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Chapter 17. Solid wastes!. Wasted Resources. Less than 5% of the world’s population (4.6% in the USA) Produce more than 33% of the world’s solid waste. Its a symptom of affluenza. Shows how wasteful a society can be. Many of trashed resources are recyclable - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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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.