Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

APES: A Global Concern > Chapter 21: Solid, Toxic, and Hazardous Waste > Flashcards

Chapter 21: Solid, Toxic, and Hazardous Waste Flashcards

1
Q

How many tons of solid waste does the U.S. create?

A

11 billion tons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What percent of the solid waste produced by the U.S. is from agriculture?

A

50%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Industrial Waste

A

Amounts to about 400 million metric tons per year. About 60 million tons of this waste is toxic or hazardous.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Municipal Waste

A

Combination of household and commercial refuse that accounts for about 200 million metric tons per year.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What fraction of a ton of garbage is produced per capita in the U.S?

A

2/3 a ton; This is double that of a person in Japan or Europe and 5-10 times more than developing countries

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What percent of U.S. waste is paper products?

A

42%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Most of U.S. waste is not separated. Why?

A

Collecting and dumping processes mix

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are examples of unsafe waste material?

A

Paint cans, pesticides, batteries, cleaning solvents, smoke detectors, and plastics

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What two harmful things do burning plastics release?

A

PCBs and dioxins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the Three R’s?

A

Reduction
Reuse
Recycle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are two ways to dump waste?

A

Open dumps and ocean dumping

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Open Dump

A

Dumping garbage and unwanted materials in a common location. This is common in developing countries. Health hazard!

Examples: Mexico City and Manila

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Ocean Dump

A

Dumping garbage and unwanted materials in the ocean

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How many tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean annually?

A

20 million tons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

A

A swirling mass of garbage between Hawaii and California trapped by the North Pacific Gyre. Larger than Texas!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

About what percent of U.S. electronic waste is shipped overseas?

A

80%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Each year ___ million computers and __ million cell phones are included in e-waste shipment.

A

47; 1

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Where does most U.S. electronic waste go?

A

China

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What do the Chinese do with U.S. electronic waste?

A

Villagers, including children, break up the e-waste to
retrieve valuable metals and materials. They make
money off of scrap recovery.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Groundwater contamination in electronic waste dump sites is how many times more than WHO’s limit?

A

200 times

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

TVs in America are discarded after how many years of use?

A

5 years

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Computers, play stations, and cell phones are discarded in less than how many years?

A

5 years

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

There are over how many computers in use in the U.S. right now that will be disposed of in a few years?

A

600 million

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Only about what percent of the disposed electronic waste is recycled?

