hydrogen SulfideHydrogen Sulfide Decomposition product of organic matterDecomposition product of organic matter Sludge press by-productSludge press by-product If the pH falls below 7 S.U., Hydrogen Sulfide If the pH falls below 7 S.U., Hydrogen Sulfide

is releasedis released Toxic gasToxic gas

Cyanides (-CN)Cyanides (-CN) Commonly found in plating operations and Commonly found in plating operations and

sludgessludges When mixed with an acid, Hydrogen Cyanide When mixed with an acid, Hydrogen Cyanide

gas is releasedgas is released Can cause instantaneous deathCan cause instantaneous death Acutely toxicAcutely toxic

Eight Heavy Metals (RCRA)Eight Heavy Metals (RCRA) ArsenicArsenic BariumBarium CadmiumCadmium ChromiumChromium LeadLead MercuryMercury SeleniumSelenium SilverSilver

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Group of chlorinated hydrocarbonsGroup of chlorinated hydrocarbons Arochlor 1016, 1254, etc.Arochlor 1016, 1254, etc. By-product of certain manufacturing By-product of certain manufacturing

processesprocesses Transformer oil - dielectric propertiesTransformer oil - dielectric properties

Secure Hazardous Waste LandfillSecure Hazardous Waste Landfill

In the U.S. there In the U.S. there are only 23 are only 23 commercial commercial hazardous waste hazardous waste landfills.landfills.

Figure 22-22Figure 22-22

PhytoremediationPhytoremediation

Phytoremediation is actually a term for Phytoremediation is actually a term for several ways in which plants can be used to several ways in which plants can be used to clean up contaminated soils and water. clean up contaminated soils and water. Phytoextraction or inorganics or metalsPhytoextraction or inorganics or metals Rhizofiltration for metalsRhizofiltration for metals Phytostabilization to stabilize soilPhytostabilization to stabilize soil Phytodegradation of organic compoundsPhytodegradation of organic compounds Rhizodegradation for organicsRhizodegradation for organics PhytovolatilizationPhytovolatilization

Hazardous Waste Regulations in the Hazardous Waste Regulations in the United StatesUnited States

Two major federal laws regulate the Two major federal laws regulate the management and disposal of hazardous management and disposal of hazardous waste in the U.S.:waste in the U.S.: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

(RCRA)(RCRA)• Cradle-to-the-grave system to keep track waste.Cradle-to-the-grave system to keep track waste.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)• Commonly known as Superfund program.Commonly known as Superfund program.

Hazardous Waste Regulations in the Hazardous Waste Regulations in the United StatesUnited States

The Superfund law was designed to have The Superfund law was designed to have polluters pay for cleaning up abandoned polluters pay for cleaning up abandoned hazardous waste sites.hazardous waste sites. Only 70% of the cleanup costs have come Only 70% of the cleanup costs have come

from the polluters, the rest comes from a trust from the polluters, the rest comes from a trust fund financed until 1995 by taxes on chemical fund financed until 1995 by taxes on chemical raw materials and oil.raw materials and oil.