Waste Disposal and Recycling Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Slide 2
3 Key Take-aways We can never really throw anything away Waste
often does not stay put Preventing pollution is much safer &
cheaper than trying to clean it up
Slide 3
Case Study: Love Canal - There Is No Away Between 1842-1953,
Hooker Chemical sealed multiple chemical wastes into steel drums
and dumped them into an old canal excavation (Love Canal). In 1953,
the canal was filled and sold to Niagara Falls school board for $1.
The company inserted a disclaimer denying liability for the
wastes.
Slide 4
Case Study: Love Canal - There Is No Away In 1957, Hooker
Chemical warned the school not to disturb the site because of the
toxic waste. In 1959 an elementary school, playing fields and homes
were built disrupting the clay cap covering the wastes. In 1976,
residents complained of chemical smells and chemical burns from the
site.
Slide 5
Love Canal - There Is No Away President Jimmy Carter declared
Love Canal a federal disaster area. The area was abandoned in 1980
(left). Figure 22-1
Slide 6
Love Canal - There Is No Away Love Canal sparked creation of
the Superfund law, which forced polluters to pay for cleaning up
abandoned toxic waste dumps. Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA 1980) Helps clean up
hazardous waste sites In 1983, Love Canal became the 1 st superfund
site Took 20 years & 400 million to clean up
Slide 7
Core Case Study: Love Canal - There Is No Away The dumpsite was
covered with new clay cap In June 1990, state officials started
selling some of the 260 homes that still remained in the area
renamed Black Creek Village No guarantees about safety of living in
these homes
Slide 8
Core Case Study: Love Canal - There Is No Away It still is a
controversy as to how much the chemicals at Love Canal injured or
caused disease to the residents. difficult to link long-term health
effects How many other Love Canals are there around the world
Chemical time bombs
Slide 9
Consumption of natural resources by modern industrial economies
remains very high, in the range of 45-85 tons per capita annually.
Each person in an industrialized society consumes many tons of raw
materials each year. These must be extracted, processed, and
disposed of as waste. Waste Limestone quarry, Yorkshire Dales
Bulldozer working on landfill site, UK
Slide 10
Wasting Resources Solid waste: any unwanted or discarded
material we produce that is not a liquid or gas. Municipal solid
waste (MSW): produce directly from homes. (Mostly paper) Industrial
solid waste: produced indirectly by industries that supply people
with goods and services. Hazardous (toxic) waste: threatens human
health or the environment because it is toxic, chemically active,
corrosive or flammable.
Slide 11
WASTING RESOURCES The US has 4.5% of worlds population, but
produces 1/3 of the worlds trash. About 98.5% is industrial solid
waste. The remaining 1.5% is MSW. 55% of U.S. MSW is dumped into
landfills, 30% is recycled or composted, and 15% is burned in
incinerators.
Slide 12
Wasting Resources Two reasons to be concerned represents
unnecessary waste of earths finite resources In producing the
products we use and discard, we are creating huge amounts of Air
pollution Water pollution Land degradation Solid and hazardous
waste
Slide 13
WASTING RESOURCES Solid wastes polluting a river in Jakarta,
Indonesia. The man in the boat is looking for items to salvage or
sell. Figure 22-3
Slide 14
Wasting Resources US leads the world in trash production 4.5
pounds per person 2 times as much as other industrialized nations 5
10 times as much as developing countries Trash buried in landfills
38% paper 12% yard waste 11% food waste 11% plastic
Slide 15
A lot of household waste ends up in landfills where it is
eventually buried. In poorer countries people make a living by
collecting items from other peoples rubbish. Wasting Resources
Living from waste, Philippines
Slide 16
Wasting Resources What we throw away in our high waste economy
Enough aluminum to rebuild countrys commercial airline fleet every
3 months Discarded carpet each year would cover Delaware 27 million
tons of edible food each year Enough paper to build a wall 11 feet
high across the entire country every year Americans spend more
money on trash bags than 90 other countries spend on everything
they buy.
