1. Chapter 17 Solid wastes!

2. Wasted Resources Less than 5% of the world’s population (4.6% in the USA) Produce more than 33% of the world’s solid waste. Less than 5% of the world’s population (4.6% in the USA) Produce more than 33% of the world’s solid waste. Its a symptom of affluenza. Its a symptom of affluenza. Shows how wasteful a society can be. Shows how wasteful a society can be. Many of trashed resources are recyclable Many of trashed resources are recyclable Aluminum, Steel, Tires, plastics. Aluminum, Steel, Tires, plastics. Many are not necessary. Many are not necessary. Disposable diapers. Disposable diapers.

3. Producing less waste Waste management systems attempt to reduce environmental harm from wastes. Waste management systems attempt to reduce environmental harm from wastes. Philosophy accepts that more waste will be produced. Philosophy accepts that more waste will be produced. Goal is to transfer or contain wastes safely. Goal is to transfer or contain wastes safely. Most common method is the landfill Most common method is the landfill

5. Landfills. Sanitary landfills are designed to contain and hide MSW. Sanitary landfills are designed to contain and hide MSW. They’re more environmentally friendly than open dumps. They’re more environmentally friendly than open dumps. Designed to catch and contain leachate: a liquid that seeps to the bottom of the fill. Designed to catch and contain leachate: a liquid that seeps to the bottom of the fill.

7. Waste reduction Waste should be reused, recycled or composted. Waste should be reused, recycled or composted. Discourages waste production Discourages waste production Encourages waste reduction or prevention Encourages waste reduction or prevention Saves energy, natural resources, and money. Saves energy, natural resources, and money. Encourages sustainability. Encourages sustainability.

8. Sustainability Six ways to maintain sustainability Six ways to maintain sustainability Consume less (affluenza) Consume less (affluenza) Redesign processes and manufacturing to use less raw resources. Redesign processes and manufacturing to use less raw resources. Redesign processes and manufacturing to produce less waste. Redesign processes and manufacturing to produce less waste. Develop products that are easy to repair, composted or recycled. Develop products that are easy to repair, composted or recycled. Design products that last longer. Design products that last longer. Eliminate unecessary packaging. Eliminate unecessary packaging.

9. Biomimicry Designing industrial ecosystems Designing industrial ecosystems One companies waste becomes another’s raw materials (p. 393) One companies waste becomes another’s raw materials (p. 393) Example: The ash created by the burning of coal in a powerplant could be sold to cement manufacturers. Example: The ash created by the burning of coal in a powerplant could be sold to cement manufacturers. Manure from animal farms could be sold to vegetable farmers. Manure from animal farms could be sold to vegetable farmers.

10. Reuse Helps reduce resource use, and saves money. Helps reduce resource use, and saves money. Developing countries reuse materials, but open dumps are hazardous to the poor. Developing countries reuse materials, but open dumps are hazardous to the poor. E-waste: old TV sets, computers, and cell phones. E-waste: old TV sets, computers, and cell phones. Discarded units are shipped to developing countries with lax environmental laws and are stripped for their reuseable parts. Discarded units are shipped to developing countries with lax environmental laws and are stripped for their reuseable parts. Workers are exposed to toxic metals like cadmium, lead and mercury. Workers are exposed to toxic metals like cadmium, lead and mercury.

11. Reusable stuff Around the home: Around the home: Use refillable metal water bottles. Use refillable metal water bottles. Washable plastic lunch containers. Washable plastic lunch containers. Use boxes instead of plastic wrap or tinfoil. Use boxes instead of plastic wrap or tinfoil. Recycle rechargeable batteries Recycle rechargeable batteries Use cloth grocery bags. Use cloth grocery bags. Use cloth napkins. Use cloth napkins.

12. Recycle Closed loop: Paper to paper Closed loop: Paper to paper Open loop: raw materials to something different. Open loop: raw materials to something different. The economic benefits of recycling usually outweigh the costs. The economic benefits of recycling usually outweigh the costs. Unless the resource is hazardous Unless the resource is hazardous Or the demand for the product fluctuates. Or the demand for the product fluctuates. Landfill charges are often cheaper. Landfill charges are often cheaper.

