Municipal and Hazardous Waste Flashcards
Why is the amount of waste we are producing increasing?
Demographic changes
increased material consumption (cell phones, e-gadgets)
Demand for convenience ahead of the environment (if TV breads we don’t repair it we replace it)
Little economic incentive for Americans to reduce waste
Why is it difficult to create more landfills?
1) PUBLIC OPPOSITION
NIMBY - not in my backyard
LULU - locally unwanted land use
NIMEY - not in my election year
NIMTOO - not in my term of office
BANANA - build absolutely nothing anywhere near anyone
NOPE - not on planet earth
2) RISING COST
3) EPA REGULATIONS
What is e-waste?
e-waste is the electronic waste that is generated from modern technological gadgets.
americans own 24 electronics products per house
electronic products are made from valuable resources and materials (metals, plastics, and glass, all of which require energy to mine and manufacture)
donating used electronics extends the lives of products
recycling electronics prevents valuable materials from going into the waste steam
list municipal solid waste methods from best to worst (from an environmental health perspective)
(best to worst)
1) Source Reduction and Reuse
2) recycling/Composting
3) Energy Recovery
4) Treatment & Disposal
Describe Source Reduction and Reuse
Better than recycling
minimize the amount of waste being generated
use less material per product
make products last longer
abandon the planned obsolescence approach
front-end approach to waste management
Describe Recycling
Recycling prevents emissions of many greenhouse gases
reduces water pollution
saves energy
conserves raw materials/resources
stimulates the development of greener technologies
reduces amount of waste sent to landfills
creates jobs
Describe Composting
an intentional , controlled decomposition of organic matter
yard trimmings and food residuals are 25% of the US MSW stream could be composted
enriches soil and reduces or eliminates need for chemical fertilizers
promote higher yields of agricultural crops
cost effectively remediate soils contaminated by hazardous waste
remove solids, oil, grease, and heavy metals from storm water runoff
reduces pollution and greenhouse gases by diverting waste from the waste steam
Describe energy Recovery
Incinerators
aka - municipal waste combustors or waste to energy plants
Burn MSW at a very high temperature to generate electricity or steam power (recovery)
Metals from the residues of combustion can be recycled into scrap metal; remaining ash is deposited in landfills
kills microorganisms
Describe disadvantages of Incinerators
emissions may be potentially hazardous to human health and the environment: requires pollutant control technologies
Expensive: high operating costs
Maintenance intensive
ash is very toxic
what are the four major parts of a landfill
1) bottom liner
2) system for collecting leachate
3) cover
4) appropriate location that minimizes the contamination of groundwater
(**optional: methane capture system)
What are 2 landfill emissions? (describe each)
Leachate - liquid produced as water percolates through wastes, collecting contaminates
Landfill Gas- made up mostly of methane and carbon dioxide, also ammonia, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, VOC’s
How does a landfill work? (5 steps)
bottom lined with clay and sealed with thick plastic to contain leaks
a leachate sump collects leachates for further treatment
Garbage piled up in rows then compacted by bulldozers and rollers
Garbage is covered daily with soil
Aerobic and anaerobic bacteria aid in the decomposition of organic materials and produce methane gas
EPA requirements for Landfills
location restrictions: landfills may not be sited on floodplains, wetlands, earthquake zones, unstable land or airports
Landfills must have liners
landfills must have a leachate collection system
landfill operators must monitor groundwater
landfill operators must continue to monitor the landfill for 30 years after the closure
How long after a a closure of a landfill must the operators continue to monitor the landfill?
30 years
What does the resource conservation and recovery act (RCRA 1976) say?
Regulates ongoing operations involving the generation, transport and treatment/storage/disposal of hazardous waste
“Cradle-to-grave” approach
