Presentation is loading. Please wait.

Presentation is loading. Please wait.

Solid and Hazardous Waste. 2 Women and Waste are inseparable Women generate most of the kitchen wastes and dispose of waste from homes. Women bear the.

Similar presentations


Presentation on theme: "Solid and Hazardous Waste. 2 Women and Waste are inseparable Women generate most of the kitchen wastes and dispose of waste from homes. Women bear the."— Presentation transcript:

1 Solid and Hazardous Waste

2 2 Women and Waste are inseparable Women generate most of the kitchen wastes and dispose of waste from homes. Women bear the brunt of waste-related illnesses * caring for sick family members helping children who miss school managing with less if wage-earners are sick

3 3 Women benefit most from hygienic waste-management India’s present waste-management policy evolved over six years, in the following steps: Sept ‘94 : The “plague” in Surat city. Oct ‘94 : First Clean India Campaign of Capt Velu by road to 30 cities in 30 days July ’95 : Second Clean India Campaign to 60 more cities, all open-dumping Dec ‘96 : Filed PIL # WP 888/96 in Supreme Court of India against every State Jan ‘98: Court appoints 8-member Committee

4 4 Building Consensus June’98: Interim Report: 400 city mgrs’ feedback Mar ’99: Final Report, approved by all States Sept ’99: Draft MSW Rules from Ministry of Environment Sept ‘00: Municipal Solid Waste (Management & Handling) Rules 2000

5 5 Words to Remember “Clean Up and Flourish or Pile Up and Perish” “A city is only as clean as its dirtiest areas” “The best way to keep streets clean is not to dirty them in the first place. Aim for cities without street bins.” “Handle waste once only”

6 6 Municipal Solid Waste Handling Guidelines Source-separation of “dry” & “wet” waste Handle waste once only, in 4-6-bin carts Doorstep collection of “wet” waste, for Composting bio-degradables as first option Recyclables left to the informal sector Landfilling only compost rejects & inerts.

7 7 The Rules also… Direct cities to “promote recycling or reuse of segregated materials” and “ensure community participation in waste segregation”. Recoverable resources are to be recycled via the existing informal sector.

8 8 Third World Countries are resource-conserving and frugal. We sell newspapers, bottles and tins to doorstep waste-buyers and re-use a lot, discarding little. We generate only 50-100 gms of non- biodegradable waste per capita per day. Sadly, this small ecological footprint is seen as “backward” or under-developed.

9 9 In India In 35 cities of over 1-million population, “dry” waste levels are approaching Western levels of over 1kg per capita per day. Waste-picking at street bins and dumps already supports 0.5% of large cities’ populations. Women (and children) form a large percentage of the waste-pickers.

10 10 Waste Separation at Source Source-separation will make cleaner streams of ‘dry’ waste available for recycling or re-use. There will be less injuries to waste- pickers. Health hazards will be reduced.

11 11 Bio-Medical Hazards In India we already have Bio-Medical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules 1998 to keep such waste out of domestic waste. Such rules must be promptly and scrupulously implemented.

12 12 Some Best Practices Calcutta: 80% house-to-house collection using regular Municipal staff and usual wheelbarrows Many cities: Private groups are doing doorstep collection on payment Everywhere: SLUMS are the most cooperative. 419 slums in Mumbai have Take-away-bin system

13 13 Best Practices…. * Ahmedabad: 4 or 6-bin handcarts or tricycles to avoid double-handling of waste Nasik: Trucks move from one street-corner to another to have a city without street waste- bins Surat: Pin-point beats include bins on raised platforms, near drainage manholes Mumbai: Only wet waste lifted from hi-rises

14 14 Best Practices…. SEWA: Weekly doorstep collection of dry waste by waste-picker women’s co-op, with public-info help by Bank Officers’ union Pune : Union of women waste-pickers collects for a fee both dry waste for recycling + wet waste into city bins or compost pits Bangalore : Citywide policy of dry-wet waste separation at source, collected at doorstep by city sweepers or waste-transport contractors

15 15 Handling Special Wastes Leaf litter: Compost it. Burning is banned. Garden Waste: On-site composting, or Charge Rs 20 per handcart to remove woody waste to slum or cremation ground Street-food: Handcarts MUST have space for waste, and deposit it centrally at end of day.

16 16 Involving mothers and teachers Coorg: District cleanup by school-kids bringing their dry waste to school weekly for purchase by waste-buyers. Funds used classwise for Eco-Clubs. Calcutta: 500,000 bookmarks with year’s calendar and civic messages Kids make pretty wall-bags for dry waste

17 17 Handling Special Wastes… Hotel food waste: Non-veg to piggeries, or left-overs to night-shelters or orphanges Market waste: Stall-to-stall collection, hourly: Wet waste to cattle or goats, Dry waste separate collection daily. Commercial waste: Fees through trade associations Broken glass: Festival-collection boxes

18 18 Decentralised Composting >> Saves enormously on waste-transport costs >> Reduces waste volumes for disposal by 90% >> Saves on manures for park maintenance

19 19 Who should do it? All institutions like colleges, hostels, hotels, hospitals, clubs, marriage-halls, jails, zoos. Apartment-complexes, bungalows, Govt and city offices. * All city-owned parks and sites. Many individuals enjoy doing it voluntarily.