13. Burn and bury MSW can be burned in an incinerator. MSW can be burned in an incinerator. High operating costs High operating costs Air pollution (lots of toxic smoke) Air pollution (lots of toxic smoke) Citizen opposition (Not in my backyard) Citizen opposition (Not in my backyard)

14. Hazardous waste Developed countries are the only one’s with a technology level high enough to produce most hazardous wastes. Developed countries are the only one’s with a technology level high enough to produce most hazardous wastes. Considered waste that is toxic, inflammable, corrosive, or reactive enough to explode or release toxic fumes. Considered waste that is toxic, inflammable, corrosive, or reactive enough to explode or release toxic fumes. 1980 CERCLA: Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. 1980 CERCLA: Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. AKA: Superfund. AKA: Superfund.

15. Polluter-pays Clean-up of a hazardous area was designated as polluter-pays by the Superfund act. Clean-up of a hazardous area was designated as polluter-pays by the Superfund act. In 1995, congress changed the funding to taxpayers. In 1995, congress changed the funding to taxpayers. This greatly slowed the progress of the National Priorities List (or NPL). This greatly slowed the progress of the National Priorities List (or NPL). Factories, junkyards, old landfills, gas stations. Factories, junkyards, old landfills, gas stations.

16. Harmful Chemicals Cleaning solvents Cleaning solvents Disinfectants Disinfectants Cleaners Cleaners Paint Paint Stains, Varnishes Stains, Varnishes Oil based paints Oil based paints Misc: Misc: Dry-cell batteries Dry-cell batteries Glues/Cements Glues/Cements Gardening Pesticides Herbicides Rodenticides (Arsenic) Automotive Gasoline/Motor oil Battery acid Antifreeze Solvents/Rust remover

17. Burn/Bury When burned, toxic waste enters the air/water. When burned, toxic waste enters the air/water. Underground wells can be used to store some wastes Underground wells can be used to store some wastes Wastes pumped into porous rock formations. Wastes pumped into porous rock formations. Surface impoundments can house waste. Surface impoundments can house waste. Basically a pit or lagoon. As water evaporates, waste settles to bottom. Basically a pit or lagoon. As water evaporates, waste settles to bottom.

18. Trash incineration Advantages Advantages Reduces trash volume Reduces trash volume Less need for landfills Less need for landfills Low water pollution Low water pollution Quick/easy Quick/easy Disadvantages Costly Toxic Air pollution Toxic ash Discourages waste production.

19. Surface impoundments Advantages Advantages Low cost Low cost Quick to build Quick to build Waste can be retireved Waste can be retireved Can store wastes indefinitely Can store wastes indefinitely Disadvantages Groundwater contamination Air Pollution Overflow from flooding Disruption and leakage from earthquakes

20. Deep Underground Wells Advantages Advantages Safe if done properly Safe if done properly Waste can be retrieved Waste can be retrieved Easy Easy Low cost Low cost Disadvantages Leaks and spills at surface Corrosion of well casing Damaged by earth quakes

21. Phytoremediation Various types of plants act like sponges to remove hazardous pollutants Various types of plants act like sponges to remove hazardous pollutants Radioactive substances, organic compounds, and heavy metals can be removed from the soil by plants. Radioactive substances, organic compounds, and heavy metals can be removed from the soil by plants. Sunflowers can be used to absorb radioactive strontium 90. Sunflowers can be used to absorb radioactive strontium 90. Willows and poplars prevent chemicals from reaching groundwater Willows and poplars prevent chemicals from reaching groundwater Brake ferns can remove lead, arsenic, and other metals. Brake ferns can remove lead, arsenic, and other metals.

22. Heavy Metal Poisoning Lead Lead Symptoms: nervous system impairment, Lowered IQ (7.4 points average), shortened attention span, hyperactivity, hearing damage, various behavior disorders. Symptoms: nervous system impairment, Lowered IQ (7.4 points average), shortened attention span, hyperactivity, hearing damage, various behavior disorders. Mercury Mercury Nervous system damage primarily to fetuses and infants. Nervous system damage primarily to fetuses and infants. May be converted into Methylmercury, which will accumulate in food chains. Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, Tuna, Tilefish, should not be eaten by pregnant women. May be converted into Methylmercury, which will accumulate in food chains. Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, Tuna, Tilefish, should not be eaten by pregnant women.