Urban Waste Flashcards
What are the 3 types of urban waste?
-Industrial
-Commercial
-Personal
What is industrial waste?
Water produced in the manufacturing process (power plants or building sites).
Including scrap metal and chemicals which can be toxic.
What is commercial waste?
Any waste produced by businesses including food, paper and plastic.
What is personal waste?
Any waste produced by private homes including plastic bottles and food waste.
What odd the largest component of waste?
Organic material (46%)
What is a waste stream?
The flow of waste from its origin through to its eventual disposal.
-Some is recycled
-Others need to be broken down and disposed of separately
What are the three factors of waste streams and components?
-Economic characteristics
-Lifestyles
-Attitudes
Describe how economic characteristics affect waste streams?
As people get richer they generate more waste meaning developed countries produce more waste.
How much waste does a developed country produce per person?
2.1kg per person
How much waste does a developing country develop produce per person?
0.6kg per person
What are the main components of waste in developed countries?
Developed:
paper, organic material (28%) and plastic are highest.
Developing:
Organic material (64%)
How do waste streams differ in developed and developing countries?
No clear link it depends on the country.
Most developing countries do not have waste recycling systems but many people collect recyclable goods and sell them to make a living.
How does lifestyle affect the type of waste produced?
Rural: organic waste
Urban: Manufactured waste
How do facilities impact waste streams?
Of recycling facilities are easily accessible and people are encouraged to recycle they will be more likely to.
How does diet as a lifestyle factor affect waste streams and components?
Processed foods create more packaging waste while organic food waste can be composted.
How can attitude affect waste streams?
Throw away cultures in developed countries have made it easy to buy something and throw it away after one use. This causes high waste creating a long complex waste stream.
How do attitudes about health causes increase in food waste?
People may throw away food that is near or just past it’s sell by date resulting in high food waste.
How might attitudes towards the environment affect waste?
People who are concerned about the environment are more likely to reuse or recycle waste.
What are the 7 methods of removing waste?
-Unregulated
-Recycling
-Incineration
-Recovery
-Landfill (burial)
-Submergence
-Trade
Describe unregulated waste management.
When waste is dumped in unofficial disposal sites. Eg: solid waste is left in the streets. This can lead to ecosystems being damaged and harm wildlife if they swallow or get tangled in plastic waste.
Describe recycling as a waste management.
When waste is reprocessed into new products reducing the demand for raw materials decreasing the environmental impact.
Evaluate recycling as a waste management?
+ Recycling uses less energy than making products from scratch so emits less greenhouse gases.
-Requires separate collection and new facilities to process waste which further contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
What is incineration?
When waste is burnt.
Evaluate waste incineration.
+Reduces amount going into landfill
-Emits greenhouse gases and causes air pollution.
+Energy recovery
-Still releases toxic chemicals into the air.
What is energy recovery?
Burning waste to generate energy.
What is recovery as waste management?
Involves using waste instead of new products to reduce the amount going to landfill. For example, waste bricks can be used in developing countries.
Evaluate the use of recovery as waste management.
+Reduces amount going into landfill
+Fewer natural resources used as products are reused.
Describe burial as an urban waste management technique.
Landfill:
Waste is placed in disused mines or landfill sites that are lined with clay and plastic.
Evaluate the use of landfill (burial).
+Sites are lined with clay to prevent leaking of chemicals into the ground.
-If not properly regulated hazardous chemicals can contaminate groundwater.
-Harmful gases released contribute to air pollution.
+There gases can be collected and used to generate energy.
Describe submerge as waste management.
Illegally disposing of waste by dumping it in the oceans.
Where is submergence off waste most common?
Somalia and other developing countries.
What are the negatives of submerging waste?
-Waste can release toxic chemicals into the water and damage oceanic ecosystems.
Describe trade as a waste management technique.
When waste is bought and sold by countries. Developed countries may post developing countries to take their hazardous waste even if they don’t do it safely meaning it could damage local environments.
What is the example for urban waste?
Singapore
How much waste does Singapore produce?
8400 tonnes
How has waste management changed in Singapore?
Moved from landfill to incineration that generates electricity.
How do Singapore reduce the environmental affects of incineration?
Each incinerator is fitted with a pollution control system to limit greenhouse gas emissions.
How many landfill sites does Singapore have currently?
1
How have Singapore made their landfill site sustainable?
-Lined it with thick impermeable membrane of clay to prevent leaking.
-Planted vegetation on top soil layer above waste.
What percentage of waste disposal is landfill in Singapore?
2%
How much of Singapores waste is incinerated?
38%
How much of Singapores waste is recycled?
60%
