SOLID & HAZARDOUS WASTE

TYPES OF WASTE Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) mostly paper and organics (from lawns...), then plastics, which does not decompose without oxygen and moisture. Paper is easy to recycle, yet is most of our waste. Plastic is difficult to recycle, but does not easily decompose in landfills.

e-waste E-waste includes TV’s, computers, cell phones, some toys... E-waste is routinely exported by developed countries to developing ones. In the US, it is estimated that percent of the waste collected for recycling is being exported in this way. Small percentage of overall waste, but often contains heavy metals such as lead (accumulates in bones), mercury & cadmium (neurotoxins), nickel, copper, gold and berylium as well as PVCs which can damage the nervous system.

E-waste banned Massachusetts was first to ban e-waste from landfills. 18 more states now ban e-waste 25 states have passed e-waste recycling laws

heavy metals Cadmium Potential health effects include: Learning disabilities Lung disease and cancerer Kidney disease Weak bonesWeak Found in/used to produce:roduce: Children's metal jewelryChildrlry BatteriesBatter Pigments Plastics Photovoltaic devicesvices Lead Potential health effects include: Brain damage Nervous system damage Behavior and learning problems Lower IQ Hearing problems Anemia Hypertension Decreased kidney function Reproductive problems (in both men and women) Miscarriage Found in/used to produce: Children's jewelry Toys Ceramics Lipstick Paint Candy Mercury Potential health effects include: Fetal developmental problems Fetal neurological problems Kidney effects Central nervous system effectsCentral nerv Gastrointestinal effectsestinal effect Respiratory effects Found in/used to produce:ffects Found in/used to produc Antiques Appliances Button Cell Batteriesell Batteries Paint Skin-lightening creamsSkin Electronicsonics Jewelry Lamps/Light bulbsLamps Sporting Equipment Television Setss ThermometersThermo

Mercury Potential health effects include: Fetal developmental problems Fetal neurological problems Kidney effects Central nervous system effectsCentral nerv Gastrointestinal effectsestinal effect Respiratory effectsffects Found in/used to producFound in/used to produce: Antiques Appliances Button Cell Batteriesell Batteries Paint Skin-lightening creamsSkin Electronicsonics Jewelry Lamps/Light bulbsLamps Sporting Equipment Television Setss ThermometersThermo

TYPES OF WASTE 98.5 % is Non-Municipal Solid Waste from industry, agriculture, mining, oil & gas production, sewage sludge.

Hazardous Waste FLAMMABLE CHEMICALLY UNSTABLE CORROSIVE CARCINOGENS - cancer causing MUTAGENS- DNA altering TERATOGENS- birth defect causing TOXINS - disease causing

TREATMENT & DISPOSAL Incinerate - Great Britain ~90% landfills - United States ~55% ocean dumping - illegal in most countries ~ 60% of debris on U.S. beaches is plastics

Disposal - incineration Pros Reduces overall mass of waste Can be used to generate electricity Cons Ash contains heavy metals Creates air pollutants Contributes to acid rain Relatively expensive

Disposal - Landfills

WASTE PREVENTION 3 R’S reduce source of waste, less expensive that trash collection & disposal (once established), can be industry & public, contributes to more jobs...) REDUCE - less packaging, buy less (best low-waste approach) REUSE - shopping bags, water bottles... 2nd best approach RECYCLE - plastics and cans... U.S. recycles ~25% of MSW. May cause pollution & uses energy. Cost more than dumping.

4th R - Repurpose - Using an item for something other than the initial intent. For example. Making coffee cans into flower pots. 5th R - Refuse - say no. shop smarter Compost - Yard waste (organics) can be used to prevent erosion, fill in strip mined lands and for other soil improvements.

HISTORICAL - Love Canal canal started to connect Lakes Erie & Ontario (went bankrupt)

Hooker Chemicals starts dumping 82 known different chemicals (some carcinogenic) 1953 Company fills the canal and sells the land to Niagara Falls Board of Education 1955 Elementary school opens 1959 Chemical seepage into basements is noticed/reported 1974 Barrels of chemicals are exposed

Investigation reveals widespread contamination 1979 Evacuation of pregnant women & young children 1980 CERCLA enacted

LEGISLATION Resource Conservation & Recovery Act - Establishes waste management programs. Tracks hazardous waste from cradle to grave CERCLA (Superfund) - pays to clean up abandoned hazardous sites or holds polluter accountable if possible