Waste

Question 1

fecal coliform/enterococcus bacteria

Answer 1

indicator of sewage contamination

Question 2

chlorine

Answer 2

good = disinfection of water; bad = forms trihalomethanes

Question 3

Love Canal, NY

Answer 3

(1950s +) chemicals buried in old canal, schools and homes built over it, caused birth defects and cancer

Question 4

main component of municipal solid waste (MSW)

Answer 4

paper, most is landfilled

Question 5

true cost/external costs

Answer 5

harmful environmental side effects that are not reflected in a product’s price

Question 6

sanitary landfill problems and solutions

Answer 6

problem: leachate; solution: liner with collection system
problem: methane gas; solution: collect gas and burn
problem: volume of garbage; solution: compact and reduce

Question 7

incineration advantages

Answer 7

volume of waste reduced by 90% and waste heat can be used

Question 8

incineration diadvantages

Answer 8

toxic emissions (polyvinyl chloride, dioxins), scrubbers and electrostatic precipitators needed, ash disposal (contains heavy metals)

Question 9

best way to solve waste problem

Answer 9

reduce the amounts of waste at the source