Municipal Wastes-- Solid and Liquid (24) Flashcards
Three types of liquid waste:
municipal, residential, animal
Two ways to treat residential sewage:
aerobic treatment, soil-based treatment
Public health risks from untreated sewage:
- Pollutes waters with bacteria, excess nutrients, heavy metals, and other toxins;
carries pathogens that can end up in drinking water supplies and recreational waters. - Causes diarrhea, vomiting, respiratory and other infections, hepatitis, dysentery, and other chronic diseases such as cancer, arthritis and heart disease
Aeration used in wastewater treatment…
…as a secondary treatment, using activated sludge to clean the water
sources of urban fecal pollution:
Combined Sewer Overflows, failed Household Sewage Treatment Systems
activated sludge
sludge particles produced in wastewater by the growth of organisms in aeration tanks. The term “activated” comes from the fact that the particles teem with bacteria, fungi, and protozoa that can feed on the incoming wastewater
biosolids
sewer sludge or mixtures containing sewage sludge that have been treated for beneficial use
aerobic treatment is needed…
…to remove bacteria and viruses
to protect for public health, you must…
…treat for bacteria or viruses
4’ dry soil ______ treatment
aerobic
The ___________ was invented in the 70s as the best treatment option to do the limitation of soil absorption systems
Aerobic Treatment Unit (ATU) (The Aeration System)
CSOs
Combined Sewer Overflows (an issue with urban human fecal pollution)
Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO)
discharges of raw sewage from municipal sanitary sewer systems. Can release untreated sewage into basements or out of manholes and onto city streets, playgrounds, and into streams before it can reach a treatment facility. Often caused by blockages in sewer lines and breaks in sewer lines.
CAFO:
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation
To be considered a CAFO, a livestock operation must first be considered _____________.
an animal feeding operation (AFO)
AFO:
livestock operation in which animals are confined for at least 45 days in a 12-month period in an area where grass or other vegetation is not maintained during the normal growing season
What sizes of CAFOs are regulated, and by whom?
Large and medium, and they need an NPDES permit to manage and dispose of their manure (small CAFOs are not regulated unless the manure is causing a public health nuisance)
Steps in aerobic treatment of sewage:
- Preliminary screening and scum removal
- Primary settlement of suspended solids (SS)
- Secondary aerobic treatment with activated sludge
- Tertiary treatment (further filtration to remove SS and disinfection)
- Treatment and disposal of sewage sludge
Tertiary treatment includes:
Chlorine, Ozone, UV radiation
**Wastes not considered solid wastes in Ohio:
Infectious or hazardous wastes. (also, mining waste, demolition/construction debris, oil/gas wastes)
**Wastes banned in Ohio
Hazardous waste, infectious waste, yard waste, scrap tires, lead acid battteries
(also friable asbestos, radioactive waste, PCBs)
**How the RCRA controls MSW from the cradle to the grave.
generation, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal of hazardous waste
**Major transport pathways (media) of hazardous chemicals and two routes of exposure.
Air, Soil, Water
Ingestion, Inhalation
Significance of Love Canal to Superfund. Which act of Congress created this?
Love Canal– explosion and birth defects in New York. G-Ross. Led to this stuff.
CERCLA
How many Superfund sites are there in Ohio?
Where’s the nearest one?
49
Rickenbacker AFB, Groveport, Ohio
Why did waste management become a critical issue at the advent of the industrial revolution?
- increase in population
- massive migration of people to the industrial towns and cities from rural areas during the 18th century
Before waste regulations in the US:
- open dumping: dump, push, burn, maybe bury what’s left with little concern for the environment or public health
- going to the dump to shoot rats was a national pastime
First dumping regulation:
Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1965 (part of Clean Air Act)
When was Ohio’s solid waste law enacted?
1967
When was the OEPA enacted?
October 23, 1972
What agency enforced Ohio’s solid waste law before the OEPA?
The Ohio Department of Health and local health departments
What did Congress enact on October 21, 1976? – the “nation’s primary law governing the disposal of solid and hazardous waste”
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
What did the RCRA encourage?
source reduction and recycling, safe disposal of municipal waste, control over the treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste
RCRA solid waste program (subtitle D):
develop comprehensive plans to manage nonhazardous industrial solid and municipal waste, set criteria for municipal solid waste landfills and other solid waste disposal facilities, prohibit open dumping of solid waste
RCRA hazardous waste program (subtitle C):
establishes system for controlling hazardous waste from the time it is generated until its ultimate disposal (cradle to grave)
Underground storage tanks program:
underground storage tanks containing hazardous waste substances and petroleum products were regulated
What act is commonly known as Superfund, and when was it enacted?
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), December 11, 1980
What did CERCLA/Superfund establish?
Prohibitions and requirements concerning closed and abandoned hazardous waste sites, liability of persons responsible for releases of hazardous waste at these sites, and a trust fund to provide for cleanup when no responsible party can be identified (CLEANUP, LIABILITY)
What 1986 act beefed up/amended CERCLA?
SARA – the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act
What was the major outcome of SARA?
increased the focus on human health problems posed by hazardous waste sites
SARA Title III significance?
- “Community right to know”
- Inventory of all hazardous chemicals above a threshold stored in each Ohio county
Who manages all requirements for SARA Title III in Franklin county?
the Columbus Public Health Department EH Division
How many landfills did Ohio have in 1967 vs now?
Over 1300 to 40
How many hazardous waste facilities existed in Ohio in 1980 vs now?
177 to 34
Solid Waste Management Hierarchy:
Top: Source Reduction and Reuse
Next: Recycling/Composting
Next: Combustion with Energy Recovery
Last: Landfilling and Incineration without Energy Recovery
What is the OEPA’s goal for recycling/reduction of MSW for each SWMD?
The SWMD shall reduce and/or recycle at least 25% of the solid waste generated by the residential/commercial sector and at least 66% of the solid waste generated by the industrial sector.
Since House Bill 592 has been adopted, the trend in Ohio has been…
… fewer operating landfills with greater capacity at each facility
OSU is located within which waste management district?
The Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO)
Why is SWACO unique?
It owns and operates a sanitary landfill in Franklin County
How does SWACO treat solid waste?
As a resource capable of yielding recovered materials and energy
Where does SWACO derive most of its revenues?
fees levied on the disposal of solid waste at SWACO facilities and from fees levied on solid waste generated within the District bust disposed at other public or privately-owned landfills located outside of the District
What is SWACO’s solid waste management paradox?
Though it’s mandated to increase reduction, reuse, and recycling of MSW and this will extend the life of the landfill, doing so will decrease revenue to pay for landfill operations and the SWMP
**Role of MSW landfills for disposing MSW:
“materials that cannot be recycled, reused, or composted”
Describe MSW landfill design and the role of anaerobic bacteria:
- safe location
- impervious cover
- leachate collection system
- bottom liner
anaerobic bacteria: landfill is airtight, so need to function in the absence of oxygen. Produces methane and carbon dioxide, which must be removed
Advantages of incineration/combustion:
practical, saves on transport costs and the carbon footprint from that, reduction in space required (90%), reduce pests/insects, can produce electricity, gases and leachates from landfills are eliminated
Disadvantages of incineration/combustion:
high cost of plant, leads to abandonment of recycling/reuse efforts, produces dioxins (carcinogen), require skilled personnel
