1. Chapter 16 Waste Generation and Waste Disposal

3. Problem: Humans Generate Waste that other organisms cannot use  Waste – anything not useful or consumed, and nonuseful products generated within the system.  Humans are the only organism on the planet that produce waste that others cannot use.

4. Throw Away Society  Societies generate little waste until they become wealthy. Objects that no longer have value for their original use become useful for something else  In the 1900’s US virtually every wood, metal, and glass material was recycled. They called them junk/scrap dealers not recycling.  Post WWII, rapid population growth, increased wealth, and cultural changes made it possible for people to purchase, use and throw things away.  Planned Obsolescence – design of product to only last a short time before it needed to be replaced (TV dinners, napkins, silverware, plates – labor saving).

6.  MSW - Refuse collected by municipalities from households, small businesses, and institutions such as schools, prisons, municipal buildings and hospitals. Municipal Solid Waste  Waste generation differs by season, socioeconomics, and geography

7. Composition of Municipal Solid Waste  Waste stream – the flow of solid waste that is recycled, incinerated, placed in a solid waste landfill, or disposed of in another way.

8.  Electronic waste - televisions, computers, cell phones that contain toxic metals (2%MSW and increasing). These small amounts of toxins can have a large environmental impact.  Around 20% being recycled, electronics not designed for recycling (hard), they go to foreign countries, so probably not being done properly. E-Waste

9.  Reject - Don’t use a bag, products with excessive packaging.  Reduce- waste/toxic minimization or source reduction (during design and manufacture)  React – Support products that have responsible packaging, support legislation for waste reduction, recycling, and reuse.  Reuse- reusing something like a disposable cup more than once (craigslist, freecycle, flea mkt.)  Recycle- materials are collected and converted into raw materials and then used to produce new objects 5 R’s Reject, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

14.  Compost - organic material that has decomposed under controlled conditions to produce an organic- rich material. Composting

16.  Sanitary landfills- engineered ground facilities designed to hold MSW with as little contamination of the surrounding environment as possible.  Leachate- the water that leaches through the solid waste and removes various chemical compounds and toxins with which it comes into contact. Landfills

18.  Reclaimed- closed landfills can support replanted vegetation for aesthetics and erosion purposes. After years they can support human uses (parks, playgrounds, etc.)  Landfills are expensive and recover costs with tipping fees. Fees per ton of SW that you dump. Landfills

19.  Siting – designation of a location. Should be away from water resources, populations, and in high clay soils.  NIMBY – Not In My Backyard – those with money and political influence are able to keep landfills from being sited near them. Leads to environmental injustice with landfills being sited in communities not with the best safety criteria but those that don’t have the resources to fight. Problems with Landfills

20.  Virtually all landfills produce some amount of leachate.  The risk to humans and ecosystems from leachate is uncertain.  Release of greenhouse gases (methane & CO 2 ).  Methane is explosive. Problems with Landfills

21.  Incineration- the process of burning waste materials to reduce its volume and mass and sometimes to generate electricity and heat. Incineration

23.  Hazardous waste- liquid, solid, gaseous, or sludge waste material that is harmful to humans or ecosystems.  Collection sites for hazardous waste must be staffed with specially trained personnel.  Hazardous waste must be treated before disposal. Hazardous Waste

24.  Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)- designed to reduce or eliminate hazardous waste. Also know as “cradle-to- grave” tracking.  RCRA ensures that hazardous waste is tracked and properly disposed of. Laws

25.  Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)- also know as “Superfund”.  Puts a tax on the chemical and petroleum industries. This revenue is used to cleanup abandoned and nonoperating hazardous waste sites where a responsible party cannot be found.  Requires the federal government to respond directly to the release of substance that may pose a threat to human health or the environment Laws

26.  Contaminated industrial or commercial sites that may require environmental cleanup before they can be redeveloped or expanded.  Old factories, industrial areas and waterfronts, dry cleaners, gas stations, landfills, and rail yards are some examples. Brownfields

27.  A method that seeks to develop as many options as possible, to reduce environmental harm and cost.  Reduction, recycling, composting, landfills, and incineration are some ways IWM is utilized. Integrated Waste Management