20 20 Where it is done In garden strips along apartment walls, on terraces or in flower-pots or window-boxes In local parks, traffic islands, road dividers * In conventional large street-bins In sewage-farm premises On temple lands or private farms

21 21 How it is done Biomethanation in factory canteens Vermi-culture (needs animal-husbandry care) Aerobic wind-rows or checker-brick bins Anaerobic heaps at transfer-sites With or without composting bio-cultures

22 22 Simple Composting Use 5% cowdung solution or a bio-culture as compost starter. Make into heaps or wind-rows at least 1.5 metres high. Turn every 5-7 days. Add water to keep moist. Prevent overheating and smoke. Compost will be ready in 4 to 6 weeks.

23 23 AVOID WASTE – TO – ENERGY Developing-country waste is very low calorie Cost is 6-8 times higher than for composting. Control of air-pollution is very expensive, and necessary but rarely well-maintained Fails if debris and road-dust are in the waste Works against interests of recycling industry and thousands of waste-dependent workers

24 24 Composting Policy is required Composting should be a legal requirement Compost marketing must be pro-active Cities must use their own composts for their parks, gardens and public buildings. No Sales Tax on soil bio-enricher products Investor-friendly policies like BOOT National Agriculture Policy to use compost

25 25 Encourage Informal Recycling Provide decentralised sorting-spaces Provide waste-pickers with ID cards Collect non-recyclable rejects for landfilling Give recognition and facilities to recyclers Give power concessions for pollution- control equipment Fill geographic gaps in recycling industries

26 Solid/Hazardous Wastes Lecture Objectives: What do we do with our garbage? What are the problems with hazardous waste? What happened at Love Canal?

27 Introduction to Waste Management Solid Waste – objects or particles that accumulate on the site where they are produced. Municipal Solid Waste (Garbage) amounts to 230 million tons in U.S. annually (equivalent to 3 billion humans!!).

28 US Domestic Waste

29 Disposable Decades Mid-1950s – emphasis on a disposable lifestyle –Wave of the future –Way to reduce household duties. Convenience was sold to prosperous post-war (WWII) consumers. –Convenience quickly changed to necessity. –TV dinners first marketed in 1953.

30 Nature of the Problem U.S. volume of garbage has increased more than 50% since 1960 (although stabilized since 1990). Countries with higher standard of living produce more waste. Traditional Methods (dumping and burning) are no longer accepted. Urban areas running out of places to put garbage

31

32 Methods of Waste Disposal Landfills Incineration Source reduction Composting Recycling

33 Landfilling Most municipal solid waste in US is deposited in landfills Source of groundwater pollution Number of municipal landfills is declining. –Some closed for violations, other because full –New landfills costly and often resisted - NIMBY

34 Sanitary Landfills

35 Reducing the Number of Landfills

36 Incineration Prior to 1940, incineration was common in North America and western Europe. Many incinerators were eliminated because of foul odors and gritty smoke Currently, about 15% of U.S. municipal solid waste is incinerated.

37 Incinerator Types Refuse-Derived Fuel - Refuse is sorted to remove recyclable and unburnable materials. Higher energy content than raw trash. Mass Burn - Everything smaller than major furniture and appliances loaded into furnace. Creates air pollution problems. Reduces disposal volume by 80-90%. EPA has found alarmingly high toxin levels in incinerator ash.

38 Incineration Pros: –Reduce volume 90%, weight 75% –Heat from burning converted to electricity Cons: –Create air pollution –Concentrates toxins in ash –More costly than landfills, as long as space available

39 Composting Harnessing natural decomposition to transform organic material into compost About 3800 composting facilities currently in use in the United States. Landscape Recycling Center 1210 E. University Ave., Urbana 344-LEAF (5323) www.city.urbana.il.us

40

41 Source Reduction Most fundamental method of reducing waste is to prevent it from being produced (Waste Prevention). Reduce and reuse – Individuals and Industry –Saves natural resources. –Reduces waste toxicity –Reduces costs

42 Recycling Recycling initiatives have grown rapidly in US –By 2000, 9,000 U.S. cities had implemented curbside recycling programs. Urbana’s curbside program began in 1986 http://www.ci.champaign.il.us/public_works/index.php –Bottle Bills (10 states) –Mandatory recycling laws (15 states)

43 Recycling Benefits Resource Conservation Pollution Reduction –Crushed glass reduces energy required to manufacture new glass by 50%. –One Sunday edition of N.Y. times consumes 62,000 trees. –Only 40% of North American paper is recycled. –Over 60% of aluminum cans recycled.

44 Recycling Benefits Saves money, raw materials, and land. Encourages individual responsibility. Reduces pressure on disposal systems. Japan recycles about half of all household and commercial wastes. Lowers demand for raw resources. Reduces energy consumption and air pollution.