Slide 17
Wasting Resources: Electronics E-waste consists of toxic and
hazardous waste such as PVC, lead, mercury, and cadmium. The U.S.
produces almost half of the world's e-waste but only recycles about
10%
Slide 18
The disposal of solid and hazardous wastes is one of the most
urgent problems of todays industrialized societies. Traditionally,
solid waste has been disposed of in open dumps. More recently,
disposal occurs in sanitary, scientifically designed sanitary
landfills. Most municipal solid waste is disposed of in sanitary
landfills. New initiatives are increasingly being implemented by
city councils and local authorities for the reduction, reuse, and
recycling of solid waste, and the safe disposal of hazardous waste,
including oil and industrial chemicals. The safe disposal of
radioactive wastes is a problem as these wastes must be isolated
and are usually stored on-site. Solid Waste Management Radioactive
waste Open dumps are being preplaced by landfills
Slide 19
Integrated Waste Management There is no single solution Use a
variety of strategies for: waste reduction waste management This
includes the three Rs: reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Slide 20
Integrated Waste Management A program of idealized integrated
waste management combines features of traditional waste management
with new techniques to reduce and incinerate wastes. Such schemes
will form the basis of effective waste management in the future.
Idealized management schemes for waste materials provide several
tiers of processing. They provide a starting point for comparing
how different waste products could be processed or disposed of.
Recycling Collection Limiting waste per household Separating green
waste from other wastes Reducing waste or avoid use
Slide 21
Primary Pollution and Waste Prevention First Priority Second
PriorityLast Priority Release waste into environment for dispersal
or dilution Bury waste in landfills Waste Management Incinerate
waste Buy reusable recyclable products Recycle Repair products Make
products that last longer and are recyclable, reusable, or easy to
repair Reduce packaging and materials in products Use less of a
harmful product Secondary Pollution and Waste Prevention Treat
waste to reduce toxicity Purchase different products Reuse products
Change industrial process to eliminate use of harmful chemicals
Compost Integrated Waste Management We can manage the solid wastes
we produce and reduce or prevent their production.
Slide 22
Integrated Waste Management Components of Integrated Waste
Management Processing and manufacturing Product consumption Waste
separated at source Initial processing for recycling or reuse
Garden waste PaperCans, jars, bottles Mixed waste Hazardous waste
PaperGlassPlastics Cans Compost Products Virgin
materialsLandfillIncinerator Hazardous waste management
Slide 23
Refuse to buy items that are not really needed. Reduce
consumption by living simply and promoting the use of reusable
containers like cloth grocery bags. Reuse items that can be used
over and over like refillable water bottles. Repurpose items by
using those items for another instead of throwing them away.
Recycle: paper, glass, aluminum, plastics and buy items made from
recycled materials. Rethink ways to educate, use new technology, or
provide incentives of disincentives. Solutions: Reduce, Reuse,
Recycle Reusable grocery bag Candy wrapper purse Recycled plastic
bench
Slide 24
Fig. 22-6, p. 524 Follow the five Rs of resource use: Refuse,
Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle. Buy products in concentrated
form whenever possible. Read newspapers and magazines online. Use
e-mail in place of conventional paper mail. Refill and reuse a
bottled water container with tap water. Do not use throwaway paper
and plastic plates, cups and eating utensils, and other disposable
items when reusable or refillable versions are available. Buy
things that are reusable, recyclable, or compostable, and be sure
to reuse, recycle, and compost them. Rent, borrow, or barter goods
and services when you can. Ask yourself whether you really need a
particular item. What Can You Do? Solid Waste
Slide 25
Packaging Many packaging items are put into landfills,
including boxes, packing peanuts, Styrofoam, shrink wrap, etc. Try
to buy things that are not as highly packaged. Many companies use
peanuts that are made from cellulose that can be washed down the
drain and not put into landfills. Reuse containers and buy
smart!
Slide 26
Reuse Reusing products is an important way to reduce resource
use, waste, and pollution in developed countries. Reusing can be
hazardous in developing countries for poor who scavenge in open
dumps. They can be exposed to toxins or infectious diseases.
