Waste Stream Chapter 23 AP Environmental Science

Results from the Waste Audit Whole Food – g 5% Scrap Food – % Paper Waste – 309, 2,636.14g21% Plastic # , 2,406.83g19% Non-recyclable plastic #6-226, 231g 2% Milk Carton 42, 1,249.46g10% Aluminum- 11, g2% Other 126, g31% Total mass 864, 12, g

Waste Stream Defined The steady flow of varied wastes that we all produce, from domestic garbage and yard waste to industrial, commercial and construction waste.

Composition of Waste Stream in US Total 11 Billion Tons of Solid Waste  6 Billion is Agricultural Waste (now some of these are recycled back on the farm)  4.5+ Billion is Industrial/ Commercial Waste (of this 60 million is considered Hazardous Waste)  Approximately 220 million tons is considered municipal  (For every 1 can of garbage you put at the curb, 70 garbage cans full are created in the making of products (The Story of Stuff, 2009)

Types of waste

Not as simple

The Terms we use for Waste Organic Waste- kitchen waste, vegetables. Flowers, leaves and fruit Recyclable Waste- paper, glass, metals and plastics Soiled Waste/ Medical Waste- hospital waste Toxic Waste- old medicines, paints, chemicals and spray cans, fertilizers and pesticide containers, batteries etc. Biological Waste/Medical Waste- are generated during the diagnosis or treatment at hospital facilities, immunizations, research, production of treatments, cultures, anatomical waste, etc. It has been estimated that for every four pounds of waste generated by a hospital setting one pound contains infectious materials.

Municipal Solid Waste

Composition of Solid Waste in World

By the numbers! The following slides will be questions and the answers are one of the numbers to the left. You may have seen some of these before!

Question 1 _____ million liters of waste motor oil are dumped into sewers or onto land each year in the United States (5 times as much oil that leaked out of Exxon Valdez spill) 30 10,000 1/3 (one-third) 1 2/3 (two-thirds)

Question million liters of waste motor oil are dumped into sewers or onto land each year in the United States (5 times as much oil that leaked out of Exxon Valdez spill) 30 10,000 1/3 (one-third) 1 2/3 (two-thirds)

Question 2 The United States, with 5% of the world’s population, generates ____ of the world’s total waste ,000 1/3 (one-third) 1 2/3 (two-thirds)

Question 2 The United States, with 5% of the world’s population, generates 30 of the world’s total waste ,000 1/3 (one-third) 1 2/3 (two-thirds)

Question 3 ____ gallon of gasoline or oil can pollute 1 million gallons of freshwater ,000 1/3 (one-third) 1 2/3 (two-thirds)

Question 3 1 gallon of gasoline or oil can pollute 1 million gallons of freshwater ,000 1/3 (one-third) 1 2/3 (two-thirds)

Question 4 The highest recycling rate in the country is ____%. The state with this recycling rate is Minnesota ,000 1/3 (one-third) 1 2/3 (two-thirds)

Question 4 The highest recycling rate in the country is 46%. The state with this recycling rate is Minnesota ,000 1/3 (one-third) 1 2/3 (two-thirds)

Question 5 Waste from all categories in the United States works out to be ______ pounds per person ,000 1/3 (one-third) 1 2/3 (two-thirds)

Question 5 Waste from all categories in the United States works out to be 10,000 pounds per person ,000 1/3 (one-third) 1 2/3 (two-thirds)

Question 6 ____ million trees a day are harvested in the United States for paper products ,000 1/3 (one-third) 1 2/3 (two-thirds)

Question 6 2 million trees a day are harvested in the United States for paper products ,000 1/3 (one-third) 1 2/3 (two-thirds)

Question 7 ____ of all solid wastes are mine tailings and smelter residue ,000 1/3 (one-third) 1 2/3 (two-thirds)

Question 7 1/3 of all solid wastes are mine tailings and smelter residue ,000 1/3 (one-third) 1 2/3 (two-thirds)

Question 8 Of all heavy-metal toxic wastes, _____% come from consumer electronics and batteries ,000 1/3 (one-third) 1 2/3 (two-thirds)

Question 8 Of all heavy-metal toxic wastes, 90% come from consumer electronics and batteries ,000 1/3 (one-third) 1 2/3 (two-thirds)

Question 9 2/3 of all aluminum cans are recycled ,000 1/3 (one-third) 1 2/3 (two-thirds)