Pollution: solid waste Flashcards by Study Sets

What is solid waste?

waste in solid form released by human activity onto land

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What are some examples of solid waste?

Domestic waste
Specialised solid waste
Radioactive waste
Asbestos and cyanide

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What are some examples of domestic waste?

food waste
Single use plastics
Clothes
Electronics
Medicines/ sanitary products
Cleaning detergent
Garden waste
Batteries

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what are the 4 main ways to deal with domestic waste?

Landfill
Incineration
Recycling
Composting

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What is landfill?

huge hole in the ground
Leachates are collected
Methane may also be collected and burned
May involve land raising

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What are the benefits of landfill?

Provides a use for waste/ derelict land
Land can be used after landfill sealed

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What are the negatives of landfill?

Air pollution- CO2, CH4
Leachates
Traffic (bin lorries)
Litter/ seagulls

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What is happening to total waste sent to landfill?

Declining

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What are the benefits of salvaging and recycling besides reducing waste?

saves money and natural resources

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What is an example of recycling/ salvaging saving natural resources?

Aluminium
collecting and re-melting/ remoulding metals cut offs

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What is a production loop?

recycling process where an industry uses the wastes produced during the manufacturing process its self

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What is resources substitution?

the use of a more abundant material instead of less abundant ones e.g., plastic instead of metal

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What ore does aluminium come from?

Bauxite

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What is aluminium used for?

Cans and aircraft

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Why is aluminium used?

It’s light and strong

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Where is most aluminium mined?

Jamaica

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What are the social, economic and environmental consequences if aluminium mining on Jamaica?

Villages relocated
Top soil removed
Forests/ crops cleared
Bauxite recovered using opencast mines
Bauxite dissolved in sodium hydroxide using high temperature and pressure
Alumina precipitated out

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What are the benefits of recycling aluminium?

saves fossil fuels (90-97% energy reduction)
Reduces air pollution (95%)
Reduces water pollution (97%)
Reduces water use

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What are the problems with recycling aluminium?

Public motivation
Aluminium often used in alloy- separating metals expensive
Collection and transport costs
Labour costs- collection often labour intensive

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Where does incineration of domestic waste mainly done?

Sweden

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How many billion tonnes of waste go to landfill each year?

2 billion

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How much of Sweden’s garbage goes to lanfill?

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How much of Sweden’s garbage is recycled?

47%

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How much of Sweden’s garbage is used to generate electricity?

52%

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How does trash to electricity work?

trash burned steam produced turns turbine generates electricity

How many tonnes of UK's waste is exported to Sweden?

2.3 million

What are the advantages of burning domestic waste?

Reduces volume Can provide electricity and district heating

What are the disadvantages of burning domestic waste?

Air pollution- particulates Ash toxic and still requires disposal High capital cost

What is compost?

Produced from waste plant material e.g., grass cutting, fallen leaves and vegetable waste by action of aerobic microorganisms

What does compost consist of?

partly decomposed organic material that is rich in minerals e.g., nitrates

What does rate of compost production depend on?

Temperature Moisture content Aeration

What occurs when microorganisms respire in compost?

heat is generated which kills weed seeds and some plant pathogens

Why does compost temperature drop in weeks 9-14?

Reduced food available for microorganisms More competition so growth rate reduced Less oxygen becomes available Change in water/ pH slows growth

What are some examples of specialist solid wastes?

Asbestos Cyanide

What are specialist wastes?

highly polluting waste products that are very hazardous and must be disposed of seperately

What is asbestos?

term for a group of minerals of microscopic fibres

What was asbestos previously used for?

used in buildings for insultation, flooring and roofing and sprayed on ceilings and walls

Is asbestos still used in the UK?

No it is banned

When does asbestos become a problem?

when the asbestos containing materials are damaged or disturbed so that tiny asbestos fibres can be released into the air and breathed into your lungs

What health problem can asbestos cause?

Cancer called mesothelioma (breathing asbestos dust)

What is the problem with mesothelioma?

fluid builds up in heart, lungs and abdomen

What are heavy metals

naturally occurring elements that have a high atomic weight and a density at least 5 times greater then that of water

Where have heavy metals been applied to human life?

Industry Domestic Agricultural Medical Technological

What is the source of lead?

lead-acid batteries roofing radiation shielding Metal production and processing Lead petrol Old lead piping Lead paint

What are the impacts of lead?