A

10%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Sanitary Landfills
Solid waste is disposed of, then regulated and controlled. The waste is compacted and covered with soil daily. An impermeable clay or plastic lining encloses the garbage and a drainage system is installed.
26
Where are landfills being built today?
Away from lakes, rivers, and aquifers
27
The U.S. spends about how much money per year to dispose of garbage?
$10 billion
28
About how many landfills are using methane recovery?
300 landfills
29
Energy Recovery (Waste to energy)
Burning garbage can produce an energy resource. The heat produced can be used for electricity.
30
In the U.S, around ___ incinerators burn _____ tons of garbage daily.
110; 45,000
31
Municipal Incinerators
Burn household and commercial garbage. Most by mass burning (dump everything together).
32
Why is incinerator cost debated?
They cost around $100-300 million to make
33
Tipping Fees
Add to the cost of an incinerator; Fee charged to haulers
34
Burning produces what?
Fly ash
35
Fly Ash
Light, air particles that can penetrate lungs and are contaminated with dioxins and metals.
36
What one product should not be put into an incinerator?
Batteries
37
Recycling
The reprocessing of discarded materials into new and useful products. Ex. Aluminum cans and bottles can be melted and recast into new cans and bottles, old tires can be shredded and used in road resurfacing, newspapers can be shredded and used in insulation.
38
Aluminum has a value of what amount per ton?
$2,500
39
What was the name of New York City's last landfill?
Fresh Kills
40
When did New York close Fresh Kills?
2001
41
The city exports how many tons of garbage a day?
11,000 tons
42
To what states does New York export its trash?
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Carolina, and Ohio
43
What country is leading in recycling?
Japan
44
What percent of its municipal waste does Japan recycle?
50%
45
What percent of its municipal waste does Japan incinerate?
20%
46
One issue of the New York Times kills how many trees?
75,000
47
What is the most difficult part about recycling?
Separation of waste. Ex. Most of the 25 billion plastic bottles sold yearly in the U.S. are made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate). PET can be melted and remanufactured into carpet, fleece clothing and nonfood packaging. BUT, if one PVC bottle gets into the load by mistake, the PET becomes useless.
48
What are beer companies considering?
Beer companies are considering plastic bottles that will have to be dark. This could produce a new environmental problem. Glass and aluminum are easier to recycle.
49
Composting
Natural decomposition to reduce organic debris to a nutrient-rich soil amendment.
50
How many tons of animal waste is in the U.S. from feedlots?
6 million tons
51
TCP
Thermal Conversion Process; It is a method of pressure cooking organic wastes in hydrocarbons or fuel.
52
Demanufacturing
The disassembly and recycling of obsolete products such as TVs, computers, refrigerators, air conditions, and other electronics and appliances.
53
________ and ________ are the fastest growing components of the global waste stream.
Appliances and electronics
54
What components are in a typical computer and how much are they worth?
Gold;$6 Copper;$5 Silver;$1
55
How many states have passed legislation to control disposal of computers and appliances.
29
56
Reuse
``` Means cleaning and reusing materials in their present form. Ex. a reusable, refillable bottle. Glass bottles can make an average of 15 round trips between factory and customer before becoming so scratched or chipped that they have to be recycled. ```
57
What is one of the greatest form of waste?
Excess packaging of food and consumer products
58
To reduce waste, prefer what four things?
1: No packaging 2: Minimal packaging 3: Reusable packaging 4: Recyclable packaging
59
Photodegradable Plastic
Break down when exposed to UV light
60
Biodegradable Plastic
Usually contains cornstarch and it can be broken down by microorganisms.
61
What are drink makers doing today?
Softdrink makers use less aluminum in their cans and plastic | bottle makers use less plastic.
62
How many million metric tons of waste are officially classified as hazardous by the EPA annually?
265 million metric tons
63
What is the biggest source of hazardous and toxic waste?
Chemical and petroleum industry
64
Between 1950 and 1975, how many billion tons of hazardous chemicals were improperly disposed of?
5 billion tons
65
Hazardous Waste
Any discarded material (solid or liquid) that is known to be: 1. fatal to humans or lab animals in low doses. 2. toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, or teratogenic. 3. ignitable with a flash point less than 60°C. 4. corrosive 5. explosive or highly reactive
66
Most hazardous waste is _____, ______, ______, or ______ of on site by generators.
Recycled; Converted; Stored; Disposed
67
RCRA (rickra): Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
1976, Requires rigorous testing and management of | hazardous waste. Demands strict accounting from generation to disposal.
68
CERCLA or Superfund Act: Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
Originally passed in 1980 Amended in 1984 under the amendment SARA (Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act)
69
SARA (Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act)
This amendment focused on rapid containment, cleanup or remediation of abandoned toxic waste sites. Includes community right-to-know access. Gave EPA the power to take emergency action when threat is perceived. Then EPA can sue land owner for costs.
70
TRI
Toxic Release Inventory; Requires 20,000 manufacturing facilities to report annually on release of more than 300 toxic materials, mandated by SARA
71
Superfund Site
A location placed on the NPL (National Priority List) for environmental cleanup that is eligible for federal funds.
72
By 2007, how many superfund sites were on the National Priority List?
1,680 sites
73
Superfund
A revolving pool of money used to provide emergency funds for cleanup of hazardous sites or to remediate abandoned or inactive hazardous sites.
74
At what amount did the Superfund peak?
$3.6 billion
75
What are 10 substances of primary concern?
``` Lead Trichloroethylene Toluene Benzene PCBs Chloroform Phenol Arsenic Cadmium Chromium Ex. Love Canal, NY was an open dump where 20,000 tons of toxic chemical waste was buried and later a housing development was built on top. Citizens were afflicted with health problems. ```
76
Brownfield
A large area of contaminated property. As a result, the land becomes abandoned or is not used to its potential due to real or suspected contamination.
77
What are two problems caused by brownfields?
Brownfields are real estate and insurance problems. Sometimes current landowners are forced to pay for cleanup that they did not cause. EPA cleanup standards are HIGH. Cleaned soil must be safe for children to play in, even eat (every day for 70 years) without harm.
78
What are the processes to make hazardous waste less toxic?
1. Physical treatment 2. Incineration 3. Chemical processing 4. Bioremediation
79
Physical Treatment
Using charcoal or resin filters to absorb toxins, distillation, precipitation, or combining radioactive substances with glass.
80
Incineration
Wastes are heated at very high temps for a long period of time
81
Chemical Processing
Transforms chemicals into a nontoxic form. Includes neutralization, removal of metals and oxidation.
82
Bioremediation
Uses biological agents and microorganisms to absorb or detoxify compounds. Natural bioremediators are water hyacinths and cattails.
83
Retrievable Storage
Placing waste storage containers in a secure place (building, salt mine, cavern) where it can be periodically inspected or retrieved. This method is not terribly expensive but the downside is vandalism or terrorism.
84
Secure Landfills
A landfill with a thick bottom cushion of clay and a layer of gravel over the thick clay liner as well as a thick plastic liner. Leachate is collected and monitored. Surrounding wells are monitored for contamination.
85
In 2006, ___ tons of toxic waste were illegally dumped at __ open dumps in Abidjan, the capital of the Ivory Coast.
400; 14
86
Where is Fresh Kills located?
Staten Island, New York
87
Refuse-derived Fuel
Refuse is sorted as it comes in to remove unburnable or recyclable materials before combustion
88
Mass Burn
Dumping everything smaller than sofas and refrigerators into a giant furnace and burn as much as possible
89
Dioxin levels in fly ash can be as much as ___ parts per billion
780
90
What is the most toxic dioxin?
TCDD/Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin

APES: A Global Concern (45 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions