1. Waste
Chapter 19

2. Solid Waste
Objectives
1. Name one characteristic that makes a material biodegradable.
2. Identify two types of solid waste.
3. Describe how a modern landfill works.
4. Name two environmental problems caused by landfills.

3. Generation of Wastes
Every year the US generates 10 billion metric tons of solid waste (discarded material)
We are generating 2X more wastes than 40 years ago

4. The average person throws away 4.4 lbs of solid wastes a day
Many states ship it off
We are running out of space to put our waste

5. Biodegradable can be broken down
Types of Wastes
Biodegradable can be broken down
Newspapers, cotton fibers…
Non biodegradable can not be broken down
Plastics, polyester, nylon

6. Plastic material creates a huge disposal problem
Made from petroleum
Literally will never decompose in our land fills

7. Types
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
Waste produced by households and businesses
70% is manufacturing wastes
2% of all solid waste

8. What we throw away 38.1 paper 12.1 yard waste 10.9 food 10.5 plastics
% type
38.1 paper
12.1 yard waste
10.9 food
10.5 plastics
7.8 metals
6.6 rubber, leather, other textiles
5.5 glass
5.3 wood
3.2 other

9. Manufacturing, Mining, and agricultural wastes
56% of total is Manufacturing waste
Scrap metal, plastics, paper, sludge, ash

10. 9% of total is Agricultural waste
Is biodegradable but pesticides may contaminate
Remaining portion belongs to mining
Piles of mine debris

11. Solid Waste Management
57% of all waste is sent to landfills
28% is burned
28 % is recycled (an increase of 22% since 1970)

12. Landfills
Permanent waste disposal facilities
Need to contain wastes, no contact with ground water

13. Problems
Leachate-liquid that has passes through compacted solid waste in a landfill
Contains contaminates
Should be monitored

14. Methane
Produced by decomposing organic wastes
Usually pumped out and burned as fuel
Leaks occur and if ignited can cause an explosion

15. Safeguarding landfills
Resource Conservation and Resource Act (RCRA) 1976 (1986)
Requires landfills to reduce pollution

16. Lined with clay and plastic
Collection of leachate
Vent pipes

17. NIMBY
NOT IN MY BACK YARD
Total number of land fills in 1988 was 8000
In 1999 the total number was 2300

18. Many filled to capacity
EPA estimated within 10 years active land fills will fill to capacity

19. Incinerators
Can reduce wastes by 75%
Can produce polluting gases
Material can be toxic

20. Reducing Solid Wastes Objectives
1. Identify three ways you can produce less waste.
2. Describe how you can use your consumer buying power to reduce solid waste.
3. List the steps that an item must go through to be recycled.
4. List two benefits of composting.
5. Name one advantage and one disadvantage to producing degradable plastic.

21. Source Reduction
Method of reducing solid waste
Any change in design, manufacture, purchase, or use of materials or products to reduce amount of toxicity before they become MSW

22. Reducing Solid Waste
Buy less
Less packaging, rechargeable batteries, use products that last longer

23. Recycle
Process of reusing materials or recovering valuable materials from the waste or scrap
Saves energy, water, and other resources

24. Examples
95% less energy is used to make aluminum cans from recycled cans than from ore
75% less E is used to make steel from scrap than from ore

25. Steps in recycling
Material is collected and sorted
Material is taken to a processing facility
Material is made into a product
New product is sold to consumers

26. Composting
15% of are waste can be composted
Biodegradable
Compost- a dark, brown crumbly material made of decomposed plant and animal material

27. Changing the material we use
Using products that can be recycled
Degradable plastics

28. Hazardous Waste Objectives
1. Name two characteristics of hazardous waste.
2. Describe one law that governs hazardous waste.
3. Describe two ways in which hazardous waste is disposed.

29. Hazardous waste is any waste that is a risk to the health of humans or other living things

30. Types
Dyes, cleaners, solvents
PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls)
Plastics, solvents, lubricants, sealants
Heavy metals
Pesticides

31. Radioactive
RCRW (Recource Conservation and Recovery Act – 1976) requires records of disposal
Super Fund Act 1980 – EPA right to sue, order cleanup

32. Hazardous Waste Management
US produces 252 metric tons of waste every year
How do we manage it?
Prevent or use less
Reuse it
Change to non hazardous material

33. Land Disposal
Deep well injection
Surface impoundment
Biologically treating
Use of bacteria
Plants
Biological chemicals
Burn It
Export it

34. Hazardous Wastes at Home
Dispose of properly
Includes batteries, household chemicals, oil