45 US Recycling Rates

46 Recycling Concerns Plastics are recyclable, but technology differs from plastic to plastic. –Industry is researching new technologies. Economics are of concern. –demand for products must keep pace with growing supply

47 What Can You Do? Buy durable items and repair them Buy recycled goods and recycle them Buy beverages in refillable containers Rechargeable batteries Reduce junk mail Lobby for trash separation and recycling Choose items with minimal packaging & reduce number of bags used Compost yard and food waste http://www.city.champaign.il.us/public_works/pwrhp.html http://www.city.urbana.il.us/

48 http://www.ci.urbana.il.us/ “quick links” “recycling”

49 Hazardous Wastes Hazardous Wastes – Dangerous by- products of industrial, business, or household activities for which there is no immediate use. Numerous types and forms: –Heavy metals –Organic wastes –Old Computers –Batteries –Liquids, solids, sludge 1)Ignitable? 2)Corrosive? 3)Explosive? 4)Toxic?

50 Defining Hazardous Waste U.S. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) 1976: –Cause or significantly contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible, or incapacitating reversible, illness; or pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed. Many chemical compounds have not been tested adequately for adverse affects!!

51 Issues Involved in Setting Regulations Identification of Hazardous &Toxic Materials Setting Exposure Limits –Nearly all substances are toxic in sufficient quantities. –Species-Specific Thresholds. Acute vs. Chronic Toxicity Effects of massive doses (acute) and small doses over time (chronic) differ. Synergism Assessing effects of chemical mixtures. Most toxicity studies done on a single compound.

52 Environmental Problems Caused By Hazardous Wastes Because most hazardous wastes are disposed on or in land, most serious effect is contaminated groundwater. –100,000 industrial landfill sites –180,000 surface impoundments –Nearly 2% of North America’s underground aquifers could be contaminated. –Once polluted, prohibitively costly to restore water to original state; often not even physically possible

53 Health Risks Each year, roughly 1,000 new chemicals are produced and distributed. –70,000 already in daily use. Main problem is often improper handling and disposal IEPA household hazardous waste collection (217) 782-6761 –Mercury Thermostats/Thermometers, Antifreeze, Solvents, Metal Polishes, Drain Cleaners, Cleaning Products, Paint Removers, Oil-Based Paints (no water-based paints), Aerosol Paints, Paint Thinners, Fluorescent Bulbs, Hobby Chemicals, Pool Chemicals, Fungicides, Furniture Strippers, Used Oils, Insecticides, Herbicides, Pesticides, Weed Killers, Lawn Chemicals, Old Gasoline, Used Motor Oil, Household/Automotive Batteries, Propane Tanks (20 & 20 lb. cylinders), and Fire Extinguishers

54 Hazardous Waste Dumps: A Legacy of Abuse Prior to 1976, hazardous waste was essentially unregulated. Most common disposal solution was to bury or dump the wastes without concern for environmental or health risks.

55 Hazardous Waste Dumps When sites became full or unnecessary, they were simply abandoned. In North America alone, currently over 25,000 sites containing hazardous waste. U.S. has highest number of dumps needing immediate attention.

56 Federal Legislation Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). Modified in 1984 by Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act. Aimed at rapid containment, cleanup, or remediation of abandoned toxic waste sites. Toxic Release Inventory - Requires 20,000 manufacturing facilities to report annually on releases of more than 300 toxic materials.

57 EPA Superfund Sites (Since 1980) Sites contaminated by hazardous waste and identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a candidate for cleanup because it poses a risk to human health and/or the environment. 1,300 Superfund sites across the country In Illinois: 40 active, 5 proposed, 2 cleaned http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/il.htm http://www.epa.gov/superfund/

58 Superfund Sites Total costs for hazardous waste cleanup in the US are estimated between $370 billion and $1.7 trillion. For years, most of the funding has gone to legal fees, but this situation has improved over past several years. Studies of Superfund sites reveal minorities tend to be over-represented in these neighborhoods.

59 http://www.epa.state.il.us/land/hazardous-waste/household- haz-waste/index.html Household Hazardous Waste Collections The Illinois EPA coordinates one-day household hazardous waste collections each year in the spring and fall.

60 Love Canal  1892 -- William T. Love proposed a canal for navigation and hydropower  Only one mile of the canal built, used for swimming and recreation  1920 – land sold at public auction  became a municipal and chemical disposal site.

61 Including: benzene -- causes leukemia dioxin – causes cancer Hooker Chemical Company dumped over 20,000 tons of chemicals until 1953.

62 1953 - Hooker covered the site with dirt and clay and sold the land to the Niagara Falls Board of Education for $1.00 1955 - the 99th Street elementary school opened and homes were built on the 16-acre rectangular site 1960s-1970s repeated complaints to city

63 Aug. 7, 1978, President Jimmy Carter declared a federal emergency at Love Canal Aug. 2, 1978 - the NY State Department of Health recommended temporary relocation of pregnant women and young children April, 1978 – Report in newspaper about toxic chemicals 1976 -- Calspan Corporation hired as consultant

64 1990s – resettlement of area begins 1980s -- Human Heath issues documented Of 17 pregnancies in 1979 – 2 normal, 9 birth defects, 2 stillborn, 4 miscarriages Broken chromosomes Neurological Problems 1980 – Superfund Site

65 Managing Hazardous Wastes EPA pollution prevention hierarchy: 1. Reduce amount of pollution at the source. 2. Recycle wastes whenever possible. 3. Treat wastes to reduce hazard and/or volume. 4. Dispose of wastes on land or incinerate them as last resort.

