Strategies for pollution control Flashcards
Waste
Any substance which constitutes a scrap material or an effluent or other unwanted surplus substance arising from the application of any process.
UNEP waste
Waste is conventionally defined as unwanted material at the point of generation which does not have immediate use. Problems due to waste exist where there is a human inhabitants.
Zero waste
Zero Waste is a philosophy that encourages the redesign of resource life cycles so that all products are reused.
Waste management
Waste management or Waste disposal is all the activities and actions required to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal.
Pyrolysis
Pyrolysis is the heating of an organic material, such as biomass, in the absence of oxygen.
Xenobiotic compounds
Xenobiotic compounds are those that are ‘alien’ to the living environment they were introduced into and there are very few natural pathways for breaking down some of these recalcitrant compounds.
Ignitability
If the waste material is likely to catch fire in the process of transport, storage, treatment or disposal, then it can be identified as hazardous waste. Examples include oils, solvents, flammable gases like methane; flammable compressed gas, and strong oxidizing agents.
Reactivity
Chemically unstable waste materials are defined as reactive and therefore, hazardous. This includes materials that have extremely fast reaction rates which can result in explosive conditions at any stage in the management cycle.
Corrosivity
Waste materials with very low pH (<2) or very high pH (>12.5) are considered corrosive and therefore, hazardous.
Toxicity
Any material that is poisonous at some concentration is defined as toxic. For hazardous wastes, many toxic substances may be present in a mixture.
Biodegradation
Biodegradation is the process by which organic substances are decomposed by micro-organisms (mainly aerobic bacteria) into simpler substances such as carbon dioxide, water and ammonia.
Solid waste
Non-liquid, non soluble material ranging from municipal garbage to industrial waste that contain complex or hazardous substances.
Biomedical waste
BW is any waste which is generated during diagnosis, treatment & immunization, of humans, animals, or research activities. It includes: sharps needles, pathological waste, pharmaceutical waste, genotoxic waste, chemical agents, radioactive waste, etc.
3R principle
It is the order of priority of actions to be taken to reduce the amount of waste generated, and to improve overall waste management processes and programs.
The cardal to grave concept
This is used on the environmental impact created by the industrial products or activities from the beginning of its life cycle, through its production until the end or disposal.
Design - raw materials - transport - manufacture - use - dismantling - reuse - predisposal treatment - final disposal.
Landfill
It is a specific site or land for the disposal of waste material by burial. It is the oldest and least effective method.
Incineration
It is also known as Thermal treatment. It is a disposal method in which solid organic wastes are subjected to combustion to convert into ash residue and gaseous products.
Compost
Compost is an organic matter that has been decomposed and recycled as a fertilizer and soil amendment.
Polluters Pays Principle
PPP is a practice where those produce pollution should bear the cost of managing it to prevent damage to human health or the environment.
Segregation
Segregation of such wastes means separating them according to the kind for the purpose of handling, processing and disposal in a proper way.
