Hazardous Waste Legislation & Treatment

Question 0

Non-specific source wastes

Answer 0

*produced from different sources

• various manufacturing & industrial processes
  
  • solvents or dioxin containing wastes

Question 1

What are the 3 hazardous waste lists?

Answer 1

1. Non-specific source wastes
2. Source- specific wastes
3. Discarded commercial products

Question 2

Source- specific wastes

Answer 2

Wastes from specific industries

• petroleum refining
• pesticide manufacturing
• iron and steel production

Question 3

Discarded commercial products

Answer 3

• Certain discarded pesticides

* Subject to more stringent regulation

Question 4

4 characteristics that hazardous wastes exhibit

Answer 4

1) ignitable
2) corrosive
3) reactive
4) toxic

Question 5

Ignitable (characteristic 1)

Answer 5

Substances that are easily ignited and burn vigorously and persistently

E.g. Waste oils and used solvents

Question 6

Corrosive (characteristic 2)

Answer 6

• Acids, bases
• those capable of corroding metal containers
• e.g. Battery acid

Question 7

Reactive (characteristic 3)

Answer 7

-Wastes that are unstable (under “normal” conditions)

• May cause explosions or toxic vapors when
  * heated
  * compressed
  * mixed with water

Question 8

Toxic (characteristic 4)

Answer 8

Wastes that are harmful or fatal when ingested or absorbed

Question 9

Thermal destruction examples

Answer 9

• Incineration (popular technology)

- Pyrolysis

Question 10

Pyrolysis

Answer 10

Chemical decomposition of waste by heating in the absence of oxygen

Question 11

Fixation/ stabilization

Answer 11

Involves removal of excess water from a waste and solidifying the remainder

-e.g. Mixing it with a stabilizing agent

Question 12

Physical processes

Answer 12

• Sedimentation
• Aeration
• Adsorption

Question 13

Sedimentation (physical process 1)

Answer 13

Separates solids from liquids

Question 14

Aeration (physical process 2)

Answer 14

Removes volatile chemicals from solutions

Question 15

Adsorption (physical process 3)

Answer 15

Using activated carbon

 *Common method: use granular activated      
    carbon (GAC) 
 *High surface area , organics absorb to 
    surface
 *GAC can be regenerated by heat or used a 
    solvent to remove organics

Question 16

Chemical processes

Answer 16

• Neutralization

* Chemical precipitation

Question 17

Neutralization (chem process 1)

Answer 17

Changing pH to an acceptable level

Question 18

Chemical precipitation (chem process 2)

Answer 18

Precipitates can be less soluble (removed by settling or filtration)

Question 19

Biological processes

Answer 19

• Using microorganisms to degrade wastes

* Highly dependent on waste & microorganism

Question 20

CERCLA (passed in 1980 by congress)

Answer 20

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Composition & Liability Act

Question 21

CERCLA (cont.)

Answer 21

• Known as the Superfund Lund

* Addresses already contaminated sites

Question 22

CERCLA involves…

Answer 22

• Identifying hazardous waste sites
• Preparing cleanup plans
• Forcing responsible parties to pay for the remediation

Question 23

Superfund Remedial Process

Answer 23

• Site discovery
• NPL (National Priority List) ranking & listing
• Remedial investigation &feasibility study
• Record of decision
• Remedial design
• Remedial action

Question 24

RCRA (Resource Conservation & Recovery Act

Answer 24

Hazardous wastes are regulated within Subtitle C of RCRA

Question 25

Difference between CERCLA and RCRA

Answer 25

* CERCLA: Previous hazardous waste problems | * RCRA: Prevention of future problems

Question 26

RCRA regulates what?

Answer 26

* generation * storage * transportation * treatment & disposal of hazardous substances

Question 27

RCRA key concept

Answer 27

* wastes are managed from when they are generated until their ultimate disposal * "cradle-to-grave" approach

Question 28

Tracking System

Answer 28

Paper trail documenting the waste's progress through through treatment storage and disposal

Question 29

TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act)

Answer 29

* act for the management of hazardous materials * similar to RCRA * concerns the current use and disposal of waste

Question 30

Difference between TSCA and RCRA

Answer 30

* TSCA concerns individual, specific chemicals | * RCRA generally deals with combination of chemicals contained in waste streams