Slide 27
How People Reuse Materials Children looking for materials to
sell in an open dump near Manila in the Philippines. Figure
22-2
Slide 28
Case Study: Using Refillable Containers Refilling and reusing
containers uses fewer resources and less energy, produces less
waste, saves money, and creates jobs. In Denmark and Canadas Price
Edwards Island there is a ban on all beverage containers that
cannot be reused. In Finland 95% of soft drink and alcoholic
beverages are refillable (Germany 75%).
Slide 29
REUSE Reducing resource waste: energy consumption for different
types of 350- ml (12-oz) beverage containers. Figure 22-7
Slide 30
Solutions: Other Ways to Reuse Things We can use reusable
shopping bags, food containers, and shipping pallets, and borrow
tools from tool libraries. Many countries in Europe and Asia charge
shoppers for plastic bags.
Slide 31
Recycling Definition Conservation of resources by converting
them into new product.
Slide 32
Recycling Primary (closed loop) recycling: materials are turned
into new products of the same type. Secondary recycling: materials
are converted into different products. Used tires shredded and
converted into rubberized road surface. Newspapers transformed into
cellulose insulation.
Slide 33
RECYCLING To promote recycling and separation of wastes, 4,000
communities in the U.S. have implemented pay-as-you-throw or
fee-per-bag waste collection systems.
Slide 34
RECYCLING Composting biodegradable organic waste mimics nature
by recycling plant nutrients to the soil. Recycling paper has a
number of environmental (reduction in pollution and deforestation,
less energy expenditure) and economic benefits and is easy to
do.
Slide 35
Recycling - General Purpose Recycling saves land, reduces the
amount of solid waste, energy consumption and pollution. Ex.
recycling one aluminum can saves the energy of about 6 oz. of
gasoline.
Slide 36
Recycling - Benefits Conserves our natural resources Has a
positive effect on the economy by generating jobs and revenues. For
example, the Sunday edition of the New York Times consumes 12,000
trees. Currently, only about 20% of all paper in North America is
recycled.
Slide 37
Recycling - Problems Recycling does have environmental costs.
It uses energy and generates pollution. Ex. the de-inking process
in paper recycling requires energy, and produces a toxic sludge
that contains heavy metals.
Slide 38
RECYCLING Recycling many plastics is chemically and
economically difficult. Many plastics are hard to isolate from
other wastes. Recovering individual plastic resins does not yield
much material. The cost of virgin plastic resins in low than
recycled resins due to low fossil fuel costs. There are new
technologies that are making plastics biodegradable.
Slide 39
REUSE & RECYCLING Reuse and recycling are hindered by
prices of goods that do not reflect their harmful environmental
& health effects associated with the product over its life
cycle, too few government subsidies and tax break: extracting
industries receive more subsidies than recycling industries price
fluctuations must create demand for recycled products
Slide 40
Fig. 22-9, p. 529 Important part of economy Source separation
is inconvenient for some people Reduces profits from landfills and
incinerators Reduces air and water pollution Saves energy Reduces
mineral demand Reduces greenhouse gas emissions Reduces solid waste
production and disposal Helps protect biodiversity Can save money
for items such as paper, metals, and some plastics Generating
demand for recycled products May lose money for items such as glass
and most plastic DisadvantagesAdvantages Trade-Offs Recycling
Slide 41
Specific Recycled Items & Plastics
Slide 42
As the concern about landfill space increases, worldwide
interest in recycling by means of composting is growing. Compost is
the organic materials from plants and animals that is converted
into a useful stable product by aerobic decomposition. Compost
generally: Reduces the amount of organic material that is placed
into landfills, including paper which constitutes the majority of
MSW. Aerates the soil, improves the soils ability to retain water
and nutrients and helps prevent erosion. Needs 6 to 12 inches of
organic material, shade, water and aeration. Biological
Reprocessing Home composting being turned Compost piles can combust
if not monitored
Slide 43
Composts - Definition A sweet-smelling, dark-brown, humus-like
material that is rich in organic material and soil nutrients.