66 Points to Know – Dec. 3 1)Know the 5 methods of waste disposal. Which is the most common method in the US, and what are two problems with this method? 2)What are some recycling initiatives in the US? 3)What can you do to help reduce the amount of solid waste generated? 4)What are the environmental problems and health risks caused by hazardous wastes? What is the main source of these problems? 5)Know the general story of the Love Canal.

67 Core Case Study: E-waste—An Exploding Problem (1) Electronic waste, e-waste: fastest growing solid waste problem Composition includes –High-quality plastics –Valuable metals –Toxic and hazardous pollutants

68 Core Case Study: E-waste—An Exploding Problem (2) Shipped to other countries –What happens in China? International Basel Convention –Bans transferring hazardous wastes from developed countries to developing countries European Union –Cradle-to-grave approach

69 Core Case Study: E-waste—An Exploding Problem (3) What should be done? –Recycle –E-cycle –Reuse –Prevention approach: remove the toxic materials –REDUCE CONSUMPTION (or why this chapter kind of sucks, if this word offends you, check outhttp://www.slate.com/id/2146866/)

70 21-1 What Are Solid Waste and Hazardous Waste, and Why Are They Problems? Concept 21-1 Solid waste represents pollution and unnecessary waste of resources, and hazardous waste contributes to pollution, natural capital degradation, health problems, and premature deaths.

71 We Throw Away Huge Amounts of Useful Things and Hazardous Materials (1) Solid waste –Industrial solid –Municipal solid waste (MSW) –Hazardous, toxic, waste Hazardous wastes –Organic compounds –Toxic heavy metals –Radioactive waste

72 We Throw Away Huge Amounts of Useful Things and Hazardous Materials (2) 80–90% of hazardous wastes produced by developed countries Why reduce solid wastes? –¾ of the materials are an unnecessary waste of the earth's resources –Huge amounts of air pollution, greenhouse gases, and water pollution

73 Natural Capital Degradation: Solid Wastes Polluting a River in Indonesia

74 Solid Waste in the United States Leader in solid waste problem –What is thrown away? Leader in trash production, by weight, per person Recycling is helping

75 Hundreds of Millions of Discarded Tires in a Dump in Colorado, U.S.

76 21-2 How Should We Deal with Solid Waste? Concept 21-2 A sustainable approach to solid waste is first to reduce it, then to reuse or recycle it, and finally to safely dispose of what is left.

77 We Can Burn or Bury Solid Waste or Produce Less of It Waste Management Waste Reduction Integrated waste management –Uses a variety of strategies

78 Fig. 21-5, p. 565 Raw materials Processing and manufacturing Products Solid and hazardous wastes generated during the manufacturing process Waste generated by households and businesses Food/yard waste Hazardous waste Remaining mixed waste PlasticGlassMetalPaper To manufacturers for reuse or for recycling Compost Hazardous waste management Landfill Incinerator Fertilizer

79 Fig. 21-6, p. 565 First PrioritySecond PriorityLast Priority Primary Pollution and Waste Prevention Secondary Pollution and Waste Prevention Waste Management Change industrial process to eliminate use of harmful chemicals Reuse Treat waste to reduce toxicity Repair Incinerate waste Use less of a harmful product Recycle Bury waste in landfills Reduce packaging and materials in products Compost Release waste into environment for dispersal or dilution Make products that last longer and are recyclable, reusable, or easy to repair Buy reusable and recyclable products

80 Science Focus: Garbology William Rathje: analyzes garbage in landfills Landfills and trash decomposition

81 We Can Cut Solid Wastes by Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling (1) Waste reduction is based on –Reduce –Reuse –Recycle Seven strategies: (1) Redesign manufacturing processes and products to use less material and energy (2) Redesign manufacturing processes to produce less waste and pollution

82 We Can Cut Solid Wastes by Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling (2) Seven strategies cont… (3) Develop products that are easy to repair, reuse, remanufacture, compost, or recycle (4) Eliminate or reduce unnecessary packaging (5) Use fee-per-bag waste collection systems (6) Establish cradle-to grave responsibility (7) Restructure urban transportation systems

83 What Can You Do? Solid Waste

84 21-3 Why Is Reusing and Recycling Materials So Important? Concept 21-3 Reusing items decreases the use of matter and energy resources and reduces pollution and natural capital degradation; recycling does so to a lesser degree.

