1. Solid and Hazardous Waste
Chapter 21

2. Core Case Study: E-waste—An Exploding Problem (1)
Electronic waste, e-waste: fastest growing solid waste problem
Composition includes
High-quality plastics
Valuable metals
Toxic and hazardous pollutants

3. Core Case Study: E-waste—An Exploding Problem (2)
Shipped to other countries
What happens in China?
International Basel Convention
Bans transferring hazardous wastes from developed countries to developing countries
European Union
Cradle-to-grave approach

4. Core Case Study: E-waste—An Exploding Problem (3)
What should be done?
Recycle
E-cycle
Reuse
Prevention approach: remove the toxic materials

5. Rapidly Growing E-Waste from Discarded Computers and Other Electronics

6. 21-1 What Are Solid Waste and Hazardous Waste, and Why Are They Problems?
Concept Solid waste represents pollution and unnecessary waste of resources, and hazardous waste contributes to pollution, natural capital degradation, health problems, and premature deaths.

7. We Throw Away Huge Amounts of Useful Things and Hazardous Materials (1)
Solid waste
Industrial solid
Municipal solid waste (MSW)
Hazardous, toxic, waste
Hazardous wastes
Organic compounds
Toxic heavy metals
Radioactive waste

8. We Throw Away Huge Amounts of Useful Things and Hazardous Materials (2)
80–90% of hazardous wastes produced by developed countries
Why reduce solid wastes?
¾ of the materials are an unnecessary waste of the earth's resources
Huge amounts of air pollution, greenhouse gases, and water pollution

9. What Harmful Chemicals Are in Your Home?

10. What Harmful Chemicals Are in Your Home?
Cleaning
Gardening
Disinfectants
Pesticides
Drain, toilet, and window cleaners
Weed killers
Ant and rodent killers
Spot removers
Flea powders
Septic tank cleaners
Paint Products
Paints, stains, varnishes, and lacquers
Paint thinners, solvents, and strippers
Automotive
Figure 21.2
Harmful chemicals found in many homes. The U.S. Congress has exempted disposal of these materials from government regulation. Question: Which of these chemicals are in your home?
Wood preservatives
Gasoline
Artist paints and inks
Used motor oil
General
Antifreeze
Dry-cell batteries (mercury and cadmium)
Battery acid
Brake and transmission fluid
Glues and cements
Fig. 21-2, p. 562

11. What Harmful Chemicals Are in Your Home?
Cleaning
Disinfectants
Drain, toilet, and window cleaners
Spot removers
Septic tank cleaners
Gardening
Pesticides
Weed killers
Ant and rodent killers
Flea powders
Paint Products
Paints, stains, varnishes, and lacquers
Paint thinners, solvents, and strippers
Wood preservatives
Artist paints and inks
Automotive
Gasoline
Used motor oil
Antifreeze
Battery acid
Brake and transmission fluid
Figure 21.2
Harmful chemicals found in many homes. The U.S. Congress has exempted disposal of these materials from government regulation. Question: Which of these chemicals are in your home?
General
Dry-cell batteries (mercury and cadmium)
Glues and cements
Stepped Art
Fig. 21-2, p. 562

12. Natural Capital Degradation: Solid Wastes Polluting a River in Indonesia

13. Solid Waste in the United States
Leader in solid waste problem
What is thrown away?
Leader in trash production, by weight, per person
Recycling is helping

14. Hundreds of Millions of Discarded Tires in a Dump in Colorado, U.S.

15. Case Study: Trash Production, Recycling in NYC: Past, Present, and Future
1920–1940: Highest trash due to coal ash
1962 and 1963: Lowest trash, coal burning phased out
1964 and 1974: Rise in trash due to throwaway containers
1999: Mandatory recycling
2001: Fresh Kills landfill closed, trash hauling

16. 21-2 How Should We Deal with Solid Waste?
Concept A sustainable approach to solid waste is first to reduce it, then to reuse or recycle it, and finally to safely dispose of what is left.

