1. Solid and Hazardous Waste
Chapter 17

2. What is solid waste, and how much do we produce? (p.389-390)
Question #1
What is solid waste, and how much do we produce? (p )

3. What did you throw away yesterday?
Solid Waste
Any unwanted or discarded solid material
There is no solid waste in nature
Garbage = solid waste we produce directly
What did you throw away yesterday?
Why should we care?
- unnecessary waste of resources
- production of solid products leads to all other forms of pollution

4. Solid Waste in the US Sewage sludge 1% Mining and oil and gas
production
75%
Municipal
1.5%
Industry
9.5%
U.S. produces 1/3 of the world’s solid waste
- 98.5% comes from mining, oil / natural gas production, agriculture, sewage sludge, industry (indirect waste)
- 1.5% is municipal solid waste (MSW), or garbage or trash (produced by homes and offices; paper makes up the most of this)
- 55% of MSW is put in landfills, 30% is recycled or composted, 15% is burned (incinerated)
- e-waste (electronic waste) is the fastest growing waste problem
Agriculture
13%
Fig. 17-2, p. 390

5. Question #2
How do waste management & waste reduction differ, and what are 6 ways to reduce solid waste? (p )

6. Waste Management & Reduction
Bury it or Burn it
High-waste approach
Waste Reduction
There is no “away”
Low-waste approach
Preferred solution (prevention)

7. Six Ways to Reduce Waste
Consume less
Redesign manufacturing processes and products to use less material and energy
Use less toxic material in manufacturing
Make easily repairable & recyclable products
Design products to last longer
Eliminate or reduce packaging
***The only major obstacles to economic & ecological revolution are laws, policies, taxes, & subsidies that continue to reward inefficient resource use and fail to reward efficient resource use.
60-80% of solid waste can be eliminated by adopting these principles!

8. What Can You Do? What Can You Do? Solid Waste Fig. 17-4, p. 391
© 2006 Brooks/Cole - Thomson
What Can You Do?
Solid Waste
Follow the four R's of resource use: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
Ask yourself whether you really need a particular item.
Rent, borrow, or barter goods and services when you can.
Buy things that are reusable, recyclable, or compostable, and be sure to reuse, recycle, and compost them.
Do not use throwaway paper and plastic plates, cups, and eating utensils, and other disposable items when reusable or refillable versions are available.
Use in place of conventional paper mail.
Read newspapers and magazines online.
Buy products in concentrated form whenever possible.
Fig. 17-4, p. 391

9. Question #3
What is the ecoindustrial revolution, and how can we shift from selling things to selling services ? (p )

10. Ecoindustrial Revolution
A change in industrial manufacturing to be cleaner and more sustainable (mimics how nature handles waste)
Recycle materials
Resource exchange web – waste of one manufacturer becomes raw materials for another
Savings in lowered pollution, waste disposal and material can be enormous
Healthier work environment
Growing signs point to this taking place over the next 50 years.

11. Selling Services Instead of Things
Eco-leasing – instead of buying a product, a customer would lease/rent the services from the company
Example – RHS has a service contract for our copiers. They are maintained regularly. They will be picked up by the company at the end of the contract and reusable parts will be removed.
Companies make more $$$ if their products use few materials, last long, are easy to maintain, repair & recycle

12. Question #4
What can be reused / recycled, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of reusing and recycling materials? (p )

13. Reuse Cleaning & using materials over & over
Examples of Reusable Items:
eating utensils
car parts
house and building materials
cloth towels & diapers
rechargeable batteries
TVs, computers, cell phones
glass and plastic bottles
grocery bags
clothing

14. Pros & Cons: Reuse Advantages Saves Money Cuts pollution & waste
Reduces use of matter & energy resources
Disadvantages
Exposure to toxins in e-waste (developing countries)
People scavenging for reuseable materials in dumps exposed to toxins & disease

15. Recycling
Reprocessing discarded solid materials into new, useful products
Examples of Recyclable Items:
paper products
glass
aluminum
steel
plastic
plants (composting)
U.S. Recycling:
1960 (6%)  2006 (30%)  future (60-80%?)

16. 2 Recycling Methods Closed-Loop Recycling Downcycling  
Original  Same
Downcycling
Original  Different 
2 Types of Recycled Waste:
Preconsumer Waste – manufacturing waste, 25x more
Postconsumer Waste – waste from consumers 

17. Pros & Cons: Recycling Advantages Less pollution Saves energy
Saves raw materials
Less landfill space
Saves money on products
Creates jobs
Disadvantages
Some materials are costly to recycle
Some areas have ample landfill space
Landfills lose money
Inconvenient for some
How to Encourage Recycling
Provide tax breaks for companies who Reuse & Recycle
PAUT (Pay-As-You-Throw) Systems – consumers charged for amt of trash, but not recycling
Laws requiring companies to take back & recycle packaging
Ban e-waste in MSW

18. Question #5
What are the advantages and disadvantages of burning & burying solid waste? (p )

19. In the U.S. Bury (landfill) – 54% Burn (incinerate) – 16% Recycle- 30%
Burning solid waste is primarily for energy production (heat and electricity) and waste reduction

20. Pros & Cons: Burning Advantages Reduce waste Fast
Produces energy (electricity)
Disadvantages
Expensive to build
Air pollution
Toxic ash remains
Highly opposed in US

21. Burying
Most MSW is buried in landfills that will eventually leak toxic liquids into soil & groundwater
Open Dumps
Common in developing nations
Sanitary Landfills
Used in developed countries
Wastes spread in thin layers & covered w/ clay or plastic foam, lined to prevent leaks
According to EPA, all landfills will eventually leak.

