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Waste Management

Bottled Water Backlash

Waste Any unwanted material or substance that results from a human activity or process 3 types Municipal Solid Waste – nonliquid waste that comes from homes or small businesses = “Trash/Garbage” Industrial Waste – comes from producing consumer goods, mining, agriculture, or petroleum extraction Hazardous Waste – solid or liquid waste that is toxic, reactive, flammable, or corrosive.

Municipal Solid Waste Includes paper, tires, food scraps, litter, old appliances, and everything in between Average American generates more than 2.0 kg (4.5 lbs) trash a day = 745 kg (1643 lbs) a year

Methods of Solid Waste Disposal Historically – dumping and burning trash was common. Eventually exposure to toxic fumes and poor smelling areas led to change Now we have Sanitary Landfills Waste is buried in the ground and designed to prevent contamination of water and soil nearby Facilities must also treat dissolving trash that mixes with rainwater – called Leachate

Landfills Benefits Costs Puts waste in one location and is stacked on top of itself to take up as little room as possible Process helps speed decomposition, reduces odor, and reduces infestation of pests New technologies are using landfill gas (methane) produced as primary source of energy Leachate will eventually escape and will pollute nearby water systems Finding suitable locations for new landfills. Existing neighborhoods do not want it in their “backyard”

Hazardous Waste 3 main ways to dispose of hazardous waste 1) Landfills – if not managed properly can lead to entire area toxic 2) Surface Impoundment – shallow pits lined with plastic and clay mixed with water. Once water evaporates it leaves hazardous waste on bottom. Used for only temporary solutions 3) Deep-Well Injection – deep drills inject waste deep underground

Waste Reduction Best way to manage solid waste is to reduce the amount we generate 1) Reduce Packaging – choose goods with minimal packaging buy in bulk, reduce size of goods and materials 2) Reduce use of Nonbiodegradeble plastics – ones that don’t decompose Example -Plastic grocery bags and Styrofoam

Waste Reduction 3) Design Goods to Last – increase the lifetime of products Limit disposable products 4) Financial Incentives – Get or Give money to reduce waste Pay for home trash pickup based on how much you throw away Get money back for returning bottles and cans

Waste Recovery Composting – conversion of organic waste into mulch through natural decomposition Allows creation of new nutrient rich soil through natural cycles Recycling - collection of materials that can be broken down and made into new items

3 Steps to Recycling

Solid Waste WebQuest