17. We Can Burn or Bury Solid Waste or Produce Less of It
Waste Management
Waste Reduction
Integrated waste management
Uses a variety of strategies

18. Integrated Waste Management

19. Processing and manufacturing Products
Raw materials
Processing and manufacturing
Products
Solid and hazardous wastes generated during the manufacturing process
Waste generated by households and businesses
Figure 21.5
Integrated waste management: wastes are reduced through recycling, reuse, and composting or managed by burying them in landfills or incinerating them. Most countries rely primarily on burial and incineration. Question: What happens to the solid waste you produce?
Food/yard waste
Remaining mixed waste
Plastic
Glass
Metal
Paper
Hazardous waste
To manufacturers for reuse or for recycling
Compost
Hazardous waste management
Incinerator
Landfill
Fertilizer
Fig. 21-5, p. 565

20. Integrated Waste Management: Priorities for Dealing with Solid Waste

21. First Priority Second Priority Last Priority
Primary Pollution and Waste Prevention
Secondary Pollution and Waste Prevention
Waste Management
Treat waste to reduce toxicity
Change industrial process to eliminate use of harmful chemicals
Reuse
Repair
Incinerate waste
Use less of a harmful product
Recycle
Bury waste in landfills
Reduce packaging and materials in products
Compost
Buy reusable and recyclable products
Release waste into environment for dispersal or dilution
Make products that last longer and are recyclable, reusable, or easy to repair
Figure 21.6
Integrated waste management: priorities suggested by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences for dealing with solid waste. To date, these waste reduction priorities have not been followed in the United States or in most other countries. Instead, most efforts are devoted to waste management (bury it or burn it). Question: Why do you think most countries do not follow these priorities, even though they are based on reliable science? (Data from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. National Academy of Sciences)
Fig. 21-6, p. 565

22. First Priority Second Priority Last Priority
Primary Pollution and Waste Prevention
Change industrial process to eliminate use of harmful chemicals
Reduce packaging and materials in products
Make products that last longer and are recyclable, reusable, or easy to repair
Second Priority
Secondary Pollution and Waste Prevention
Reuse
Repair
Recycle
Compost
Buy reusable and recyclable products
Last Priority
Waste Management
Treat waste to reduce toxicity
Incinerate waste
Bury waste in landfills
Release waste into environment for dispersal or dilution
Use less of a harmful product
Figure 21.6
Integrated waste management: priorities suggested by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences for dealing with solid waste. To date, these waste reduction priorities have not been followed in the United States or in most other countries. Instead, most efforts are devoted to waste management (bury it or burn it). Question: Why do you think most countries do not follow these priorities, even though they are based on reliable science? (Data from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. National Academy of Sciences)
Stepped Art
Fig. 21-6, p. 565

23. Science Focus: Garbology
William Rathje: analyzes garbage in landfills
Landfills and trash decomposition

24. We Can Cut Solid Wastes by Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling (1)
Waste reduction is based on
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
Seven strategies:
(1) Redesign manufacturing processes and products to use less material and energy
(2) Redesign manufacturing processes to produce less waste and pollution

25. We Can Cut Solid Wastes by Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling (2)
Seven strategies cont…
(3) Develop products that are easy to repair, reuse, remanufacture, compost, or recycle
(4) Eliminate or reduce unnecessary packaging
(5) Use fee-per-bag waste collection systems
(6) Establish cradle-to grave responsibility
(7) Restructure urban transportation systems

26. What Can You Do? Solid Waste

27. Figure 21.7
Individuals matter: ways to save resources by reducing your output of solid waste and pollution. Questions: Which three of these actions do you think are the most important? Why? Which of these things do you do?
Stepped Art
Fig. 21-7, p. 566

28. 21-3 Why Is Reusing and Recycling Materials So Important?
Concept Reusing items decreases the use of matter and energy resources and reduces pollution and natural capital degradation; recycling does so to a lesser degree.

29. Reuse: Important Way to Reduce Solid Waste, Pollution and to Save Money
Reuse: clean and use materials over and over
Downside of reuse in developing countries
Salvaging automobiles parts
Rechargeable batteries

30. Case Study: Use of Refillable Containers
Reuse and recycle
Refillable glass beverage bottles
Refillable soft drink bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic
Paper, plastic, or reusable cloth bags
Pros
Cons

31. Energy Consumption Involved with Using Different Types of 350 ml Containers

32. Glass drink bottle, used once
Aluminum can, used once
Steel can, used once
Recycled steel can
Glass drink bottle, used once
Recycled aluminum can
Recycled glass drink bottle
Figure 21.8
Energy consumption involved with using different types of 350-milliliter (12-fluid-ounce) beverage containers. (Data from Argonne National Laboratory)
Refillable drink bottle, used 10 times 8 16 24 32
Energy (thousands of kilocalories)
Fig. 21-8, p. 568

33. What Can You Do? Reuse

34. There Are Two Types of Recycling (1)
Primary, closed-loop recycling
Secondary recycling
Types of wastes that can be recycled
Preconsumer: internal waste
Postconsumer: external waste

35. There Are Two Types of Recycling (2)
Do items actually get recycled?
What are the numbers?
Will the consumer buy recycled goods?