Compost heap
Slide 44
Composts - Benefits Aerates the soil. Improves soils ability to
retain water and nutrients. Helps prevent erosion. Prevents
nutrients from being dumped in landfills.
Slide 45
Recycling - Organic Comprise over 1/2 of the solid waste
Includes paper, yard debris, wood materials, bio-solids, food,
manure and agricultural residues, land clearing debris, and mixed
municipal organic waste. Organic materials have been dumped in
landfills or burned. Why not use them!
Slide 46
Metals Precious metals like: Gold, lead, nickel, steel, copper,
silver, zinc, and aluminum are recyclable. World supply of rare
metals will eventually run out
Slide 47
Glass U.S. recycles about 36% of its glass containers. It costs
less to recycle glass than to make new glass. Mixed color glass
cullet is used for glassphalt, a glass/asphalt mixture.
Slide 48
Aluminum This is the most recycled material in the U.S. because
of $. Making a new can from an old one requires a fraction of the
energy than to make a new can from raw materials. Approximately 2/3
of cans are recycled each year, saving 19 million barrels of oil
annually.
Slide 49
Paper U.S. currently recycles 40% of its paper and paperboard.
Denmark, recycles about 97% of its paper. Many U.S. mills are not
able to process waste paper. Many countries like Mexico, import a
large amount of wastepaper from the U.S. We export about 19% of our
recycled paper.
Slide 50
Nuclear Waste The safe disposal of radioactive wastes is the
problem. Radioactive wastes must be stored in an isolated area
where they cant contaminate the environment. It must have
geological stability and little or no water flowing nearby.
(Remember Yucca Mountain)
Slide 51
Plastic Recycling Recycling many plastics is chemically and
economically difficult to recycle. Plastics are often recycled into
other forms of plastic and those plastics are often not recyclable.
Many plastics are hard to isolate from other wastes. Recovering
individual plastic resins does not yield much material. The cost of
virgin plastic resins is lower than recycled resins due to low
subsidized fossil fuel costs. There are new technologies that are
making plastics biodegradable Plastics must be sorted according to
their resin identification code which indicates the type of
material they were made from. Styrofoam Grocery & bread bags
Shampoo and fast food service items Milk bottles and butter tubs
Soft drink bottles Yogurt containers, straws, and bottle caps Other
various plastics
Slide 52
Waste-to-energy incinerators reduce the volume of waste by up
to 90% because of the large organic component that can be used for
burning. Incineration can also be used to eliminate hazardous waste
products. While waste-to-energy incinerators contribute to CO 2
emissions and air pollution, they produce less than power plants
that run on fossil fuels. Plasma gasification uses an ionized or
electrically charged gas to convert waste into a syngas which can
be used in energy production. Energy Recovery Plasma arc converters
can reach temperatures of 12,600 Fahrenheit changing molecular
bonds Organic material is burned to boil water producing steam
which turns a turbine, generating electricity
Slide 53
Burning Solid Waste Waste-to-energy incinerator with pollution
controls that burns mixed solid waste which can contribute to air
pollution Figure 22-10
Slide 54
Waste-to-Energy Incineration 1) the volume of waste is reduced
by up to 90% and 2) the heat produced, produces steam, which can
warm buildings or generate electricity. In 1999, the U.S. had 110
waste-to-energy incinerators, which burned 16% of the nations solid
waste & produces less CO 2 emissions than power plants that run
on fossil fuels, but still contribute to air pollution.
Slide 55
Burying Solid Waste Burying solid waste has many problems
associated with it as well like groundwater contamination,
production of methane gas, and incomplete decomposition of
waste.
Slide 56
Burying Solid Waste Most of the worlds MSW is buried in
landfills that eventually are expected to leak toxic liquids into
the soil and underlying aquifers. Open dumps: are fields or holes
in the ground where garbage is deposited and sometimes covered with
soil. Mostly used in developing countries. Sanitary landfills:
solid wastes are spread out in thin layers, compacted and covered
daily with a fresh layer of clay or plastic foam.
