Solid and Hazardous Waste

Chapter 22

Essential Question #1

What is solid waste, and how much do we

produce?

Solid Waste• Any unwanted or discarded solid material

– There is no solid waste in nature

– Garbage = solid waste we produce directly

What did you throw away yesterday?

Types of Solid Waste• Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)

– Produced directly by homes and workplaces (“garbage”)

– 1.5% of Solid Waste in U.S.

• Industrial Waste– Produced indirectly by mines, factories,

refineries, food growers, and businesses that supply goods & services

– 98.5% of Solid Waste in U.S.

Municipal1.5%

Sewage sludge1%

Mining and oiland gas

production75%

Industry9.5%

Agriculture13%

The U.S. Produces 1/3 of the World’s Solid Waste!!!

Hazardous WasteWaste that threatens human health or the

environment because it is toxic, chemically active, corrosive or flammable

•Developed countries produce 80-90%

Why Should We Care?• Unnecessary waste of resources

• Production of solid products leads to ALL other forms of pollution!

What Happens to MSW in the U.S.?

• 55% goes to Landfills

• 30% is Recycled / Composted

• 15% is Burned / Incinerated

Electronic Waste: The Fastest Growing Waste Problem

• E-waste consists of toxic and hazardous waste such as PVC, PBB/PBOE, lead, mercury, and cadmium.

• The U.S. produces almost half of the world's e-waste but only recycles about 10% of it.

Cradle-to-Grave Standards

• European Union (EU) requires manufacturers to take back electronic products & bans e-waste in MSW.

• Minnesota has curbside recycling for e-waste

Washington requires manufacturers to pay for cost of collection, transportation & recycling

Essential Question #2

What is integrated waste management and how can it help produce less solid

waste?

Waste Management & Reduction

• Waste Management– Bury it or Burn it– High-waste approach

• Waste Reduction– There is no “away”– Low-waste approach– Preferred solution (prevention)

Fig. 22-5, p. 523

Primary Pollutionand Waste Prevention

First Priority Second Priority Last Priority

• Release waste into environment for dispersal or dilution

• Bury waste in landfills

Waste Management

• Incinerate waste

• Buy reusable recyclable products

• Recycle

• Repair products

• Make products that last longer and are recyclable, reusable, or easy to repair

• Reduce packaging and materials in products

• Redesign manufacturing processes and products to use less material and energy

Secondary Pollution and Waste Prevention

• Treat waste to reduce toxicity

• Consume Less / Purchase different (less harmful) products

• Reuse products

• Change industrial process to eliminate use of harmful (toxic) chemicals

• Compost

Integrated Waste ManagementIntegrated Waste Management

Ecoindustrial Revolution• A change in industrial manufacturing to be cleaner

and more sustainable (mimics how nature handles waste)

– Use less material & energy / produce less waste & pollution

– Savings can be enormous

– Resource exchange web – waste of one manufacturer becomes raw materials for another

– Healthier work environment

Selling Services Instead of Things

• Eco-leasing – instead of buying a product, a customer would lease/rent the services from the company

Example – RHS has a service contract for our copiers. They are maintained regularly. They will be picked up by the company at the end of the contract and reusable parts will be removed.

PAYT / Fee-per-bag Systems

• PAYT – Pay as you Throw– Consumers pay only for trash, not recyclable

materials

Cradle-to-Grave Laws• Require manufacturers to take back consumer

products after usefulness

• Encourages companies to create longer lasting, more easily repairable products

The 5 “R’s” for Reducing Waste• Refuse:

– to buy items that we really don’t need.

• Reduce: – consume less and live a simpler and less stressful life by

practicing simplicity.

• Reuse: – rely more on items that can be used over and over.

• Repurpose: – use something for another purpose instead of throwing it away.

• Recycle: – paper, glass, cans, plastics…and buy items made from recycled

materials.

• Follow the five Rs of resource use: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle.

• Buy products in concentrated form whenever possible.

• Read newspapers and magazines online.

