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Solid and Hazardous Waste Chapter 21

Solid and Hazardous Waste Chapter 21. “Solid wastes are only raw materials we’re too stupid to use.” Arthur C. Clarke. Key Concepts. Types and amounts of wastes Methods to reduce waste Methods of dealing with waste Hazardous waste regulation in the US. Wasting Resources.

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Solid and Hazardous Waste Chapter 21

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  1. Solid and Hazardous WasteChapter 21 “Solid wastes are only raw materials we’re too stupid to use.” Arthur C. Clarke

  2. Key Concepts • Types and amounts of wastes • Methods to reduce waste • Methods of dealing with waste • Hazardous waste regulation in the US

  3. Wasting Resources • Industrial and agriculture waste • Municipal solid waste Fig. 21-2, pg. 526 • US: 1,600 lb/person

  4. Hazardous Wastes • Contains one or more of 39 identified compounds • Catches fire easily • Reactive or explosive • Corrodes metal containers

  5. Radioactive wastes Household wastes Mining wastes Oil and gas drilling wastes Liquids containing organic hydrocarbons Cement kiln dust < 100 kg (220 lb) per month NOT Hazardous Wastes

  6. Producing Less Waste and Pollution • Waste management (high waste approach) • Burying, burning, shipping • Waste prevention (low waste approach) • Reduce, reuse, recycle • Chemical or biological treatment • Burial

  7. Dealing with Material Use and Wastes Fig. 21-3, pg 528

  8. Dealing with Hazardous Wastes Fig. 21-4, pg 530

  9. Solutions: Cleaner Production • Ecoindustrial revolution • Industrial ecology • Closed material cycles • Wastes become raw materials • Biomimicry Refer to Solutions p. 533

  10. Solutions: Selling Services Instead of Things • Service-flow economy • Uses a minimum amount of material • Products last longer • Products are easier to maintain, repair, and recycle • Customized services needed by customers See Individuals Matter, pg. 534

  11. Reuse • Extends resource supplies • Maintains high-quality matter • Reduced energy use • Refillable beverage containers • Reusable shipping containers and grocery bags See Solutions pg. 535

  12. Recycling • Primary (closed-loop) • Post consumer waste • Secondary (open loop) Fig. 21-6, p 535

  13. Characteristics of Recyclable Materials • Easily isolated from other waste • Available in large quantities • Valuable • Pay-as-you-throw garbage collection

  14. Benefits of Recycling Fig. 21-7 pg. 536

  15. Recycling in the US • Centralized recycling of mixed waste (MRFs) • Separated recycling • Economic benefits • Increasing recycling in the US See Case Study pg. 540

  16. Case Studies: Recycling Aluminum, Wastepaper, and Plastics • 40% of aluminum recycled in US • Recycled aluminum uses over 90% fewer resources • Paper: preconsumer vs. postconsumer recycling • 10% or less of plastic recycled in US • Plastics can be very difficult to recycle

  17. Detoxifying Wastes • Bioremediation • Microorganisms break down wastes • Phytoremediation • Removal of wastes from the soil

  18. Burning Wastes • Mass burn incineration • Air pollution • Waste to energy Fig. 21-11, pg. 543

  19. Burying Wastes • Sanitary landfill • Leachate collection • Monitoring wells • Emit greenhouse gases (CO2 and methane) • Space near where waste is produced

  20. Sanitary Landfill Fig. 21-12, pg. 544

  21. Deep-well Disposal Fig. 21-14, pg. 546

  22. Hazardous Waste Landfill Fig. 21-16, pg. 547

  23. Above Ground Hazardous Waste Disposal Fig. 21-17, pg. 547

  24. Exporting Wastes • Shipping to developing countries • Potentially huge profits for exporters • Basel Convention on Hazardous Waste • Many developing countries refusing wastes

  25. Case Studies: Lead • Lead poisoning major problem in children • Leaded gasoline (phased out by 1986) • Lead paint (banned in 1970) • Lead in plastics • Lead in plumbing Progress is being made in reducing lead Primary Sources of Lead

  26. Case Studies: Mercury • Vaporized elemental Mercury • Fish contaminated with methyl mercury • Natural inputs • Emission control • Prevention of contamination

  27. Case Studies: Chlorine • Environmentally damaging and potential health threat • Plastics • Solvents • Paper and pulp bleaching • Water disinfection • Many safer and cheaper substitutes are available Sources of Chlorine

  28. Case Studies: Dioxins • Potentially highly toxic chlorinated hydrocarbons • Waste incineration • Fireplaces • Coal-fired power plants • Paper productions • Sewage sludge Sources of Dioxins

  29. Hazardous Waste Regulation in the United States • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act • Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act • Superfund • National Priority List • Polluter-pays principle • Brownfields See Solutions pg. 554

  30. Solutions: Achieving a Low-Waste Society • Local grassroots action • International ban on 12 persistent organic pollutants (the dirty dozen) • Cleaner production • Improved resource productivity • Service flow economies

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