Ch Waste Puuu-weee!

Section 1 Objectives Name one characteristic that makes a material biodegradable. Identify two types of solid waste. Describe how a modern landfill works Name two environmental problems caused by landfills.

Where does your trash go?

Solid waste – any discarded solid material Trash Statistics!! US creates over 10 billion metric tons a year The amount of trash has doubled since the 60’s We are running out of space for landfills

The Mobro barge Traveled from New York thru the Gulf of Mexico to Belize and back to New York No one would let them dump their trash on their land. Ended up burning it in New York!

A waste of history! Hunter-gatherers’ waste Animal and veggie waste – Will turn to compost easily Today – Average American produces 4.4 lbs of solid waste!!!

Not all trash is Equal! Two main types of waste – Biodegradable – it can be broken down by natural processes (natural products) – Non-biodegradable – can’t be broken down by natural processes (synthetic products = chemicals)

Bad Bottle! Pros – Convenient – Durable – Inexpensive – Light – Safe – Can be recycled Cons – Not biodegradable – Microorganisms can’t break them down – Fill up landfills – Last for hundreds of years – Contain chemicals Plastics

Types of Solid Waste Municipal Solid Waste – what we throw away on a day-to-day basis Manufacturing Waste – computers and such that are made by big industries Mining Waste – rocks and mineral left over from mining Agricultural Waste – crop waste and manure

Municipal Solid Waste – waste produced by households and businesses Only 2% of all solid waste in the US BUT!!! That is 236 million tons each year – Enough trash to fill enough garbage trucks to go around the Earth 6 times!!!

The other 98% Scrap metal Plastics Sludge Ash Rocks Minerals Crop waste manure

Landfill – a permanent waste-disposal facility where wastes are put in the ground and covered each day with a layer of soil, plastic, or both Waste must be contained so it does not pollute the environment!

Leachate – a liquid that has passed through compacted soil waste in a landfill Water seeps through and collects chemicals from decomposing waste This must be treated as waste water and made clean again

Landfill

Making Landfills Safe The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act – requires that landfills be build with safeguards to reduce pollution We are running out of landfill space!!

Just Burn It! Incinerators - used to burn the trash – Causes lots of air pollution – Left over ashes are more toxic than the original material that was burned – Ashes still have to go to a landfill

Section 2 Objectives Identify three ways you can produce less waste. Describe how you can use your consumer buying power to reduce solid waste. List the steps that an item must go through to be recycled. List two benefits of composting. Name one advantage and one disadvantage to producing degradable plastic.

How do we reduce solid waste? Source reduction Buy less Use things longer Recycle Compost Change what you use REDUCE: REUSE: RECYCLE

Source reduction – any change in design, manufacture, purchase, or use of materials or products to reduce their amount or toxicity before they become municipal solid waste Reduce Reuse Recycle

Buy products that – Have less packaging – Last longer – Are reusable – Use less material Example: Buy dish towels not paper towels Buy rechargeable batteries Buy Refillable bottles not disposable Reduce – Buy Less

Recycling!!! – the process of reusing materials or recovering valuable materials from waste or scrap Statistics – 95% less energy is used to make something from recycled aluminum – 70% less energy is used to make something from recycled paper

What happens to your recyclables? 1 – collected 2 – sorted by type 3 – taken to a facility and cleaned 4 – material is broken down – Glass is crushed – Paper is turned to pulp – Plastic is melted or chipped up More people who buy recycled products the more that are made!!!

What can we make with recycling? Newspaper = egg cartons, cardboard, building material Telephone books, magazines, catalogs = building materials Aluminum cans = more cans, lawn chairs, siding, cookware Glass = new glass Plastic bottles = insulation, carpet, toys, lumber, etc.

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Compost – a dark brown, crumbly material made from decomposed plant and animal matter that is spread on gardens and fields to enrich the soil 15 % of a communities waste Examples: – Fruit trimmings – Veggie trimmings – Table scraps – Leaves – Grass – manure

How to Compost!! Make a bin Add green stuff – fruits, veggies, grass Add brown stuff – dead stuff, leaves, cardboard Turn your pile regularly Wait three to six months Put compost in your garden!!

Photodegradable Plastics Plastics that are made so the sun breaks them down into very small pieces Cons: the plastic is still there, it is just in smaller pieces!

Section 3 Objectives Name two characteristics of hazardous waste. Describe how one law that governs hazardous waste. Describe two ways in which hazardous waste is disposed.

Hazardous Waste – any waste that is a risk to humans or other living things Can be solid, liquid, or a gas Contains toxic, corrosive, or explosive material

Love Canal Niagara Falls, New York A town was build where toxic waste had been dumped The waste began leaking causing health problems This incident cause people to pay more attention to waste disposal Cost $275 million to clean up and make safe.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Requires producers of hazardous waste to keep detailed records Regulates hazardous waste and treatment plants

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act The Superfund Act Gave the EPA the right to – Sue those who have illegally dumped – Force owners to pay for clean up – Also, made a fund to pay for abandoned sites

Hazardous Waste Prevention Produce Less!!! Reuse the waste already made Treat it to make it safe

Deep-well Injection Waste is dumped deep down in the ground where it is absorbed in a dry layer of rock Must be below the level of groundwater

Other Disposal methods Surface Impoundment - dumping hazardous waste into a “pond” that has a sealed bottom Waste that is solid or concentrated are put in barrels and buried in landfills Biological treatment – oil Incineration – burn the waste – very expensive Export the waste to other countries

What should you do with your hazardous waste? Never dump it outside or down the drain!!