36. We Can Mix or Separate Household Solid Wastes for Recycling
Materials-recovery facilities (MRFs)
Source separation
Pay-as-you-throw
Fee-per-bag
Which program is more cost effective?
Which is friendlier to the environment?

37. We Can Copy Nature and Recycle Biodegradable Solid Wastes
Composting
Individual
Municipal
Benefits
Successful program in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

38. Backyard Composter Drum: Bacteria Convert Kitchen Waste into Compost

39. Case Study: Recycling Paper
Production of paper versus recycled paper
Energy use
Water use
Pollution
Countries that are recycling
Replacement of chlorine-based bleaching chemicals with H2O2 or O2

40. Case Study: Recycling Plastics (1)
Plastics: composed of resins
Most containers discarded: 4% recycled
Litter: beaches, water
Significance?

41. Case Study: Recycling Plastics (2)
Low plastic recycling rate
Hard to isolate one type of plastic
Low yields of plastic
Cheaper to make it new

42. Discarded Solid Waste Litters Beaches

43. Individuals Matter: Mike Biddle’s Contribution to Recycling Plastics
Mike Biddle and Trip Allen: MBA Polymers, Inc.
Leaders in plastic recycling
Plants in
U.S.
China
Australia

44. Science Focus: Bioplastics (1)
Plastics from soybeans: not a new concept
Key to bioplastics: catalysts
Sources
Corn
Soy
Sugarcane

45. Science Focus: Bioplastics (2)
Sources cont…
Switchgrass
Chicken feathers
Some garbage
CO2 from coal-burning plant emissions
Benefits: lighter, stronger, cheaper, and biodegradable

46. Recycling Has Advantages and Disadvantages

47. Trade-Offs: Recycling, Advantages and Disadvantages

48. TRADE-OFFS Recycling Advantages Disadvantages
Reduces air and water pollution
Can cost more than burying in areas with ample landfill space
Saves energy
Reduces mineral demand
May lose money for items such as glass and some plastics
Reduces greenhouse gas emissions
Reduces solid waste production and disposal
Figure 21.12
Advantages and disadvantages of recycling solid waste (Concept 21-3). Question: Which single advantage and which single disadvantage do you think are the most important? Why?
Reduces profits for landfill and incinerator owners
Helps protect biodiversity
Can save landfill space
Source separation is inconvenient for some people
Important part of economy
Fig , p. 573

49. We Can Encourage Reuse and Recycling (1)
What hinders reuse and recycling?
Encourage reuse and recycling
Government
Increase subsidies and tax breaks for using such products
Decrease subsidies and tax breaks for making items from virgin resources

50. We Can Encourage Reuse and Recycling (2)
Fee-per-bag collection
New laws
Citizen pressure

51. 21-4 The Advantages and Disadvantages of Burning or Burying Solid Waste
Concept Technologies for burning and burying solid wastes are well developed, but burning contributes to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and buried wastes eventually contribute to pollution and land degradation.

52. Burning Solid Waste Has Advantages and Disadvantages
Waste-to-energy incinerators
600 Globally
Most in Great Britain
Advantages
Disadvantages

53. Solutions: A Waste-to-Energy Incinerator with Pollution Controls

54. Wet scrubber Waste pit Bottom ash Dirty water
Electricity
Smokestack
Steam
Turbine
Crane
Generator
Wet scrubber
Furnace
Boiler
Electrostatic precipitator
Waste pit
Water added
Bottom ash
Dirty water
Conveyor
Figure 21.13
Solutions: a waste-to-energy incinerator with pollution controls. It burns mixed solid wastes and recovers some of the energy to produce steam used for heating or producing electricity. Question: Would you invest in such a project? Why or why not?
Fly ash
Ash for treatment, disposal in landfill, or use as landfill cover
Fig , p. 575

