Chapter 17 Chapter 17

Solid wastes! Solid wastes!

Wasted ResourcesWasted Resources

Less than 5% of the world’s population Less than 5% of the world’s population (4.6% in the USA) Produce more than (4.6% in the USA) Produce more than 33% of the world’s solid waste. 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 recyclableMany 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.

Producing less wasteProducing less waste Waste management Waste management

systems attempt to systems attempt to reduce reduce environmental harm environmental harm from wastes. from wastes. Philosophy accepts Philosophy accepts

that more waste will that more waste will be produced. be produced.

Goal is to transfer or Goal is to transfer or contain wastes safely. contain wastes safely.

Most common Most common method is the landfillmethod is the landfill

Landfills. Landfills.

Sanitary landfills are Sanitary landfills are designed to contain designed to contain and hide MSW.and hide MSW. They’re more They’re more

environmentally environmentally friendly than open friendly than open dumps. dumps.

Designed to catch Designed to catch and contain leachate: and contain leachate: a liquid that seeps to a liquid that seeps to the bottom of the fill.the bottom of the fill.

Waste reductionWaste reduction

Waste should be reused, recycled or Waste should be reused, recycled or composted. composted. Discourages waste productionDiscourages waste production Encourages waste reduction or Encourages waste reduction or

preventionprevention Saves energy, natural resources, and Saves energy, natural resources, and

money. money. Encourages sustainability. Encourages sustainability.

SustainabilitySustainability

Six ways to maintain sustainabilitySix ways to maintain sustainability Consume less (affluenza)Consume less (affluenza) Redesign processes and manufacturing Redesign processes and manufacturing

to use less raw resources.to use less raw resources. Redesign processes and manufacturing Redesign processes and manufacturing

to produce less waste. to produce less waste. Develop products that are easy to Develop products that are easy to

repair, composted or recycled. repair, composted or recycled. Design products that last longer. Design products that last longer. Eliminate unecessary packaging. Eliminate unecessary packaging.

BiomimicryBiomimicry

Designing industrial ecosystemsDesigning industrial ecosystems One companies waste becomes One companies waste becomes

another’s raw materials (p. 393)another’s raw materials (p. 393) Example: The ash created by the Example: The ash created by the

burning of coal in a powerplant could burning of coal in a powerplant could be sold to cement manufacturers. be sold to cement manufacturers. Manure from animal farms could be sold to Manure from animal farms could be sold to

vegetable farmers. vegetable farmers.

ReuseReuse

Helps reduce resource use, and saves Helps reduce resource use, and saves money.money. Developing countries reuse materials, but Developing countries reuse materials, but

open dumps are hazardous to the poor. open dumps are hazardous to the poor. E-waste: old TV sets, computers, and cell E-waste: old TV sets, computers, and cell

phones. phones. Discarded units are shipped to developing Discarded units are shipped to developing

countries with lax environmental laws and are countries with lax environmental laws and are stripped for their reuseable parts. stripped for their reuseable parts.

Workers are exposed to toxic metals like Workers are exposed to toxic metals like cadmium, lead and mercury. cadmium, lead and mercury.

Reusable stuffReusable 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 Use boxes instead of plastic wrap or

tinfoil.tinfoil. Recycle rechargeable batteriesRecycle rechargeable batteries Use cloth grocery bags. Use cloth grocery bags. Use cloth napkins. Use cloth napkins.

RecycleRecycle

Closed loop: Paper to paperClosed loop: Paper to paper Open loop: raw materials to something Open loop: raw materials to something

different. different. The economic benefits of recycling The economic benefits of recycling

usually outweigh the costs. usually outweigh the costs. Unless the resource is hazardousUnless the resource is hazardous Or the demand for the product Or the demand for the product

fluctuates. fluctuates. Landfill charges are often cheaper. Landfill charges are often cheaper.

Burn and buryBurn and bury

MSW can be burned in an MSW can be burned in an incinerator. incinerator. High operating costsHigh 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)

Hazardous wasteHazardous waste

Developed countries are the only one’s Developed countries are the only one’s with a technology level high enough to with a technology level high enough to produce most hazardous wastes. produce most hazardous wastes. Considered waste that is toxic, Considered waste that is toxic,

inflammable, corrosive, or reactive enough inflammable, corrosive, or reactive enough to explode or release toxic fumes. to explode or release toxic fumes.

