18 - 3 Flashcards
Solid Waste
What’s in our garbage?
The average Canadian generates more than 720 kilograms of household waste every year
Single biggest component is organic waste from kitchens in yards followed by paper products
A small percentage of the solid waste is toxic such as dispose of electronics in both household and commercial waste
Burning as opposed to burial reduces the bulk of solid waste but may release hazardous material into the air
Disposing of Solid Waste
Most common way to dispose of waste is to bury it in a sanitary landfill
Site is thoroughly study to ensure it’s not near groundwater, streams or other source of water that can be contaminated
In contrast to garbage dumps of previous generations, landfills are now designed with protective liners to control leachate
In some instances, landfills have been converted to parks
Some major disadvantages of landfills:
Waste contains chemicals that should not be released into the environment
Despite precautions contaminants sometimes leach into the surrounding soil and groundwater
Expensive and requires huge amounts of space
Biodegradability
Biodegradation is the process in which organic substances are broken down to naturally by living organisms
can be done aerobically or anaerobicly
The term biodegradable being certain products can breakdown naturally, safely and quickly into raw materials of nature
Recycling
In recycling, waste materials are collected and used as raw materials in the production of new products
—paper can be recycled into new paper products or an old bicycle frame can be melted down and used in the creation of new appliances
Recycling is good for two reasons
—-it puts back unwanted objects back to good use
—-reduces the amount of solid waste sitting in landfills
Irrespective of our recycling capability, we should focus on reducing and reusing
Technology: e-Waste
A more recent problem has emerged, the discarding of old cell phones, tablets, computers, televisions and other electronic devices
2017, Canadian scrapped 640,000 tonnes of electronic waste
Is the fastest growing portion of the waste stream
Junked electronic devices are toxic,
hazardous waste because they contain
varying amounts of lead, mercury, and
other heavy metals.
Most components can be recycled and reused
Look for a green program that is certified by e-Stewards
Reducing Solid Waste
By reducing consumption, recycling more and throwing away less we can conserve landfill space
Purchase products with the least amount of packaging
Buy recycled or recyclable products avoid using foam or paper cups
Use glass jars and plastic recyclable containers
Recycle your glass cans paper and other recyclables
Impossible, avoid printing all your lecture, study or lab notes
Do not throw away electronic items, batteries or fluorescent lights into the trash
Start a compost pile for organic garbage
Asbestos
Widely used in insulation until the 1980’s
Asbestos fibres released into the air caused asbestosis and lung cancer
Areas most likely to be found are insulations around:
Water and steam pipes
Vinyl flooring
Ceiling insulation
Roofing an siding
Fireproof board
2018 Canada passed regulations under the Environmental Protection act banning asbestos containing products
Lead
Lead poisoning is not like it was in the past
Children under the age of three were most susceptible to the effects of lead
Tends to be associated with lower income households and immigrants
Lead can damage the central nervous system causing mental disorders and digestive problems
Neurological damage can be permanent
Long term exposure to lead may cause kidney problems and a build up in bones may cause osteoporosis
Lead based paints were the chief culprit in lead poisoning
Lead was eliminated in 1991 – Canadian regulations eliminated lead in 1978
Older homes with pipes that may contain lead should let water run due to leaching of lead from the pipes
Advised not to use hot water for drinking or cooking for the same reason
Pesticides
Used primarily for two purposes:
—-Prevent spread of insect borne disease
—-Maximize food production
Pesticide DDT was effective in controlling insect borne disease
Got into the food chain and caused disruption to the life cycles of birds fish and reptiles
Larger animals eat the smaller ones – bioaccumulation and biomagnification
Pesticide DDT although effective, was banned in 1985 due to the potential effects on wildlife and humans
Concerns remain about long term exposure especially for children
Mercury
Mercury is a naturally occurring metal affecting the nervous system causing damage to the:
1. Brain
2. Kidneys
3. Gastrointestinal tract
4. Increase blood pressure and heart attack risk
5. May cause cancer