• Use e-mail in place of conventional paper mail.

• Refill and reuse a bottled water container with tap water.

• Do not use throwaway paper and plastic plates, cups and eating utensils, and other disposable items when reusable or refillable versions are available.

• Buy things that are reusable, recyclable, or compostable, and be sure to reuse, recycle, and compost them.

• Rent, borrow, or barter goods and services when you can.

• Ask yourself whether you really need a particular item.

What Can You Do?

Solid Waste

The Story of Stuff

• http://www.storyofstuff.org/movies-all/story-of-stuff/

Essential Question #3

What are the advantages and disadvantages or reusing and recycling

materials?

Reuse

• Cleaning & using materials over & over

• Examples of Reusable Items:– eating utensils– car parts– house and building materials– cloth towels & diapers– rechargeable batteries– TVs, computers, cell phones– glass and plastic bottles– grocery bags– clothing

Pros & Cons: Reuse

Advantages

• Saves Money

• Cuts pollution & waste

• Reduces use of matter & energy resources

Disadvantages

• Exposure to toxins in e-waste (developing countries)

• People scavenging for reuseable materials in dumps exposed to toxins & disease

Energy consumption for different types of 350-ml (12-oz) beverage

containers.

Bottle Laws

• Consumers pay a small deposit on reusable or recyclable beverage containers

• Deposit is refunded when item returned to store for reuse or recycling

Fig. 22-8, p. 526

• Buy beverages in refillable glass containers instead of cans or throwaway bottles.

• Give or sell items you no longer use to others.

• Buy used furniture, computers, cars, and other items.

• Use reusable sponges and washable cloth napkins, dishtowels, and handkerchiefs instead of throwaway paper ones.

• Carry groceries and other items in a reusable basket, a canvas or string bag, or a small cart.

• Use rechargeable batteries and recycle them when their useful life is over.

• Carry sandwiches and store food in the refrigerator in reusable containers instead of wrapping them in aluminum foil or plastic wrap

• Use reusable plastic or metal lunchboxes.

What Can You Do?

Reuse

Recycling

• Reprocessing discarded solid materials into new, useful products

• Examples of Recyclable Items:– paper products– glass– aluminum– steel– some plastics– plants (composting)

2 Recycling Methods

• Primary (Closed-Loop) Recycling– Original Same

• Secondary Recycling (Downcycling)– Original Different

PromLadies?

Prom Fellas? Maybe not…

MRF’s vs. Source Separation

• Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)– All waste goes to one facility– Machines or workers sort out valuable materials– Expensive to build & operate– Produces toxic ash & air pollution

• Source Separation– Wastes separated by consumer– Less air/water pollution– Lower cost & more jobs

Composting

Using nature to recycle biodegradable organic waste (yard waste, food scraps)

Used as organic fertilizer, topsoil, filler on eroded or overgrazed land

Benefits of Recycling Paper

• Environmental– Reduces pollution– Reduces deforestation– Less energy required

• Economic– Generates jobs– Economic growth

• Easy to do!

Recycling Plastics• Recycling many plastics is chemically and economically

difficult.– Many plastics are hard to isolate from other wastes.– Recovering individual plastic resins does not yield much material.– The cost of virgin plastic resins is lower than recycled resins due to

low fossil fuel costs.

• Exception is PET (polyethylene terephthalate)– Used for most plastic drink bottles– Can be remanufactured into fleece, polyester, carpet, packaging,

etc

There are new technologies that are making plastics biodegradable.

• Plant based bioplastics

Pros & Cons: RecyclingAdvantages

• Less pollution

• Saves energy

• Saves raw materials

• Less landfill space

• Saves money on products

• Creates jobs

• Reduces litter

Disadvantages• Some materials are costly to

recycle

• Some areas have ample landfill space

• Landfills lose money

• Inconvenient for some

• If we don’t buy recycled products, recycling doesn’t work

Fig. 22-9, p. 529

Important part of economy

Source separation is inconvenient for some people

Reduces profits from landfills and incinerators

Reduces air and water pollution

Saves energy

Reduces mineral demand

Reduces greenhouse gas emissions

Reduces solid waste production and disposal

Helps protect biodiversity

Can save money for items such as paper, metals, and some plastics

Does not save landfill space in areas with ample land

May lose money for items such as glass and most plastic

DisadvantagesAdvantages

Trade-Offs

Recycling

Essential Question #4

What are the advantages and disadvantages of

burning or burying solid waste?