Slide 57
Landfills Definition Solid waste is placed in a hole,
compacted, and covered with soil. Reduces the number of rats
associated with solid waste, lessens the danger of fire, and
decreases the odor.
Slide 58
Landfills: Current Criteria Landfills cannot pollute surface or
groundwater. Compacted to reduce volume and covered daily with soil
Clay and plastic sheets are at the bottom (prevents liquid waste
from seeping into groundwater) A double liner system must be
present (plastic, clay, plastic, clay), and a system to collect
leachate (liquid that seeps through the solid waste)
Slide 59
Burning Solid Waste Globally, MSW is burned in over 1,000 large
waste-to-energy incinerators, which boil water to make steam for
heating water, or space, or for production of electricity. Japan
and a few European countries incinerate most of their MSW.
Slide 60
Fig. 22-12, p. 532 Sand When landfill is full, layers of soil
and clay seal in trash Methane storage and compressor building
Leachate storage tank Leachate monitoring well Groundwater
monitoring well Electricity generator building Leachate treatment
system Methane gas recovery well Compacted solid waste Leachate
pipes Leachate pumped up to storage tank for safe disposal
Groundwater Clay and plastic lining to prevent leaks; pipes collect
leachate from bottom of landfill Topsoil Sand Clay Subsoil Probes
to detect methane leaks Garbage Synthetic liner Sand Clay Pipes
collect explosive methane as used as fuel to generate
electricity
Slide 61
Landfills: Current Criteria Oil Not allowed Must go to an
automotive or environmental company for recycling. Antifreeze Not
allowed Must be sent to an automotive or environmental company for
recycling.
Slide 62
Landfills: Current Criteria Air Conditioner Coolants Not
allowed Must be sent to an automotive or environmental company for
recycling. Lead Acid (Car Batteries) Not allowed Must be sent to an
automotive or an environmental company for recycling.
Slide 63
Case Study: What Should We Do with Used Tires? We face a
dilemma in deciding what to so with hundreds of millions of
discarded tires.
Slide 64
Case Study: What Should We Do with Used Tires? They can burn
for years producing large amounts of toxic air pollutants... Very
hard to put out
Slide 65
Tires Are allowed in landfill if they are shredded otherwise
they are recycled.
Slide 66
Hazardous Waste Hazardous waste: is any discarded solid or
liquid material that is toxic, ignitable, corrosive, or reactive
enough to explode or release toxic fumes. The two largest classes
of hazardous wastes are synthetic organic compounds (e.g.
pesticides, PCBs, dioxins) and toxic heavy metals (e.g. lead,
mercury, arsenic). Hazardous waste is a major cause of groundwater
contamination from landfills.
Slide 67
Fig. 22-15, p. 534 What Harmful Chemicals Are in Your Home?
Glues and cements Dry-cell batteries (mercury and cadmium) Rust
inhibitor and rust remover Brake and transmission fluid General
Cleaning Battery acid Wood preservatives Stains, varnishes, and
lacquers Automotive Gasoline Used motor oil Paint Latex and
oil-based paints Paint thinners, solvents, and strippers Gardening
Pesticides Weed killers Ant and rodent killers Antifreeze Flea
powders Disinfectants Septic tank cleaners Spot removers Drain,
toilet, and window cleaners Artist paints and inks Solvents
Slide 68
Certain substances in the environment are harmful when absorbed
in high concentrations. These substances include: Pesticides
Radioactive isotopes Heavy metals (cadmium, chromium, lead and
mercury). Industrial chemicals such as PCBs (polychlorinated
biphenyls). They can be taken up by organisms via food or water or
simply absorbed from the surroundings. Many of the toxins and
chemical substances can easily leach into groundwater. Chemicals
and toxins can be released at safe levels but may react or combine
with other chemicals, from synergism, to create dangerous mixtures.