22. Sanitary Landfill Fig. 17-11, p. 400 Leachate treatment system
Topsoil
When landfill is full,
layers of soil and clay
seal in trash
Sand
Electricity
generator
building
Clay
Methane storage
and compressor
building
Garbage
Leachate
treatment system
Probes to detect methane leaks
Pipe collect explosive
methane gas used as fuel to generate electricity
Methane gas
recovery
Leachate
storage tank
Compacted
solid waste
Groundwater
monitoring
well
Garbage
Leachate pipes
Leachate pumped up
to storage tanks for
safe disposal
Sand
Synthetic
liner
Leachate
monitoring
well
Groundwater
Sand
Clay and plastic lining
to prevent leaks; pipes
collect leachate from
bottom of landfill
Clay
Subsoil
Fig , p. 400

23. Pros & Cons: Burying Advantages Low odor Low groundwater pollution
Low cost to build & operate
Holds large amount
Ample sites in some areas
Can be reused when full
Disadvantages
Noisy & dusty
Air pollution (CH4, CO2)
Eventually leaks
Slow decomposition
Cheap cost discourages reuse & recycle

24. What is hazardous waste & how can we deal with it? (p.401-406)
Question #6
What is hazardous waste & how can we deal with it? (p )

25. Hazardous Waste
Any waste that is toxic, ignitable, corrosive or reactive enough to explode or release toxic fumes
Developed countries produce 80-90%

26. Harmful Chemicals in Your Home
© 2006 Brooks/Cole - Thomson
What Harmful Chemicals Are In Your Home?
Cleaning
• Disinfectants
• Drain, toilet, and
window cleaners
• Spot removers
• Septic tank cleaners
Paint
• Latex and oil-based paints
• Paint thinners, solvents,
and strippers
• Stains, varnishes,
and lacquers
• Wood preservatives
• Artist paints and inks
General
• Dry-cell batteries
(mercury and cadmium)
• Glues and cements
Gardening
• Pesticides
• Weed killers
• Ant and rodent killers
• Flea powders
Automotive
• Gasoline
• Used motor oil
• Antifreeze
• Battery acid
• Solvents
• Brake and transmission
fluid
• Rust inhibitor and
rust remover
Disposal of some of these items is exempt from government regulation
Fig , p. 402

27. Managing Hazardous Waste
Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA)
Regulates ~5% of hazardous waste
EPA
Sets standards & issues permits
Superfund (CERCLA)
Identifies & cleans hazardous waste sites on a priority basis
Love Canal, NY was 1st Superfund Site
Originally polluters paid, now taxpayers pay
(avg $20 million per site – 1250 sites on list!)

28. Detoxifying Hazardous Waste
Bioremediation
Uses bacteria & enzymes to breakdown hazardous compounds
Phytoremediation
Uses plants to absorb toxins from soil & water
Deep Underground Wells
Pumped deep below ground
Surface Impoundments
Stored in containment ponds

29. Question #7
Why are lead and mercury dangerous, and what can we do to reduce exposure ? (p )

30. Lead and Mercury
Since they are both elements, they cannot be broken down
Both cause various types of nervous system damage (brain damage)

31. Lead Exposure Solutions
Eliminate leaded gasoline & paint worldwide (banned in late ’70’s in U.S.)
Eliminate lead solder in plumbing & food cans
Remove lead paint from old buildings
Replace plumbing pipes containing lead

32. Mercury Exposure
Mercury comes from natural (volcanos) & human sources (burning coal / waste)
We can breath, absorb & consume it
Solutions:
Eliminate Hg in coal, batteries, fluorescent bulbs
Avoid eating certain seafood (shark, mackerel, tuna) esp children & women
Reduce Hg emissions from coal burning plants

33. Question #8
How can we make the transition to a more sustainable, low-waste society ? (p )

34. Achieving a Low Waste Society
Produce less wastes of all kinds
Reduce our ecological footprint
International treaties to ban or phase out use of certain highly toxic, fat soluble (stores up in organisms) chemicals such as DDT, PCB, dioxins

35. Achieving a Low Waste Society
Everything is connected
There is no “away” for the wastes we produce
Dillution is not the solution for pollution
The BEST & CHEAPEST way to deal w/ waste & pollution is to produce less and recycle more
Changes can start slow, but can accelerate rapidly as economic, ecological, & health advantages become apparent.
Grassroots action helps!!! (Individuals Matter)