Crane

Hazardouswaste landfill

Wastetreatment

Conventionallandfill

Wastepit Bottom

ash

Fly ashConveyor

Wateradded Dirty

water

Furnace Wetscrubber

Electrostaticprecipitator

Boiler

Smokestack

Electricity

Steam Turbine

Generator

Waste-to-Energy Incinerator

Pros & Cons: BurningAdvantages

• Reduces waste

• Fast

• Produces energy (electricity) / sale of energy reduces cost

• Modern controls can reduce air pollution

Disadvantages

• Expensive to build

• Air pollution

• Toxic ash remains

• Highly opposed in US

Fig. 22-11, p. 531

Reduces trash volume

Can compete with recycling for burnable materials such as newspaper

Output approach that encourages waste production

Older or poorly managed facilities can release large amounts of air pollution

Some air pollution

Difficult to site because of citizen opposition

Costs more than short-distance hauling to landfills

Expensive to build

Some facilities recover and sell metals

Modern controls reduce air pollution

Sale of energy reduces cost

Concentrates hazardous substances into ash for burial or use as landfill cover

Low water pollution

Less need for landfills

Trade-Offs

Incineration

Advantages Disadvantages

Burying• According to EPA, all landfills will eventually leak.

• Open Dumps– Common in developing nations

• Sanitary Landfills– Used in developed countries– Wastes spread in thin layers & covered w/ clay or plastic

foam, lined to prevent leaks

Topsoil

Sand

Clay

Garbage

Garbage

Sand

Syntheticliner

Sand

Clay

Subsoil

When landfill is full,layers of soil and clayseal in trash

Methane storageand compressorbuilding

Electricitygeneratorbuilding

Leachatetreatment system

Methane gasrecovery

Pipe collect explosivemethane gas used as fuel to generate electricity

Compactedsolid waste

Leachatestorage tank

Leachatemonitoringwell

Groundwatermonitoringwell

Leachate pipes Leachate pumped upto storage tanks forsafe disposal

Clay and plastic liningto prevent leaks; pipescollect leachate frombottom of landfill

Probes to detect methane leaks

Groundwater

Sanitary Landfill

Pros & Cons: BuryingAdvantages

• Low odor• Low groundwater pollution• Low cost to build & operate• Holds large amount• Ample sites in some areas• Can be reused when full

Disadvantages

• Noisy & dusty• Greenhouse gas emissions

(CH4, CO2)• Air pollution (toxic gas /

VOC’s)• Eventually leaks –

groundwater contamination• Slow decomposition• Cheap cost discourages

reuse & recycle

No open burning

Trade-Offs

Sanitary Landfills

Advantages Disadvantages

Eventually leaks and can contaminate groundwater

Discourages recycling, reuse, and waste reduction

Slow decompositionof wastes

Groundwater contamination

Releases greenhouse gases (methane and CO2)unless they are collected

Air pollution from toxic gases and volatile organiccompounds

Dust

Noise and traffic

No shortage of landfill space in many areas

Filled land can be used for other purposes

Can handle large amounts of waste

Can be built quickly

Low operating costs

Low groundwaterpollution if sited properly

Little odor

Essential Question #5

What is hazardous waste and how can we deal

with it?

Hazardous Waste• Any discarded solid or liquid material that is

toxic, ignitable, corrosive or reactive enough to explode or release toxic fumes

• Two Largest Classes– Organic Compounds

• PCB’s, Dioxins, pesticides, & various solvents

– Toxic Heavy Metals• Lead, Mercury, Arsenic, Cadmium

© 2006 Brooks/Cole - Thomson

What Harmful Chemicals Are In Your Home?

