Urban waste and its disposal

Question 1

municipal solid waste includes

Answer 1

solid domestic waste and commercial waste

Question 2

why do urban areas make more waste than rural areas

Answer 2

there are more facilities available- eg coffee shops
‘disposable culture’
secondary and tertiary sector in urban areas (more waste)- agriculture in rural areas- low waste
rural areas it is easier to compost waste- less landfill

Question 3

how much of a urban areas budget is spent on solid waste management (on average)

Answer 3

20-50%

Question 4

environmentally, waste is a large source of what greenhouse gas

Answer 4

methane

Question 5

what types of pollution does waste create

Answer 5

water ground and air pollution

Question 6

the 2012 World Bank report on waste found that how much urban solid waste in LICs is uncollected

Answer 6

30-60%

Question 7

issues for authorities created by increasing amounts of urban waste

Answer 7

authorities cant cope with the increasing demands (exacerbated by increasing populations in urban areas)
running out of landfill space

Question 8

3 main environmental issues created by waste

Answer 8

contamination of land and water bodies (by leachates)
multiple risks to human health (if not disposed correctly)
loss of recyclable resources

Question 9

what is a waste stream

Answer 9

is the complete flow of waste from its domestic, commercial or industrial sources through to recovery, recycling or final disposal (land fill)

Question 10

In HICs waste streams are …

Answer 10

highly regulated (taxed and restricted)

Question 11

what commonly happens to waste in LICs and NEEs

Answer 11

improper dumping of MSW is common (rag pickers, unofficial landfill sites, etc)

Question 12

how much waste can be recycled

Answer 12

70%

Question 13

example of an area with unregulated waste disposal

Answer 13

Mumbai

Question 14

advantage of unregulated dumping

Answer 14

cheap for the disposer

Question 15

disadvantage of unregulated dumping

Answer 15

breeding ground for vermin and disease
air pollution from waste burning
contamination of ground water from leachate

Question 16

name 2 advantages of recycling

Answer 16

organic waste can be composted and enrich soil
wheelie bin collection is sanitary and safe
more recycling=less landfill
single stream recycling- popular and convenient

Question 17

name 2 disadvantages of recycling

Answer 17

public recycling facilities require expensive operation
public resistance is publicly charged
public separation of materials prone to error

Question 18

what is resource recovery

Answer 18

is the selective extraction of disposed materials for a specific next use- alternative to landfill

Question 19

2 economic benefits of resource recovery

Answer 19

generates revenue from the production of compost and/or energy
lessens the impact of increasing landfill costs

Question 20

name a social benefit of resource recovery

Answer 20

reduces community impact of waste management

Question 21

what is incineration (as a waste management strategy)

Answer 21

is a waste treatment process that involves the combustion of organic substances contained in waste materials

Question 22

2 advantages of incineration

Answer 22

produces energy from burning MSU
require less land than landfill sites
cost effective once constructed and operational

Question 23

2 disadvantages of incineration

Answer 23

particulate emissions require managing
chimney emissions can be toxic if not managed
not all MSW is combustible

Question 24

landfill definition

Answer 24

the disposal of waste material by burying it, especially as a method of filling in and reclaiming excavated pits

Question 25

2 advantages of landfill sites

Answer 25

makes use of abandoned quarries
cost effective and relatively safe (if managed correctly)
on reaching capacity it can be sealed, top-soiled and landscaped for recreational use

Question 26

2 disadvantages of landfill sites

Answer 26

attracts vermin and disease
produces methane (green house gas)
leachates percolate groundwater= toxic
unattractive

Question 27

what is submergence as a waste management strategy

Answer 27

dumping waste in the sea- illegal according to international convention as the ocean is a GLOBAL COMMON

Question 28

advantage of submergence

Answer 28

cheap

Question 29

where does submergence occur

Answer 29

off the coast of Somalia - dumping radioactive and hazardous waste - country lacks strong governance

Question 30

how does the trade of waste work

Answer 30

waste may be moved between countries for further treatment, disposal or recycling. toxic or hazardous waste may be given to LICs

Question 31

advantage of waste trade for HICs and LICs

Answer 31

useful for HICs as can dispose of waste quickly

can create waste jobs in LICs eg Mumbai

Question 32

disadvantage of waste trade on LICs

Answer 32

can have drastic effects on LICs’ environment and social aspects