85 Reuse: Important Way to Reduce Solid Waste, Pollution and to Save Money Reuse: clean and use materials over and over Downside of reuse in developing countries Salvaging automobiles parts Rechargeable batteries

86 Case Study: Use of Refillable Containers Reuse and recycle –Refillable glass beverage bottles –Refillable soft drink bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic Paper, plastic, or reusable cloth bags –Pros –Cons

87 Energy Consumption Involved with Using Different Types of 350 ml Containers

88 What Can You Do? Reuse

89 There Are Two Types of Recycling (1) Primary, closed-loop recycling Secondary recycling Types of wastes that can be recycled –Preconsumer: internal waste –Postconsumer: external waste

90 There Are Two Types of Recycling (2) Do items actually get recycled? What are the numbers? Will the consumer buy recycled goods?

91 We Can Mix or Separate Household Solid Wastes for Recycling Materials-recovery facilities (MRFs) Source separation –Pay-as-you-throw –Fee-per-bag Which program is more cost effective? Which is friendlier to the environment?

92 We Can Copy Nature and Recycle Biodegradable Solid Wastes Composting –Individual –Municipal Benefits Successful program in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

93 Backyard Composter Drum: Bacteria Convert Kitchen Waste into Compost

94 Case Study: Recycling Paper Production of paper versus recycled paper –Energy use –Water use –Pollution Countries that are recycling Replacement of chlorine-based bleaching chemicals with H 2 O 2 or O 2

95 Case Study: Recycling Plastics (1) Plastics: composed of resins Most containers discarded: 4% recycled Litter: beaches, water –Significance?

96 Case Study: Recycling Plastics (2) Low plastic recycling rate –Hard to isolate one type of plastic –Low yields of plastic –Cheaper to make it new

97 Discarded Solid Waste Litters Beaches

98 Science Focus: Bioplastics (1) Plastics from soybeans: not a new concept Key to bioplastics: catalysts Sources –Corn –Soy –Sugarcane

99 Science Focus: Bioplastics (2) Sources cont… –Switchgrass –Chicken feathers –Some garbage –CO 2 from coal-burning plant emissions Benefits: lighter, stronger, cheaper, and biodegradable

100 Fig. 21-12, p. 573 TRADE-OFFS Recycling AdvantagesDisadvantages Reduces air and water pollution Can cost more than burying in areas with ample landfill space Saves energy Reduces mineral demand May lose money for items such as glass and some plastics Reduces greenhouse gas emissions Reduces solid waste production and disposal Reduces profits for landfill and incinerator owners Helps protect biodiversity Can save landfill space Source separation is inconvenient for some people Important part of economy

101 We Can Encourage Reuse and Recycling (1) What hinders reuse and recycling? Encourage reuse and recycling –Government Increase subsidies and tax breaks for using such products Decrease subsidies and tax breaks for making items from virgin resources

102 We Can Encourage Reuse and Recycling (2) –Fee-per-bag collection –New laws –Citizen pressure

103 21-4 The Advantages and Disadvantages of Burning or Burying Solid Waste Concept 21-4 Technologies for burning and burying solid wastes are well developed, but burning contributes to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and buried wastes eventually contribute to pollution and land degradation.

104 Burning Solid Waste Has Advantages and Disadvantages Waste-to-energy incinerators 600 Globally –Most in Great Britain Advantages Disadvantages

105 Solutions: A Waste-to-Energy Incinerator with Pollution Controls

106 Trade-Offs: Incineration, Advantages and Disadvantages

107 Burying Solid Waste Has Advantages and Disadvantages Open dumps Sanitary landfills

108 When landfill is full, layers of soil and clay seal in trash Topsoil Sand Electricity generator building Clay Garbage Methane storage and compressor building Leachate treatment system Probes to detect methane leaks Pipes collect explosive methane for use as fuel to generate electricity Methane gas recovery well Leachate storage tank Compacted solid waste Leachate pipes Garbage Leachate pumped up to storage tank for safe disposal Groundwater monitoring well Sand Synthetic liner Leachate monitoring well Sand Groundwater Clay Clay and plastic lining to prevent leaks; pipes collect leachate from bottom of landfill Subsoil

109 Fig. 21-16, p. 576 TRADE-OFFS Sanitary Landfills AdvantagesDisadvantages No open burningNoise and traffic Little odor Dust Low groundwater pollution if sited properly Air pollution from toxic gases and trucks Can be built quickly Releases greenhouse gases (methane and CO 2 ) unless they are collected Low operating costs Can handle large amounts of waste Slow decomposition of wastes Filled land can be used for other purposes Output approach that encourages waste production No shortage of landfill space in many areas Eventually leaks and can contaminate groundwater

110 21-5 How Should We Deal with Hazardous Waste? Concept 21-5 A sustainable approach to hazardous waste is first to produce less of it, then to reuse or recycle it, then to convert it to less hazardous materials, and finally, to safely store what is left.