Cleaning • Disinfectants• Drain, toilet, and window cleaners • Spot removers• Septic tank cleaners

Paint

• Latex and oil-based paints• Paint thinners, solvents, and strippers • Stains, varnishes, and lacquers• Wood preservatives• Artist paints and inks

General• Dry-cell batteries (mercury and cadmium)• Glues and cements

Gardening

• Pesticides• Weed killers• Ant and rodent killers• Flea powders

Automotive

• Gasoline• Used motor oil • Antifreeze• Battery acid• Solvents• Brake and transmission fluid• Rust inhibitor and rust remover

Harmful Chemicals in Your Home

Disposal of some of these items is exempt from government regulation

Managing Hazardous Waste• Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA)

• EPA– Sets standards, issues permits & monitors management

• Cradle-to-Grave– Permit holders must track hazardous waste from point of

generation (cradle) to approved disposal (grave)– Proof must be submitted to EPA– All phases subject to unannounced EPA inspection

Cleaning-up Hazardous Waste• Comprehensive Environmental Response,

Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA /Superfund)

– Identifies & cleans hazardous waste sites on a priority basis (National Priorities List – NPL)

– Designed to make polluters pay for cleaning

– 70% of clean-up costs have come from polluters & rest has come from the Superfund

• Trust fund financed until 1995 by taxes on chemical raw materials & oil

– Congress refused to renew Superfund in 1995, now taxpayers cover cost of clean-ups when responsible parties cannot be found

Love Canal• Between 1842-1953, Hooker Chemical sealed multiple chemical

wastes into steel drums and dumped them into an old canal excavation (Love Canal).

• In 1953, the canal was filled and sold to Niagara Falls school board for $1.

• The company inserted a disclaimer denying liability for the wastes.

• In 1957, Hooker Chemical warned the school not to disturb the site because of the toxic waste.– In 1959 an elementary school, playing fields and homes were built

disrupting the clay cap covering the wastes.– In 1976, residents complained of chemical smells and chemical burns

from the site.

• 1980 President Jimmy Carter declared Love Canal a federal disaster area.

Dealing with Hazardous Waste

We can produce less hazardous waste and recycle, reuse, detoxify, burn, and bury what we continue to

produce.

• Physical Methods– Uses filters, distillation and precipitation to remove harmful

chemicals from waste

• Chemical Methods– Uses chemical reactions to detoxify waste– Ex: cyclodextrin & nanomagnets

• Biological Methods– Bioremediation (bacteria & enzymes) & phytoremediation (plants)

• Incineration– Heating to high temperatures (3,600°F) / produces toxic ash

• Plasma Torch– Uses plasma to incinerate at higher temps (18,000°F) / no ash

Detoxifying Hazardous Waste

PhytostabilizationPlants such as willow trees and poplars can absorb chemicals and keep them from reaching groundwater or nearby surface water.

RhizofiltrationRoots of plants such as sunflowers with dangling roots on ponds or in green-houses can absorb pollutants such as radioactive strontium-90 and cesium-137 and various organic chemicals.

PhytoextractionRoots of plants such as Indian mustard and brake ferns can absorb toxic metals such as lead, arsenic, and others and store them in their leaves. Plants can then be recycled or harvested and incinerated.

PhytodegradationPlants such as poplarscan absorb toxic organic chemicals and break them down into less harmful compounds which they store or release slowly into the air.