55. Trade-Offs: Incineration, Advantages and Disadvantages

56. Burying Solid Waste Has Advantages and Disadvantages
Open dumps
Sanitary landfills

57. Solutions: State-of-the-Art Sanitary Landfill

58. When landfill is full, layers of soil and clay seal in trash
Topsoil
Sand
Electricity generator building
Clay
Leachate treatment system
Garbage
Methane storage and compressor building
Probes to detect methane leaks
Pipes collect explosive methane for use as fuel to generate electricity
Methane gas recovery well
Leachate storage tank
Compacted solid waste
Figure 21.15
Solutions: state-of-the-art sanitary landfill, which is designed to eliminate or minimize environmental problems that plague older landfills. Since 1997, only modern sanitary landfills are allowed in the United States. As a result, many small, older local landfills have been closed and replaced with larger regional landfills. Question: How do you think sanitary landfills could develop leaks of toxic liquids?
Leachate pipes
Groundwater monitoring well
Leachate pumped up to storage tank for safe disposal
Garbage
Sand
Synthetic liner
Leachate monitoring well
Sand
Groundwater
Clay and plastic lining to prevent leaks; pipes collect leachate from bottom of landfill
Clay
Subsoil

59. Trade-Offs: Sanitary Landfills, Advantages and Disadvantages

60. TRADE-OFFS Sanitary Landfills Advantages Disadvantages No open burning
Noise and traffic
Little odor
Dust
Low groundwater pollution if sited properly
Air pollution from toxic gases and trucks
Releases greenhouse gases (methane and CO2) unless they are collected
Can be built quickly
Low operating costs
Figure 21.16
Advantages and disadvantages of using sanitary landfills to dispose of solid waste (Concept 21-4). Question: Which single advantage and which single disadvantage do you think are the most important? Why?
Slow decomposition of wastes
Can handle large amounts of waste
Output approach that encourages waste production
Filled land can be used for other purposes
No shortage of landfill space in many areas
Eventually leaks and can contaminate groundwater
Fig , p. 576

61. 21-5 How Should We Deal with Hazardous Waste?
Concept A sustainable approach to hazardous waste is first to produce less of it, then to reuse or recycle it, then to convert it to less hazardous materials, and finally, to safely store what is left.

62. We Can Use Integrated Management of Hazardous Waste
Integrated management of hazardous wastes
Produce less
Convert to less hazardous substances
Rest in long-term safe storage
Increased use for postconsumer hazardous waste

63. Integrated Hazardous Waste Management

64. Produce Less Hazardous Waste
Convert to Less Hazardous or Nonhazardous Substances
Put in Perpetual Storage
Change industrial processes to reduce or eliminate hazardous waste production
Natural decomposition
Landfill
Incineration
Underground injection wells
Thermal treatment
Chemical, physical, and biological treatment
Surface impoundments
Recycle and reuse hazardous waste
Underground salt formations
Dilution in air or water
Figure 21.17
Integrated hazardous waste management: priorities suggested by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences for dealing with hazardous waste (Concept 21-5). To date, these priorities have not been followed in the United States and in most other countries. Question: Why do you think that most countries do not follow these priorities? (Data from U.S. National Academy of Sciences)
Fig , p. 577

65. Case Study: Recycling E-Waste
70% goes to China
Hazardous working conditions
Reduce toxic components in electronics
2008: Basal Action Network
Instituted e-Stewards Initiative

66. We Can Detoxify Hazardous Wastes
Collect and then detoxify
Physical methods
Chemical methods
Use nanomagnets
Bioremediation
Phytoremediation
Incineration
Using a plasma arc torch

67. Solutions: Phytoremediation

68. Trade-Offs: Phytoremediation, Advantages and Disadvantages

69. TRADE-OFFS Phytoremediation Advantages Disadvantages Easy to establish
Slow (can take several growing seasons)
Inexpensive
Effective only at depth plant roots can reach
Can reduce material dumped into landfills
Some toxic organic chemicals may evaporate from plant leaves
Figure 21.19
Advantages and disadvantages of using phytoremediation to remove or detoxify hazardous waste. Question: Which single advantage and which single disadvantage do you think are the most important? Why?
Produces little air pollution compared to incineration
Some plants can become toxic to animals
Low energy use
Fig , p. 579