111 We Can Use Integrated Management of Hazardous Waste Integrated management of hazardous wastes –Produce less –Convert to less hazardous substances –Rest in long-term safe storage Increased use for postconsumer hazardous waste

112 Fig. 21-17, p. 577 Produce Less Hazardous Waste Convert to Less Hazardous or Nonhazardous Substances Put in Perpetual Storage Change industrial processes to reduce or eliminate hazardous waste production Natural decompositionLandfill Incineration Underground injection wells Recycle and reuse hazardous waste Thermal treatment Surface impoundments Chemical, physical, and biological treatment Underground salt formations Dilution in air or water

113 We Can Detoxify Hazardous Wastes Collect and then detoxify –Physical methods –Chemical methods –Use nanomagnets –Bioremediation –Phytoremediation Incineration Using a plasma arc torch

114 Solutions: Phytoremediation

115 Fig. 21-19, p. 579 TRADE-OFFS Phytoremediation AdvantagesDisadvantages Easy to establishSlow (can take several growing seasons) Inexpensive Effective only at depth plant roots can reach Can reduce material dumped into landfills Some toxic organic chemicals may evaporate from plant leaves Produces little air pollution compared to incineration Some plants can become toxic to animals Low energy use

116 We Can Store Some Forms of Hazardous Waste Burial on land or long-term storage Deep-well disposal Surface impoundments Secure hazardous landfills

117 Fig. 21-21, p. 580 TRADE-OFFS Deep-Well Disposal AdvantagesDisadvantages Safe method if sites are chosen carefully Leaks or spills at surface Leaks from corrosion of well casing Wastes can often be retrieved if problems develop Existing fractures or earthquakes can allow wastes to escape into groundwater Output approach that encourages waste production Easy to do Low cost

118 Surface Impoundment in Niagara Falls, New York, U.S.

119 Fig. 21-23, p. 581 TRADE-OFFS Surface Impoundments AdvantagesDisadvantages Low construction costs Groundwater contamination from leaking liners (or no lining) Low operating costs Air pollution from volatile organic compounds Can be built quickly Overflow from flooding Wastes can often be retrieved if necessary Disruption and leakage from earthquakes Can store wastes indefinitely with secure double liners Output approach that encourages waste production

120 Solutions: Secure Hazardous Waste Landfill

121 Fig. 21-24, p. 582 Bulk waste Gas vent Topsoil Earth Plastic cover Sand Impervious clay cap Clay cap Impervious clay Water table Earth Leak detection system Groundwater Double leachate collection system Plastic double liner Reactive wastes in drums Groundwater monitoring well

122 What Can You Do? Hazardous Waste

123 Case Study: Hazardous Waste Regulation in the United States 1976: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) 1980: Comprehensive Environmental, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), or Superfund –Pace of cleanup has slowed –Superfund is broke Laws encouraging the cleanup of brownfields

124 Leaking Barrels of Toxic Waste at a Superfund Site in the United States

125 21-6 How Can We Make the Transition to a More Sustainable Low-Waste Society? Concept 21-6 Shifting to a low-waste society requires individuals and businesses to reduce resource use and to reuse and recycle wastes at local, national, and global levels.

126 Grassroots Action Has Led to Better Solid and Hazardous Waste Management “Not in my backyard” Produce less waste –“Not in anyone’s backyard” –“Not on planet Earth”

127 Providing Environmental Justice for Everyone Is an Important Goal Environmental Justice Which communities in the U.S. have the largest share of hazardous waster dumps? –Communities of color –Low earning communities

128 We Can Make the Transition to Low-Waste Societies Norway, Austria, and the Netherlands –Committed to reduce resource waste by 75% East Hampton, NY, U.S. –Reduced solid waste by 85% Follow guidelines to prevent pollution and reduce waste

129 “To prevent pollution and reduce waste” Everything is connected There is NO Away, ans in to throw away, for the wastes we produce Dilution is not always the solution to pollution Polluters and producers should pay for the wastes they produce Different categories of hazardous waste and recyclable waste should no be mixed We should mimic nature by resuing, recycling, or composing at least 7% of the solid wastes we produce

130 “To prevent pollution and reduce waste” “The best and cheapest ways to deal with solid and hazardous wastes are waste reduction and pollution prevention.” AND YET, still no mention of what this really means…. BUY LESS STUFF http://www.storyofstuff.com/ Seriously, if you learn nothing else in this class, learn that stuff doesn’t make you happy and none of us need half of the junk we buy.

131 Waste Management

132 What are Wastes? Waste (also known as rubbish, trash, refuse, garbage, junk, litter, and ort) is unwanted or useless materials. In biology, waste is any of the many unwanted substances or toxins that are expelled from living organisms, metabolic waste; such as urea and sweat. Basel Convention Definition of Wastes “substances or objects which are disposed of or are intended to be disposed of or are required to be disposed of by the provisions of the law” Disposal means “any operation which may lead to resource recovery, recycling, reclamation, direct re-use or alternative uses (Annex IVB of the Basel convention)”

133 Basel Convention The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, usually known simply as Basel Convention, is an international treaty that was designed to reduce the movements of hazardous waste between nations, specially to prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries (LDCs). It does not, however, address the movement of radioactive waste. The convention is also intended to minimize the amount and toxicity of wastes generated, to ensure their environmentally sound management as closely as possible to the source of generation, and to assist LDCs in environmentally sound management of the hazardous and other wastes they generate. The Convention was opened for signature on 22 nd March 1989, and entered into force on 5 May 1992.

