solid waste management Flashcards
what are the sources of solid wastes
1) mining and construction ie overburden or spoil heaps
2) domestic waste ie packaging, containers, food and garden waste
3) industrial waste
what are the properties of solid wastes
1) degradability
2) flammability
3) release of radioactivity
4) toxicity
why are more affluent individuals more likely to produce increased solid wastes
1) purchase more consumer goods
2) purchase disposable items
3) throw away items rather than repair them
outline how manufacturing and retail companies increase solid waste pollution
1) built in obsolescence- item are designed to have a short life spam forcing the consumer to upgrade and spend more money
2) disposable products- items intended to have a limited usable life so they need to be replaced sooner
3) overpackaging- items are made to seem more attractive with unnecessary packaging which is likely to be thrown away
what factors affect solid waste disposal methods
- pop density
- mass of waste produced per capita
- lad availability
- degree of environmental awareness
- waste processing costs for labour or machinery
what are the different ways of disposing of solid wastes
1) land fill
2) incineration
3) spoil heaps
what are the features of good landfill site management
1) separation of different wastes ad recording composition and locations
2) polymer lining to prevent escape of leachate fluids
3) collection and treatment of leachate fluids
4) deodorising sprays
5) dispersal of flammable materials rather than dumping large quantities in one place
what are the disadvantages of landfill
1) potential loss of resource value
2) high volume of land take
3) release of greenhouse gases from anaerobic decay
4) loss of habitat
5) transport of waste to and from site increases noise and congestion in the area
what are some issues with the use of a spoil heap
1) stability
2) drainage
3) lack of nutrients
4) PH
5) contamination
how is the issue of spoil heap stability fixed
the planting of vegetation so roots can hold spoil together
compaction as the spoil heap builds up
how is the issue of drainage in spoil heaps fixed
natural or artificial drainage
how is the PH of the spoil heap controlled
the addition of lime ca reduce acidity
what are the advantages of incineration
1) volume of ash produced is less than original waste
2) heat produced ca be used for district heating or generation of electricity
3) no sorting or complicated management is needed
what are the disadvantages of incineration
1) resource value of recyclable material is lost
2) it is expensive
3) energy intensive
4) treatment of atmospheric pollutants in effluent gases is expensive
what are some methods of disposal for hazardous waste
1) encapsulation
2) vitrification
what is encapsulation
wastes containing heavy metals are mixed with concreate cement which is poured into containers made of an impermeable and unreactive material so the waste is immobilised
what are the feature of a good domestic waste incinerator
1) recyclables are removed before incineration
2) wastes with high water content are removed
3) atmospheric pollution is controlled
4) the heat is harnessed for use such as for district heating or electricity generation