Toxins in the Environment Poisonous chemical store Spraying apples
with insecticide, Japan
Slide 69
Bioaccumulation (also called biological magnification) occurs
when highly persistent pesticides, which cannot be metabolized or
excreted, are stored and accumulate in the fatty tissues of the
body. There is a progressive concentration of the pesticides with
increasing trophic level; higher order consumers are at greater
risk because they eat a large number of lower order consumers.
Bioaccumulation Biomagnification of DDT in an aquatic
ecosystem
Slide 70
Hazardous Waste Regulations (US) Two major federal laws
regulate the management and disposal of hazardous waste in the
U.S.: RCRA - Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Tracks waste
progress Cradle-to-the-grave system to keep track of waste. CERCLA
- Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act Commonly known as Superfund program. Clean up abandoned waste
sites
Slide 71
Hazardous Waste Regulations (US) The Superfund law was designed
to have polluters pay for cleaning up abandoned hazardous waste
sites. Most severe sites on NPL National Priorities List Only 70%
of the cleanup costs have come from the polluters, the rest comes
from a trust fund financed until 1995 by taxes on chemical raw
materials and oil.
Slide 72
Hazardous Waste Regulations (US) Brownfields Abandoned,
contaminated industrial & commercial sites. Factories,
junkyards, older landfills, gas stations Not as bad as superfund
sites Can be cleaned up & redeveloped as parks, atheletic
fields, preserves, etc.
Slide 73
DEALING WITH HAZARDOUS WASTE We can produce less hazardous
waste and recycle, reuse, detoxify, burn, and bury what we continue
to produce.
Slide 74
Conversion to Less Hazardous Substances Physical Methods: using
charcoal or resins to separate out harmful chemicals. Chemical
Methods: using chemical reactions that can convert hazardous
chemicals to less harmful or harmless chemicals, usually by
incineration. Biological Methods: Bioremediation: bacteria or
enzymes help destroy toxic and hazardous waste or convert them to
more benign substances. Phytoremediation: involves using natural or
genetically engineered plants to absorb, filter and remove
contaminants from polluted soil and water.
Slide 75
Phytostabilization Plants such as willow trees and poplars can
absorb chemicals and keep them from reaching groundwater or nearby
surface water. Rhizofiltration Roots of plants such as sunflowers
with dangling roots on ponds or in green- houses can absorb
pollutants such as radioactive strontium -90 and cesium-137 and
various organic chemicals. Phytodegradation Plants such as poplars
can absorb toxic organic chemicals and break them down into less
harmful compounds which they store or release slowly into the air.
Inorganic metal contaminants Organic contaminants Radioactive
contaminants Brake fern Poplar tree Indian mustard Willow tree
Sunflower Oil spill Landfill Groundwater Soil Polluted leachate
Decontaminated water out Polluted groundwater in Groundwater Soil
Phytoextraction Roots of plants such as Indian mustard and brake
ferns can absorb toxic metals such as lead, arsenic, and others and
store them in their leaves. Plants can then be recycled or
harvested and incinerated.
Slide 76
Fig. 22-18, p. 538 Inexpensive Low energy use Easy to establish
Trade-Offs Phytoremediation AdvantagesDisadvantages Some plants can
become toxic to animals Some toxic organic chemicals may evaporate
from plant leaves Produces little air pollution compared to
incineration Can reduce material dumped into landfills Slow (can
take several growing seasons) Effective only at depth plant roots
can reach
Slide 77
Conversion to Less Hazardous Substances Incineration: heating
many types of hazardous waste to high temperatures up to 2000 C in
an incinerator can break them down and convert them to less harmful
or harmless chemicals. Plasma Torch: passing electrical current
through gas to generate an electric arc and very high temperatures
can create plasma. The plasma process can be carried out in a torch
which can decompose liquid or solid hazardous organic
material.
