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Core 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 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. In 1976, residents complained of chemical smells and chemical burns from the site.
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Chapter 21Chapter 21
Solid and Hazardous Solid and Hazardous WasteWaste
Core Case Study: Core Case Study: Love Canal — There Is No “Away”Love Canal — There Is No “Away”
Between 1842-1953, Hooker Chemical Between 1842-1953, Hooker Chemical sealed multiple chemical wastes into steel sealed multiple chemical wastes into steel drums and dumped them into an old canal drums and dumped them into an old canal excavation (Love Canal).excavation (Love Canal).
In 1953, the canal was filled and sold to In 1953, the canal was filled and sold to Niagara Falls school board for $1.Niagara Falls school board for $1.
The company inserted a disclaimer denying The company inserted a disclaimer denying liability for the wastes.liability for the wastes.
Core Case Study: Core Case Study: Love Canal — There Is No “Away”Love Canal — There Is No “Away”
In 1957, Hooker Chemical warned the school In 1957, Hooker Chemical warned the school not to disturb the site because of the toxic not to disturb the site because of the toxic waste.waste. In 1959 an elementary school, playing fields and In 1959 an elementary school, playing fields and
homes were built disrupting the clay cap covering homes were built disrupting the clay cap covering the wastes.the wastes.
In 1976, residents complained of chemical smells In 1976, residents complained of chemical smells and chemical burns from the site.and chemical burns from the site.
Core Case Study: Core Case Study: Love Canal — There Is No “Away”Love Canal — There Is No “Away”
President Jimmy President Jimmy Carter declared Carter declared Love Canal a Love Canal a federal disaster federal disaster area.area. The area was The area was
abandoned in 1980 abandoned in 1980 (left).(left).
Figure 22-1Figure 22-1
Core Case Study: Core Case Study: Love Canal — There Is No “Away”Love Canal — There Is No “Away”
It still is a controversy as to how much the It still is a controversy as to how much the chemicals at Love Canal injured or caused chemicals at Love Canal injured or caused disease to the residents.disease to the residents.
Love Canal sparked creation of the Love Canal sparked creation of the Superfund law, which forced polluters to pay Superfund law, which forced polluters to pay for cleaning up abandoned toxic waste for cleaning up abandoned toxic waste dumps.dumps.
WASTING RESOURCESWASTING RESOURCES
Solid wasteSolid waste: any unwanted or discarded : any unwanted or discarded material we produce that is not a liquid or material we produce that is not a liquid or gas.gas. Municipal solid waste (MSW)Municipal solid waste (MSW): produce directly : produce directly
from homes.from homes. Industrial solid wasteIndustrial solid waste: produced indirectly by : produced indirectly by
industries that supply people with goods and industries that supply people with goods and services.services.
Hazardous (toxic) wasteHazardous (toxic) waste: threatens human : threatens human health or the environment because it is toxic, health or the environment because it is toxic, chemically active, corrosive or flammable.chemically active, corrosive or flammable.
WASTING RESOURCESWASTING RESOURCES
Solid wastes Solid wastes polluting a river in polluting a river in Jakarta, Indonesia. Jakarta, Indonesia. The man in the The man in the boat is looking for boat is looking for items to salvage or items to salvage or sell.sell.
Figure 22-3Figure 22-3
WASTING RESOURCESWASTING RESOURCES
The United States produces about a third of The United States produces about a third of the world’s solid waste and buries more than the world’s solid waste and buries more than half of it in landfills.half of it in landfills. About 98.5% is industrial solid waste.About 98.5% is industrial solid waste. The remaining 1.5% is MSW.The remaining 1.5% is MSW.
• About 55% of U.S. MSW is dumped into landfills, 30% About 55% of U.S. MSW is dumped into landfills, 30% is recycled or composted, and 15% is burned in is recycled or composted, and 15% is burned in incinerators.incinerators.
Electronic Waste: A Growing ProblemElectronic Waste: A Growing Problem
E-waste consists of E-waste consists of toxic and hazardous toxic and hazardous waste such as PVC, waste such as PVC, lead, mercury, and lead, mercury, and cadmium.cadmium.
