Chapter 2 - Waste Management Flashcards
Describe 4 difficulties associated with locating and developing new landfill sites
Location
Planning permission is required which can be hard to receive
May be objections from local residents due to noise or smell issues
Development
Site must be geographically suitable so that the polluting leachates don’t affect surrounding water supply
A detailed site survey is required before to ensure that the landfill site will not cause movement of surrounding land
List 3 major waste types in NI waste management strategy
Hazardous waste
Agricultural waste
Municipal waste
Describe four effects of the Northern Ireland waste management strategy on waste management practice in NI
Quantity of waste going to landfill has decreased year on year
Proportion of waste that has been recycled or composted has increased
The rate at which waste was recycled and composted increased
The levels of recycling and composting are rising steadily
List the waste management hierarchy from top to bottom
Prevention
Reduce
Re use
Recycle
Energy recovery
Disposal
Give 3 possible solutions for ways in which communities can reduce the amount of waste they are sending to landfill
They can get anaerobic digester/ composting solution to reduce organic kitchen waste
They can have any glass and card collected by ppl to be recycled instead of going to landfill
Invest in a materials recovery facility to increase amount of recycling
What are the key differences between a bioreactor landfill and dry tomb landfill
Bioreactor encourages the decomposition of the waste through the re injection of leachate and microbe rich water
Gas and leachate are collected and treated
Dry tomb discourages reactions taking place
Waste can be stored for material value in the future
How does landfill tax encourage a reduction in levels of landfill and help support environmental initiatives
People may be put off sending waste to landfill if they have to pay a sum of money.
It helps initiatives as it will reduce the amount of waste going to landfill which is seen as a last resort
Name 4 priority waste streams identified in Ni waste management strategies
Packaging waste
Waste electrical and electronic equipment
End of life vehicles
Tyres
Describe the process of waste recycling at a materials recovery facility
Waste recycling begins with the user
Mixed recyclables will be taken to the MRF
Only certain items can be recycled
The materials will be sorted manually or mechanically
Single materials are then sorted by grade, size and crushed or shredded in to bales for sale
Describe the breakdown of waste in landfills
Organic waste will break down anaerobically
Methane and CO2 is released
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and causes global warming
Methane is a fire hazard
Leachate is produced which is contaminated water
Leachate enters then environment causing pollution
Rotting waste attracts vermin
What three factors influence the rate at which leachate are produced from modern landfills
Moisture
Temperature
Oxygen
Describe a dry tomb reactor
Dry tomb reactors are lined at the base to prevent leakages
The waste is covered with soil at intervals
Waste breakdown is very slow
Describe a bioreactor landfill
They are designed to break down organic waste rapidly
They can be aerobic or anaerobic
Methane and leachate are removed
Methane can be used to drive a generator
They can use the leachate to enhance the waste degradation process
Describe how a bioreactor works
Controlled quantities of liquid and air are added to the waste to accelerate biodegradation. Leachate is collected and can be treated with bacteria to enhance its ability to break down waste
It is then reintroduced to help with waste breakdown
Methane and landfill gas is collected and used to drive a generator
Describe how dry tomb landfill works
The waste is kept dry which prevents the production of methane and leachate.
If the waste is wet leachate can be produced and can escape into ground water if the liner is punctured. Groundwater will have to monitored using monitor wells and treated if necessary.
Any methane gas produced is collected and used to drive a generator to produce electricity