134 The definition………… Produced by the United Nations Statistics Division (U.N.S.D.): "Wastes are materials that are not prime products (that is products produced for the market) for which the generator has no further use in terms of his/her own purposes of production, transformation or consumption, and of which he/she wants to dispose. Wastes may be generated during the extraction of raw materials, the processing of raw materials into intermediate and final products, the consumption of final products, and other human activities. Residuals recycled or reused at the place of generation are excluded."United Nations Statistics Division

135 Kinds of Wastes Solid wastes: wastes in solid forms, domestic, commercial and industrial wastes Examples: plastics, styrofoam containers, bottles, cans, papers, scrap iron, and other trash Liquid Wastes: wastes in liquid form Examples: domestic washings, chemicals, oils, waste water from ponds, manufacturing industries and other sources

136 According to EPA regulations, SOLID WASTE is Any garbage or refuse (Municipal Solid Waste) Sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, water supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility Other discarded material Solid, liquid, semi-solid, or contained gaseous material from industrial, commercial, mining, and agricultural operations, and from community activities http:// www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/basifact.htm#solidwaste

137 Classification of Wastes according to their Properties Bio-degradable can be degraded (paper, wood, fruits and others) Non-biodegradable cannot be degraded (plastics, bottles, old machines,cans, styrofoam containers and others)

138 Classification of Wastes according to their Effects on Human Health and the Environment Hazardous wastes Substances unsafe to use commercially, industrially, agriculturally, or economically and have any of the following properties- ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity & toxicity. Non-hazardous Substances safe to use commercially, industrially, agriculturally, or economically and do not have any of those properties mentioned above. These substances usually create disposal problems.

139 Classification of wastes according to their origin and type Municipal Solid wastes: Solid wastes that include household garbage, rubbish, construction & demolition debris, sanitation residues, packaging materials, trade refuges etc. are managed by any municipality. Bio-medical wastes: Solid or liquid wastes including containers, intermediate or end products generated during diagnosis, treatment & research activities of medical sciences. Industrial wastes: Liquid and solid wastes that are generated by manufacturing & processing units of various industries like chemical, petroleum, coal, metal gas, sanitary & paper etc. Agricultural wastes: Wastes generated from farming activities. These substances are mostly biodegradable. Fishery wastes: Wastes generated due to fishery activities. These are extensively found in coastal & estuarine areas. Radioactive wastes: Waste containing radioactive materials. Usually these are byproducts of nuclear processes. Sometimes industries that are not directly involved in nuclear activities, may also produce some radioactive wastes, e.g. radio-isotopes, chemical sludge etc. E-wastes: Electronic wastes generated from any modern establishments. They may be described as discarded electrical or electronic devices. Some electronic scrap components, such as CRTs, may contain contaminants such as Pb, Cd, Be or brominated flame retardants.

140 Sources of Wastes Households Commerce and Industry

141 MAGNITUDE OF PROBLEM: Indian scenario - Per capita waste generation increasing by 1.3% per annum -With urban population increasing between 3 – 3.5% per annum -Yearly increase in waste generation is around 5% annually - India produces more than 42.0 million tons of municipal solid waste annually. -Per capita generation of waste varies from 200 gm to 600 gm per capita / day. Average generation rate at 0.4 kg per capita per day in 0.1 million plus towns.

142 IMPACTS OF WASTE IF NOT MANAGED WISELY Affects our health Affects our socio-economic conditions Affects our coastal and marine environment Affects our climate GHGs are accumulating in Earth’s atmosphere as a result of human activities, causing global mean surface air temperature and subsurface ocean temperature to rise. Rising global temperatures are expected to raise sea levels and change precipitation and other local climate conditions. Changing regional climates could alter forests, crop yields, and water supplies. This could also affect human health, animals, and many types of ecosystems. Deserts might expand into existing rangelands, and features of some of our national parks might be permanently altered.

143 IMPACTS OF WASTE… - Some countries are expected to become warmer, although sulfates might limit warming in some areas. - Scientists are unable to determine which parts of those countries will become wetter or drier, but there is likely to be an overall trend toward increased precipitation and evaporation, more intense rainstorms, and drier soils. - Whether rainfall increases or decreases cannot be reliably projected for specific areas.

144 Impacts of waste…. Activities that have altered the chemical composition of the atmosphere: -Buildup of GHGs primarily carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) methane (CH 4 ), and nitrous oxide (N 2 0). -C0 2 is released to the atmosphere by the burning of fossil fuels, wood and wood products, and solid waste. -CH 4 is emitted from the decomposition of organic wastes in landfills, the raising of livestock, and the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil. -N0 2 is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during combustion of solid waste and fossil fuels. In 1977, the US emitted about one-fifth of total global GHGs.

145 SOURCES OF HUMAN EXPOSURES Exposures occurs through Ingestion of contaminated water or food Contact with disease vectors Inhalation Dermal

146 Points of contact Soil adsorption, storage and biodegrading Plant uptake Ventilation Runoff Leaching Insects, birds, rats, flies and animals Direct dumping of untreated waste in seas, rivers and lakes results in the plants and animals that feed on it

147 Waste hierarchy Waste hierarchy refers to 3 Rs Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

148 Waste Minimizing solid waste  Minimizing packaging  Recycleable Paper, plastics, metals, glass, wood  Reusable ? Textiles, leather, rubber, metals, wood  Compostable Yard trimmings, food scraps (vegetable)

149 “By recycling almost 8 million tons of metals (which includes aluminum, steel, and mixed metals), we eliminated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions totaling more than 26 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO 2 E). This is equivalent to removing more than 5 million cars from the road for one year.”

