Chapter 16 Waste Generation and Waste Disposal

Polystyrene cup vs. Paper cup Made from a plastic polymer, high insulation value, minimizes temp. changes Made from paper, does not insulate as well, requires cardboard wrap around to hold = added waste Plastics are made from 3 grams of petroleum (nonrenewable) Requires 2 g of petroleum to make,33 grams of wood and bark (renewable) Does not decompose in landfills Usually thrown out after one use. Might leach chemicals from the plastic into the cfofee 2x as much energy and water is needed to make paper, substantially heavier than styrofoam, requiring more energy to transport it= more air pollution Usually thrown out after one use Toxic emissions from the productionBleach used to make paper could harm aquatic life Will decompose in landfill and produce methane

Inputs and Outputs Humans use inputs(energy) and raw materials to produce goods. Outputs include anything not useful or consumed generated within the system = waste In the natural world nothing is wasted. Waste of one organism becomes a source of energy for another. Humans are the only organisms that produce waste that others cannot use.

Throw away Society How did we get here? – Rapid population growth after WWII – Increase in industrialization and wealth – Large families were urged to buy labor saving devices and disposables Planned obsolescence became the norm of devices. TV dinners, disposable diapers, paper plates etc.

Municipal Solid Waste Refuse collected from households (60%), small businesses, schools, municipal buildings, prisons, and hospitals (together 40%) the US increased from 88 million tons to 255 million tons per year. Average waste generation in 2008 = 4.5 lbs of MSW per person per day. Japan= 2.4 lbs, developing world 1.2 lbs

Developing World Due to growing populations and production of goods used in developed worlds, developing countries are producing more MSW.

Composition and Sources of MSW

E- Waste

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (the 3 Rs) A practical approach to the subject of solid waste management. Reduce= waste minimization and waste prevention, source reduction(print on both sides of paper)Records-large CD-small CD- download music. Reuse=keeps material in the system longer before becoming an output (use newspapers as bedding for animals or art projects) Recycle=closed loop (recycle into same product) open loop (recycle into a different product)

2 types of recycling

Composting

Most solid waste is buried in landfills or incinerated

The “NIMBY” attitude about landfills The siting or designation of a location for a landfill is always controversial and politically charged. Unsightly and smelly no one wants them in their backyard! Potential contamination of water from leachate is a concern as well. People with financial resources or political influence steer where they end up! (environmental injustice!)

Incineration

Problems with Incineration Tipping fees must be charged to cover the costs of construction and operation. National average is $70/ton. Siting raises “NIMBY” and environmental justice issues. Incinerators may release air pollution from the incomplete combustion of plastics and metals Ash produced is more toxic than original MSW and must be disposed of in special landfills

Hazardous waste disposal About 40 million tons generated in US/year. Most hazardous waste is the by product of industrial processes such as textile production, cleaning of machinery, and manufacturing of computer equipment. Dry cleaners, automobile service stations and small farms generate this waste too. Oven cleaners, batteries, lawn fertilizers are hazardous waste. All must be treated chemically before disposal to make them less environmentally harmful.

Federal Legislation and Hazardous Waste The US Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)-goal is to protect human health and the natural environment by reducing or eliminating the generation of hazardous waste. “Cradle to grave” tracking of waste. RCRA was modified in 1984 with the federal Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendment (HSWA)that encourages waste minimization and phases out the disposal of waste on land. The Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) a.k.a the Superfund Act( 1980, 1986 amended)

Superfund act Imposes a tax on the chemical and petroleum industries. These monies fund cleanups of abandoned and non-operating hazardous waste sites. A National Priority List (NPL) is maintained by the EPA for sites that are eligible for cleanup funds. AS of 2010, there were 1,282 sites listed with NJ having the most, 114.

Love Canal Disaster

Brownfields Program (1995) What is a brownfield site? Any former or current commercial or industrial site that is currently vacant or underutilized and on which there has been, or there is suspected to have been, a discharge of contamination. Examples: old factories, industrial areas and waterfronts, dry cleaners, gas stations, landfills, rail yards. Cleanup is managed by state and local govt.

International transfer of waste Often the US will send hazardous waste to other countries via barges in exchange for cash payment! This has happened with Haiti. India send us its Mercury waste. We concentrate, purify it and then sell it to industrial users of the metal.

Life-Cycle Analysis Looks at materials used and released throughout the lifetime of a product- from the procurement of the raw materials through their manufacture, use, and disposal. It is hard to determine absolute environmental impact but it can be helpful in assessing economic and energy considerations. It should consider the energy content of gasoline used and the pollution generated in transport.

Integrated Waste Management