Slide 78
Fig. 22-19, p. 538 Advantages Trade-Offs Plasma Arc Small High
cost Produces no toxic ash Can vaporize and release toxic metals
and radioactive elements Can release particulates and chlorine gas
Mobile. Easy to move to different sites Produces CO2 and CO
Disadvantages
Slide 79
Long-Term Storage: Hazardous Waste Hazardous waste can be
disposed of on or underneath the earths surface, but without proper
design and care this can pollute the air and water. Deep-well
disposal: liquid hazardous wastes are pumped under pressure into
dry porous rock far beneath aquifers. Surface impoundments:
excavated depressions such as ponds, pits, or lagoons into which
liners are placed and liquid hazardous wastes are stored.
Slide 80
Fig. 22-20, p. 539 Safe method if sites are chosen carefully
Trade-Offs Deep Underground Wells AdvantagesDisadvantages
Encourages waste production Existing fractures or earthquakes can
allow wastes to escape into groundwater Leaks from corrosion of
well casing Leaks or spills at surface Low cost Easy to do Wastes
can be retrieved if problems develop
Slide 81
Fig. 22-21, p. 539 Low construction costs Can store wastes
indefinitely with secure double liners Groundwater contamination
from leaking liners (or no lining) Trade-Offs Surface Impoundments
Advantages Promotes waste production Disruption and leakage from
earthquakes Overflow from flooding Air pollution from volatile
organic compounds Wastes can be retrieved if necessary Can be built
quickly Low operating costs Disadvantages
Slide 82
Long-Term Storage of Hazardous Waste Long-Term Retrievable
Storage: Some highly toxic materials cannot be detoxified or
destroyed. Metal drums are used to stored them in areas that can be
inspected and retrieved. Secure Landfills: Sometimes hazardous
waste are put into drums and buried in carefully designed and
monitored sites.
Slide 83
Secure Hazardous Waste Landfill In the U.S. there are only 21
commercial hazardous waste landfills.
Slide 84
Case Study: Lead Lead is especially harmful to children and is
still used in leaded gasoline and household paints in about 100
countries. Figure 22-24
Slide 85
Case Study: Mercury Mercury is released into the environment
mostly by burning coal and incinerating wastes and can build to
high levels in some types of fish. Figure 22-26
Slide 86
Fig. 22-25, p. 542 BIOMAGNIFICATION IN FOOD CHAIN SEDIMENT
PRECIPITATION WINDS AIR WATER Inorganic mercury and acids (Hg 2+ )
Inorganic mercury and acids (Hg 2+ ) Organic mercury (CH 3 Hg + )
Inorganic mercury (Hg 2+ ) Hg 2+ and acids Runoff of Hg 2+ and
acids Large fish Small fish ZooplanktonPhytoplankton Hg and SO 2 Hg
2 + and acids Human sources Incinerator Coal- burning plant
Elemental mercury vapor (Hg) Photo- chemical Oxidation Elemental
mercury liquid (Hg) Deposition Bacteria and acids Settles out
Settles out Settles out Vaporization Deposition
Slide 87
Achieving a Low-Waste Society In the U.S., citizens have kept
large numbers of incinerators, landfills, and hazardous waste
treatment plants from being built in their local areas. (NIMBY)
Environmental justice means that everyone is entitled to protection
from environmental hazards without discrimination. NIABY Not In
Anyones Backyard NOPE Not On Planet Earth
Slide 88
Global Outlook: International Action to Reduce Hazardous Waste
An international treaty calls for phasing out the use of harmful
persistent organic pollutants (POPs). POPs are insoluble in water
and soluble in fat. Nearly every person on earth has detectable
levels of POPs in their blood. The U.S has not ratified this
treaty.
Slide 89
Solutions: mimic nature 1.Consume less 2.Redesign manufacturing
processes and products to: use less material and energy create less
pollution and waste 3.Develop products that are easy to repair,
reuse, recycle, or compost cradle to cradle 4.Eliminate or reduce
packaging material 5.Charge fee-per-bag for trash collection, but
free recycle collection 6.Establish cradle to grave responsibility
laws
Slide 90
Making the Transition to a Low- Waste Society: A New Vision
Everything is connected. There is no away for the wastes we
produce. Dilution is not always the solution to pollution. The best
and cheapest way to deal with wastes are reduction and pollution
prevention.