Chapter 21

Question 1

The top waste generated by percent in US from the highest to lowest in correct order are:

Answer 1

• paper and paperboard
• yard trimming
• Food
• Plastic
• Textile and other

Question 2

Define open dumping:

Answer 2

•Release Hazardous Materials. Open, unregulated dumps are still the predominant method of waste disposal in developing countries

Question 3

How much plastic is dumped in oceans annually?

Answer 3

• 20 million tons of plastic debris are dumped at sea yearly where they are eaten by wildlife or wash up on beaches

Question 4

What is e-waste?

Answer 4

•Electronic waste

Question 5

Since 1994, all operating landfills in the U.S. have been required to control hazardous substances with ____________ and ______.

Answer 5

1. Lining

2. Drainage Systems

Question 6

Burning ______________ is used to create steam used for heating buildings or generating electricity.

Answer 6

Burning Garbage

Question 7

EPA has found alarmingly high levels of ___, ___, ___, and ___ in incinerator ash. One way to control this is to remove __________ (________) and _______ before burning.

Answer 7

1. Dioxins, Furans, Lead, Cadmiumin
2. Heavy Metals (Batteries)
3. Plastics

Question 8

Currently, about ______ of all aluminum cans are recycled. Old tires are turned into road surface. Cost of recycling is about $______/ton as opposed to about $______/ton to landfill.

Answer 8

1. 2/3
2. 35$
3. $80

Question 9

U.S. Recycling Rates for the top 6 items in correct order from highest to lowest are:

Answer 9

• Car Batteries
• Steel cans
• Yard Trimmings
• Paper and paper board
• Aluminum beer and soft drink cans
• And Tires

Question 10

List two methods of disposal of Municipal Waste

Answer 10

• Recycling and Composting

* Commercial Scale

Question 11

Yard waste makes up about _______% of waste stream. Swiss company uses yard waste to make methane. Construction waste can be recycled. Gasifiers convert ______(food-soaked paper) to natural gas.

Answer 11

1. 12%

2. Biomass

Question 12

Per e-waste, what is meant by “cradle to grave”?

Answer 12

•“Cradle (point of generation) to grave (ultimate disposal)”

Question 13

Why is “reusing” more efficient than recycling? Provide some examples.

Answer 13

• Auto parts, brass fittings, woodwork, bricks, are routinely reused and can bring a high price
• Avoids detrimental environmental effects from plastic recycle

Question 14

Producing Less Waste is critical. Excess _______of consumer products is one of our greatest sources of unnecessary waste.

Answer 14

Packaging

Question 15

Paper, plastic, glass, and metal packaging material make up about ______% of domestic trash.

Answer 15

50%

Question 16

Hazardous Waste Management Options: List several means by which hazardous waste is managed:

Answer 16

• Produce less waste
• Avoid creating wastes in the first place
• Recycle and reuse
• Use less toxic alternatives
• Physical treatment (isolation)
• Incineration
• Chemical Processing (transforming to non-toxic substances)

Question 17

Differentiate between retrievable Storage and secured-modern landfills

Answer 17

• Retrievable Storage: In containers in salt mines or caverns . Can be inspected and periodically retrieved if necessary
• Secure Landfills: Modern, complex landfills with multiple liners and other impervious layers, covered by a cap. Leachate is processed, and monitoring sees that no toxins escape.