Integrated Solid Waste Management ENVM 649: Principles of Waste Management and Pollution Control Dr. Robert Beauchamp

MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE (MSW) n GENERATION > 200 MILLION TONS/YR. n NEARLY 4.5 LBS/PERSON/DAY n RATE IS LOCATION SPECIFIC

CONSTITUENTS OF THE WASTE n PAPER & PAPERBOARD = > 37% n YARD WASTE = 18% n WOOD = > 6% n METAL = > 8% n GLASS = > 6% n FOOD WASTE = > 6% n PLASTICS = > 8% n OTHER = > 8% n HOUSEHOLD HAZ. WASTE = < 0.5%

DATA RELIABILITY n NEED TO KNOW –WHO GENERATES THE WASTE &THE VOLUME? –HOW MANAGED? –WHAT WERE THE COSTS?

MANAGING THE MSW n ROLES: –FEDERAL - ASSIST IN DESIGN & OPERATING STANDARDS FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITIES –STATE - CONTROL THE PERMITTING PROCESS FOR A RANGE OF ISSUES. –MULTIPLE AGENCY - PERMITTING, PRODUCT LABELING & DESIGN. n ENFORCEMENT –NEED PUBLIC CONFIDENCE n TRANSPORTATION OF WASTE: –INCOME REVENUE VS. COMMUNITY CONCERNS.

SOURCE REDUCTION n REDUCING THE VOLUME & TOXICITY OF GENERATED WASTE –USE OF LESS PAPER PRODUCTS. –USE OF LONGER LIFE PRODUCTS. –REDESIGN OF MANUFACTURING PROCESS. –SUBSTITUTING LESS TOXIC PROCESS. –DIFFERENT RAW MATERIALS. –MORE DURABLE PRODUCTS. n INTERNALIZE COST FOR SOURCE REDUCTION.

RECYCLING n SEPARATING RE-USABLES FOR THE WASTE AND RETURN TO MARKET. n SAVINGS INCLUDE: –RESOURCES –LESS NEED FOR VIRGIN MATERIALS –REDUCES ENERGY USE –STRETCHES LANDFILL CAPACITY –REMOVES NONCOMBUSTABLES –ENSURE RECYCLING WILL NOT CONTAMINATE ENVIRONMENT. –NEED PUBLIC EDUCATION.

INCINERATION/WASTE TO ENERGY n CAN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE VOLUME OF WASTE & CAN CONVERT TO ENERGY. n WHY NOT APPRECIATED BY PUBLIC? n HIGH CAPITAL COST - NEED A LARGE STEADY FLOW OF WASTE. n REGULATIONS TO CONTROL STACK EMISSIONS AND ASH.

LANDFILLS n NOT IN MY BACKYARD ISSUE. n MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES CAN INCLUDE LANDFILLING. n TAKES WASTES THAT ARE NOT RECYCLABLE. n RCRA CONTROLLED: –LEACHATE LINERS –LEACHATE COLLECTION –GAS CONTROL SYSTEMS –GROUNDWATER MONITORING –SITING REQUIREMENTS n OPPORTUNITIES: –RECOVER METHANE –CONVERSION TO GOLF COURSES –AND RECREATION AREAS

HEIRARCHY FOR MANAGING MSW n SOURCE REDUCTION IS BEST SINCE IT CAN PREVENT WASTE FROM BEING MANAGED. CLOSED LOOP. n RECYCLING IS NEXT - IT LIMITS THE USE OF NEW RESOURCES AND RETURNS RESOURCES TO MARKET. n WASTE TO ENERGY AND LANDFILLS ARE NEXT. LANDFILLS HAVE TO MANAGE ASH FROM INCINERATORS. n EACH REGION MUST CUSTOMIZE THEIR INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. EACH HAS SPECIFIC ISSUES.

LONG-TERM PLANNING GUIDELINES n DEVELOP INNOVATIVE OPTIONS n COSTS FOR ALL OPTIONS n ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS n VOLATILITY OF RECYCLABLES n ENSURE OPERATING PERMITS

WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN n POLICIES, GOALS & OBJECTIVES n IDENTIFY OPTIONS, RISKS, COSTS n PUBLIC INPUT n PRO'S AND CON'S OF EACH OPTION & TRADEOFFS. n WASTE VOLUMES, FINANCING, PERMIT TIME, SITING, ENFORCEMENT, PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE, POLITICS.