150 CATEGORIES OF WASTE DISPOSAL 1.DILUTE AND DISPERSE (ATTENUATION) Throw it in the river / lake / sea Burn it Basically this involves spreading trash thinly over a large area to minimize its impact Works for sewage, some waste chemicals, when land-disposal is not available Plastic in Pacific

151 2.CONCENTRATE AND CONTAIN (ISOLATION) Waste dumps, landfills Historically, that’s how most of the solid waste gets treated

152 Useful options Resource recovery Composting Vermicomposting Energy recovery Incineration Pyrolysis Gasification Bio-methanation or anaerobic digestion

153 Impacts of waste on health Chemical poisoning through chemical inhalation Uncollected waste can obstruct the storm water runoff resulting in flood Low birth weight Cancer Congenital malformations Neurological disease

154 Impacts of waste on health Nausea and vomiting Increase in hospitalization of diabetic residents living near hazard waste sites. Mercury toxicity from eating fish with high levels of mercury. Goorah, S., Esmyot, M., Boojhawon, R. (2009). The Health Impact of Nonhazardous Solid Waste Disposal in a Community: The case of the Mare Chicose Landfill in Mauritius. Journal of Environment Health, 72(1) 48-54 Kouznetsova, M., Hauang, X., Ma, J., Lessner, L. & Carpenter, D. (2007). Increased Rate of Hospitalization for Diabetes and Residential Proximity of Hazardous waste Sites. Environmental Health Perspectives, 115(1)75-75 Barlaz, M., Kaplan, P., Ranjithan, S. & Rynk, R. (2003) Evaluating Environmental Impacts of solid Waste Management Alternatives. BioCycle, 52-56.

155 Effects of waste on animals and aquatics life Increase in mercury level in fish due to disposal of mercury in the rivers. Plastic found in oceans ingested by birds. Resulted in high algal population in rivers and sea. Degrades water and soil quality.

156 Impacts of waste on Environment Waste breaks down in landfills to form methane, a potent greenhouse gas Change in climate and destruction of ozone layer due to waste biodegradable Littering, due to waste pollutions, illegal dumping, Leaching: is a process by which solid waste enter soil and ground water and contaminating them. U.S. Environment Protection Agency (2009)

157 It is estimated that food wasted by the US and Europe could feed the world three times over. Food waste contributes to excess consumption of freshwater and fossil fuels which, along with methane and CO2 emissions from decomposing food, impacts global climate change. Every tonne of food waste prevented has the potential to save 4.2 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. If we all stop wasting food that could have been eaten, the CO2 impact would be the equivalent of taking one in four cars off the road.

158 WHAT SHOULD BE DONE Reduce Waste - Reduce office paper waste by implementing a formal policy to duplex all draft reports and by making training manuals and personnel information available electronically. - Improve product design to use less materials. - Redesign packaging to eliminate excess material while maintaining strength. - Work with customers to design and implement a packaging return program. - Switch to reusable transport containers. - Purchase products in bulk.

159 WHAT SHOULD BE DONE Reuse - Reuse corrugated moving boxes internally. - Reuse office furniture and supplies, such as interoffice envelopes, file folders, and paper. - Use durable towels, tablecloths, napkins, dishes, cups, and glasses. - Use incoming packaging materials for outgoing shipments. - Encourage employees to reuse office materials rather than purchase new ones.

160 WHAT SHOULD BE DONE Donate/Exchange - old books - old clothes - old computers - excess building materials - old equipment to local organizations

161 WHAT SHOULD BE DONE Employee Education - Develop an “office recycling procedures” packet. - Send out recycling reminders to all employees including environmental articles. - Train employees on recycling practices prior to implementing recycling programs. - Conduct an ongoing training process as new technologies are introduced and new employees join the institution.

162 WHAT SHOULD BE DONE Employee Education - education campaign on waste management that includes an extensive internal web site, quarterly newsletters, daily bulletins, promotional signs and helpful reference labels within the campus of an institution.

163 WHAT SHOULD BE DONE Conduct outreach program adopting an ecologically sound waste management system which includes: waste reduction segregation at source composting recycling and re-use more efficient collection more environmentally sound disposal

164 Residents may be organized into small groups to carry out the following: 1.construction of backyard compost pit 2.construction of storage bins where recyclable and reusable materials are stored by each household 3.construction of storage centers where recyclable and reusable materials collected by the street sweepers are stored prior to selling to junk dealers 4.maintenance of cleanliness in yards and streets 5.greening of their respective areas 6.encouraging others to join


Download ppt "Solid and Hazardous Waste. 2 Women and Waste are inseparable Women generate most of the kitchen wastes and dispose of waste from homes. Women bear the."

Similar presentations


Ads by Google