70. Trade-Offs: Plasma Arc, Advantages and Disadvantages

71. TRADE-OFFS Plasma Arc Advantages Disadvantages Small High cost
Produces CO2 and CO
Mobile. Easy to move to different sites
Can release particulates and chlorine gas
Figure 21.20
Advantages and disadvantages of using a plasma arc torch to detoxify hazardous wastes. Question: Which single advantage and which single disadvantage do you think are the most important? Why?
Can vaporize and release toxic metals and radioactive elements
Produces no toxic ash
Fig , p. 580

72. We Can Store Some Forms of Hazardous Waste
Burial on land or long-term storage
Deep-well disposal
Surface impoundments
Secure hazardous landfills

73. Trade-Offs: Deep-Well Disposal, Advantages and Disadvantages

74. TRADE-OFFS Deep-Well Disposal Advantages Disadvantages
Safe method if sites are chosen carefully
Leaks or spills at surface
Leaks from corrosion of well casing
Wastes can often be retrieved if problems develop
Existing fractures or earthquakes can allow wastes to escape into groundwater
Figure 21.21
Advantages and disadvantages of injecting liquid hazardous wastes into deep underground wells. Question: Which single advantage and which single disadvantage do you think are the most important? Why?
Easy to do
Output approach that encourages waste production
Low cost
Fig , p. 580

75. Surface Impoundment in Niagara Falls, New York, U.S.

76. Trade-Offs Surface Impoundments, Advantages and Disadvantages

77. TRADE-OFFS Surface Impoundments Advantages Disadvantages
Low construction costs
Groundwater contamination from leaking liners (or no lining)
Low operating costs
Air pollution from volatile organic compounds
Can be built quickly
Overflow from flooding
Figure 21.23
Advantages and disadvantages of storing liquid hazardous wastes in surface impoundments. Question: Which single advantage and which single disadvantage do you think are the most important? Why?
Wastes can often be retrieved if necessary
Disruption and leakage from earthquakes
Can store wastes indefinitely with secure double liners
Output approach that encourages waste production
Fig , p. 581

78. Solutions: Secure Hazardous Waste Landfill

79. Double leachate collection system Plastic double liner
Bulk waste
Gas vent
Topsoil
Plastic cover
Earth
Sand
Impervious clay cap
Clay cap
Impervious clay
Water table
Figure 21.24
Solutions: secure hazardous waste landfill.
Earth
Leak detection system
Groundwater
Double leachate collection system
Plastic double liner
Reactive wastes in drums
Groundwater monitoring well
Fig , p. 582

80. What Can You Do? Hazardous Waste

81. Case Study: Hazardous Waste Regulation in the United States
1976: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
1980: Comprehensive Environmental, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), or Superfund
Pace of cleanup has slowed
Superfund is broke
Laws encouraging the cleanup of brownfields

82. Leaking Barrels of Toxic Waste at a Superfund Site in the United States

83. 21-6 How Can We Make the Transition to a More Sustainable Low-Waste Society?
Concept Shifting to a low-waste society requires individuals and businesses to reduce resource use and to reuse and recycle wastes at local, national, and global levels.

84. Grassroots Action Has Led to Better Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
“Not in my backyard”
Produce less waste
“Not in anyone’s backyard”
“Not on planet Earth”

85. Providing Environmental Justice for Everyone Is an Important Goal
Which communities in the U.S. have the largest share of hazardous waster dumps?

86. Countries Have Developed International Treaties to Reduce Hazardous Waste (1)
1989 Basel Convention
1995: Amended
2008: Ratified by 192 countries, but not
The United States
Afghanistan
Haiti

87. Countries Have Developed International Treaties to Reduce Hazardous Waste (2)
2000: Delegates from 122 countries completed a global treaty
Control 12 persistent organic pollutants
2000: Swedish Parliament Law
By 2020 ban all chemicals that are persistent and can accumulate in living tissue

88. We Can Make the Transition to Low-Waste Societies
Norway, Austria, and the Netherlands
Committed to reduce resource waste by 75%
East Hampton, NY, U.S.
Reduced solid waste by 85%
Follow guidelines to prevent pollution and reduce waste

89. Animation: Economic types