Toxic to plants and animals Affects central nervous system Premature birth increased risk Reduce birth weight Learning difficulties Inhibit growth Damage kidneys Joint weakness Potentially carcinogenic

What are the characteristics of lead that affect its severity?

Solubility increases in acidic water Dissolves slowly in water Resistant to corrosion

How can lead be controlled?

Main legislation is National Air Quality Strategy Restrictions on sale and use Keep home clean and dust free Maintain all painted surfaces

What are the sources of mercury?

Waste incineration Chlorine manufacture Mercury cells Metal production Coal combustion

What are the impacts of mercury pollution?

Toxic to wildlife, plants and microorganisms Nervous system, lung and kidney damage Potentially carcinogenic

What characteristics of mercury affects its severity?

Persists indefinitely Bioaccumulates (liposoluble)

How is mercury pollution controlled?

Clean air act Restrictions for use in electrical equipment Phaseout for use in batteries Sale of products above certain level prohibited

What are the sources of cadmium pollution?

Metal processing (aluminium) Mine waters Battery recycling plants Phosphate fertiliser application

What are the impacts of cadmium pollution on the environment?

Affects photosynthesis and transpiration growth and reproduction of micro organisms in soil and water

What are the impacts of cadmium pollution on humans?

Carcinogenic when inhaled Birth defects Damage to reproductive system Anaemia Kidney damage

What characteristics of cadmium affect its severity?

Biomagnifies and bioaccumulates

What are control methods for cadmium pollution?

Bioaccumulator plants for phytoremediation Legislation banning use for certain activities

What are the sources of tin pollution?

Canned food and drink

What are the impacts of tin pollution?

Toxic to algae, fungi and phytoplankton Eye/ skin irritation reduced red blood cells Brain damage

What are the characteristics of tin pollution that affect its severity?

High persistence (not easily biodegraded)

What are the control methods for tin pollution?

Use of alternatives for cans which are less likely to end up in food or drink

What is cyanide?

A compound that contains a triple bond group known as cyano group which consists or a carbon atom triple bonded to a nitrogen atom

What forms can cyanide be in?

Liquid Colourless gas Crystals

What are some examples of gaseous cyanide?

Hydrogen cyanide Cyanogen chloride

What are some examples of crystallised cyanide?

Sodium cyanide Potassium cyanide

what is cyanide used for in manufacturing?

Paper Textiles Plastics Chemicals to develop photos

What are cyanide salts used for?

metallurgy for electroplating metal cleaning Removing gold from ore

What is cyanide gas used for?

extermination of pests and vermin in ships and buildings

How does cyanide affect humans?

Blocks cells ability to produce ATP a source of energy used by your body for natural functions

What happens when a person gets a lethal dose of cyanide?

body's cells suddenly stop producing ATP Lung diaphragm and heart are pure muscle so no longer function Wont be able to breath and cardiac arrest will occur

How long does it take for cyanide to take effect on a person?

2-5 minutes

What are the sources of cyanide?

Smoking Eating apple seeds or cassava Burning plastic Inhaling house fire smoke

How do you dispose of cyanide?

disposed via incineration

What are the by-products of burning cyanide?

Less harmful secondary pollutants CO2 and NOx

Where does most radioactive waste come from?

power plants

What 3 levels of radioactive waste severity are there?

High level waste (HLW) Intermediate level waste (ILW) Low level waste (LLW)

What is low level radioactive waste?

Typically from hospitals Sent straight to land based disposal following packaging Usually stored in secure containers

What % of total radioactive waste volume is LLW?

90%

What is intermediate level radioactive waste packaging?

Packing involves placing waste in suitable container and immobilising the waste in cement based materials Geological disposal

What are the typical packages for ILW?

500 litre steel drums or 3m*3 steel boxes

What is geological disposal? (radioactive waste)

placing packaged waste in engineered underground facility

What is the name for the process of high level waste packaging? (radioactive)

Encapsulation and vitrification

How does encapsulation and vitrification take place?

High level waste are concentrated by evaporation then stored in double walled stainless steel tanks inside thick concrete walls awaiting vitrification

What is vitrification?

Waste converted into a borosilicate glass within steel canisters

What are the positives of encapsulation and vitrification?

Long term Safe storage

What are the negatives of encapsulation and vitrification?

expensive material remains radioactive for thousands of years