Inorganicmetal contaminants

Organiccontaminants

Radioactivecontaminants

Brake fernPoplar tree Indian mustardWillow treeSunflower

Oilspill

Landfill

Groundwater

SoilPollutedleachate

Decontaminatedwater out

Pollutedgroundwater in

Groundwater

Soil

Inexpensive

Low energy use

Easy to establish

Trade-Offs

Phytoremediation

Advantages Disadvantages

Some plants can become toxic to animals

Some toxic organic chemicals may evaporate from plant leaves

Produces little air pollution compared to incineration

Can reduce material dumped into landfills

Slow (can take several growing seasons)

Effective only at depth plant roots can reach

Fig. 22-19, p. 538

Advantages

Trade-Offs

Plasma Arc

Small High cost

Produces no toxic ash

Can vaporize and release toxic metals and radioactive elements

Can release particulates and chlorine gas

Mobile. Easy to move to different sites

Produces CO2 and CO

Disadvantages

Hazardous Waste Storage

• Deep Underground Wells– Pumped deep below ground

• Surface Impoundments– Stored in containment ponds

• Long-Term Retrievable Storage– Stored in metal drums in carefully designed &

monitored aboveground buildings

• Secure Hazardous Waste Landfills– Stored in drums & buried

Safe method ifsites are chosencarefully

Trade-Offs

Deep Underground Wells

Advantages Disadvantages

Encourageswaste production

Existing fracturesor earthquakescan allow wastesto escape intogroundwater

Leaks fromcorrosion of wellcasing

Leaks or spills atsurface

Low cost

Easy to do

Wastes can beretrieved ifproblemsdevelop

Low construction costs

Can store wastes indefinitely with secure double liners

Groundwatercontaminationfrom leaking liners(or no lining)

Trade-Offs

Surface Impoundments

Advantages

Promotes wasteproduction

Disruption andleakage fromearthquakes

Overflow fromflooding

Air pollution fromvolatile organiccompounds

Wastes can be retrieved if necessary

Can be built quickly

Low operating costs

Disadvantages

What Can You Do?

• Use pesticides in the smallest amount possible.

• Use less harmful substances instead of commercial chemicals for most household cleaners. For

example use liquid ammonia to clean appliances and windows; vinegar to polish metals, clean surfaces, and remove stains and mildew; baking soda to clean household utensils, deodorize, and remove stains; borax to

remove stains and mildew.• Do not dispose of pesticides, paints, solvents, oil,

antifreeze, or other products containing hazardous chemicals by flushing them down the toilet, pouring them down the drain, burying them, throwing them into the garbage, or dumping them down storm drains.

Hazardous Waste

Essential Question #6

How have lead and mercury become problems in our

environment, why are they dangerous and what can

we do to reduce exposure?

Lead and Mercury

Since they are both elements, they cannot be broken down

Both cause various types of nervous system damage (brain damage)

Lead

• Lead is especially harmful to children and is still used in leaded gasoline and household paints in about 100 countries.

Lead Exposure Solutions• Eliminate leaded gasoline &

paint worldwide (banned in late ’70’s in U.S.)

• Eliminate lead solder in plumbing & food cans

• Remove lead paint from old buildings

• Replace plumbing pipes containing lead

Mercury

• Mercury is released into the environment mostly by burning coal and incinerating wastes and can build to high levels in some types of fish.

Mercury Exposure

• Mercury comes from natural (volcanos) & human sources (burning coal / waste)– We can breath, absorb & consume it

• Solutions:– Eliminate Hg in coal, batteries, fluorescent bulbs– Avoid eating certain seafood (shark, mackerel, tuna)

esp children & women– Reduce Hg emissions from coal burning plants

Biomagnification

Minamata Story

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihFkyPv1jtU

Essential Question #7

How can we make the transition to a more

sustainable, low-waste society ?

Achieving a Low Waste Society• Produce less wastes of all kinds

• Reduce our ecological footprint

• International treaties to ban or phase out use of certain highly toxic, fat soluble (stores up in organisms) Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP’s) such as DDT, PCB, dioxins, & furans

• Basel Convention - international treaty bans shipping of hazardous waste to developing countries (U.S. not a member)

Achieving a Low Waste Society

• REMEMBER:

– Everything is connected

– There is no “AWAY” for the wastes we produce

– Dilution is NOT the solution for pollution

– The BEST & CHEAPEST way to deal w/ waste & pollution is to produce less and recycle more