1. Chapter 19
Waste Management

2. Section 2: Minimizing Solid Waste
Reducing waste can potentially save industries, cities, and consumers money and resources
2 main strategies for managing solid waste:
Reducing the amount of solid waste
Recovery
Includes composting and recycling

3. Section 2: Minimizing Solid Waste
Reducing amount of solid waste
When we reduce the amount of waste, we lower the costs of disposal and recycling
Conserves resources and produces less pollution

4. Section 2: Minimizing Solid Waste
Reducing amount of solid waste
Preventing waste generation is called source reduction
Achieved through less consumption, less packaging, banning certain plastics, and designing goods that last longer

5. Section 2: Minimizing Solid Waste
Waste Recovery
By recycling and composting waste, we save energy equal to 10 billion gallons of gas every year
Also prevent the release of more than 190 million metric tons of carbon dioxide
Recycling saves enough energy globally to power 6 million households per year

6. Section 3: Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste – is waste that is ignitable, corrosive, reactive, or toxic
Households are currently the largest source of unregulated hazardous waste
Ex – paints, batteries, oils, solvents, cleaning agents, pesticides, etc.

7. Section 3: Hazardous Waste
Radioactive waste – may cause cancer, weakened immune system, and birth defects
Most harmful at high levels, but low levels over time may be just as harmful
Must be disposed of deep underground in sealed containers that will not corrode for thousands of years