1980 CERCLA: Comprehensive 1980 CERCLA: Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. and Liability Act.

AKA: Superfund. AKA: Superfund.

Polluter-paysPolluter-pays

Clean-up of a hazardous area was Clean-up of a hazardous area was designated as polluter-pays by the designated as polluter-pays by the Superfund act. Superfund act. In 1995, congress changed the funding In 1995, congress changed the funding

to taxpayers. to taxpayers. This greatly slowed the progress of the This greatly slowed the progress of the

National Priorities List (or NPL).National Priorities List (or NPL). Factories, junkyards, old landfills, gas Factories, junkyards, old landfills, gas

stations. stations.

Harmful ChemicalsHarmful Chemicals

Cleaning solventsCleaning solvents DisinfectantsDisinfectants CleanersCleaners

Paint Paint Stains, VarnishesStains, Varnishes Oil based paintsOil based paints

Misc:Misc: Dry-cell batteriesDry-cell batteries Glues/CementsGlues/Cements

Gardening Gardening PesticidesPesticides HerbicidesHerbicides Rodenticides Rodenticides

(Arsenic)(Arsenic) AutomotiveAutomotive

Gasoline/Motor oilGasoline/Motor oil Battery acidBattery acid AntifreezeAntifreeze Solvents/Rust Solvents/Rust

removerremover

Burn/BuryBurn/Bury

When burned, toxic waste enters the When burned, toxic waste enters the air/water. air/water.

Underground wells can be used to store Underground wells can be used to store some wastessome wastes Wastes pumped into porous rock Wastes pumped into porous rock

formations. formations. Surface impoundments can house waste. Surface impoundments can house waste.

Basically a pit or lagoon. As water Basically a pit or lagoon. As water evaporates, waste settles to bottom. evaporates, waste settles to bottom.

Trash incinerationTrash incineration

Advantages Advantages Reduces trash Reduces trash

volumevolume Less need for Less need for

landfillslandfills Low water pollutionLow water pollution Quick/easyQuick/easy

DisadvantagesDisadvantages CostlyCostly Toxic Air pollutionToxic Air pollution Toxic ashToxic ash Discourages waste Discourages waste

production. production.

Surface impoundmentsSurface impoundments

AdvantagesAdvantages Low costLow cost Quick to buildQuick to build Waste can be Waste can be

retirevedretireved Can store wastes Can store wastes

indefinitely indefinitely

DisadvantagesDisadvantages Groundwater Groundwater

contaminationcontamination Air Pollution Air Pollution Overflow from Overflow from

floodingflooding Disruption and Disruption and

leakage from leakage from earthquakesearthquakes

Deep Underground WellsDeep Underground Wells

AdvantagesAdvantages Safe if done Safe if done

properlyproperly Waste can be Waste can be

retrievedretrieved Easy Easy Low costLow cost

DisadvantagesDisadvantages Leaks and spills at Leaks and spills at

surfacesurface Corrosion of well Corrosion of well

casingcasing Damaged by earth Damaged by earth

quakesquakes

PhytoremediationPhytoremediation

Various types of plants act like sponges Various types of plants act like sponges to remove hazardous pollutantsto remove hazardous pollutants Radioactive substances, organic Radioactive substances, organic

compounds, and heavy metals can be compounds, and heavy metals can be removed from the soil by plants. removed from the soil by plants. Sunflowers can be used to absorb radioactive Sunflowers can be used to absorb radioactive

strontium 90. strontium 90. Willows and poplars prevent chemicals from Willows and poplars prevent chemicals from

reaching groundwaterreaching groundwater Brake ferns can remove lead, arsenic, and other Brake ferns can remove lead, arsenic, and other

metals. metals.

Heavy Metal PoisoningHeavy Metal Poisoning

Lead Lead Symptoms: nervous system impairment, Lowered Symptoms: nervous system impairment, Lowered

IQ (7.4 points average), shortened attention span, IQ (7.4 points average), shortened attention span, hyperactivity, hearing damage, various behavior hyperactivity, hearing damage, various behavior disorders.disorders.

MercuryMercury Nervous system damage primarily to fetuses and Nervous system damage primarily to fetuses and

infants. infants. May be converted into Methylmercury, which will May be converted into Methylmercury, which will

accumulate in food chains. Shark, Swordfish, King accumulate in food chains. Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, Tuna, Tilefish, should not be eaten by Mackerel, Tuna, Tilefish, should not be eaten by pregnant women. pregnant women.