The U.S. produces The U.S. produces almost half of the almost half of the world's e-waste but world's e-waste but only recycles about only recycles about 10% of it.10% of it.
Figure 22-4Figure 22-4
Fig. 22-5, p. 523
Primary Pollutionand Waste Prevention
First Priority Second Priority Last 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
Solutions: Reducing Solid WasteSolutions: Reducing Solid Waste
RefuseRefuse: to buy items that we really don’t : to buy items that we really don’t need.need.
ReduceReduce: consume less and live a simpler : consume less and live a simpler and less stressful life by practicing simplicity.and less stressful life by practicing simplicity.
ReuseReuse: rely more on items that can be used : rely more on items that can be used over and over.over and over.
RepurposeRepurpose: use something for another : use something for another purpose instead of throwing it away.purpose instead of throwing it away.
RecycleRecycle: paper, glass, cans, plastics…and : paper, glass, cans, plastics…and buy items made from recycled materials.buy items made from recycled materials.
How People Reuse MaterialsHow People Reuse Materials
Children looking for Children looking for materials to sell in an materials to sell in an open dump near open dump near Manila in the Manila in the Philippines.Philippines.
Figure 22-2Figure 22-2
Case Study: Using Refillable Case Study: Using Refillable ContainersContainers
Refilling and reusing containers uses fewer Refilling and reusing containers uses fewer resources and less energy, produces less resources and less energy, produces less waste, saves money, and creates jobs.waste, saves money, and creates jobs. In Denmark and Canada’s Price Edward’s Island In Denmark and Canada’s Price Edward’s Island
there is a ban on all beverage containers that there is a ban on all beverage containers that cannot be reused.cannot be reused.
In Finland 95% of soft drink and alcoholic In Finland 95% of soft drink and alcoholic beverages are refillable (Germany 75%).beverages are refillable (Germany 75%).
Fig. 22-7, p. 525Energy (thousands of kilocalories)
Refillable drink bottle, used 10 times
Recycled glass drink bottle
Recycled aluminum can
Glass drink bottle, used once
Aluminum can, used once
Recycled steel can
Steel can, used once
Solutions: Solutions: Other Ways to Reuse ThingsOther Ways to Reuse Things
We can use reusable shopping bags, food We can use reusable shopping bags, food containers, and shipping pallets, and borrow containers, and shipping pallets, and borrow tools from tool libraries.tools from tool libraries. Many countries in Europe and Asia charge Many countries in Europe and Asia charge
shoppers for plastic bags.shoppers for plastic bags.
RECYCLINGRECYCLING
Primary (closed loop) recyclingPrimary (closed loop) recycling: materials : materials are turned into new products of the same are turned into new products of the same type.type.
Secondary recyclingSecondary recycling: materials are : materials are converted into different products.converted into different products. Used tires shredded and converted into Used tires shredded and converted into
rubberized road surface.rubberized road surface. Newspapers transformed into cellulose Newspapers transformed into cellulose
insulation.insulation.
RECYCLINGRECYCLING
Composting biodegradable organic waste Composting biodegradable organic waste mimics nature by recycling plant nutrients to mimics nature by recycling plant nutrients to the soil.the soil.
Recycling paper has a number of Recycling paper has a number of environmental (reduction in pollution and environmental (reduction in pollution and deforestation, less energy expenditure) and deforestation, less energy expenditure) and economic benefits and is easy to do.economic benefits and is easy to do.
RECYCLINGRECYCLING
Recycling many plastics is chemically and Recycling many plastics is chemically and economically difficult.economically difficult. Many plastics are hard to isolate from other Many plastics are hard to isolate from other
wastes.wastes. Recovering individual plastic resins does not Recovering individual plastic resins does not
yield much material.yield much material. The cost of virgin plastic resins in low than The cost of virgin plastic resins in low than
recycled resins due to low fossil fuel costs.recycled resins due to low fossil fuel costs. There are new technologies that are making There are new technologies that are making
plastics biodegradable.plastics biodegradable.
RECYCLINGRECYCLING
Reuse and recycling are hindered by prices Reuse and recycling are hindered by prices of goods that do not reflect their harmful of goods that do not reflect their harmful environmental impacts, too few government environmental impacts, too few government subsidies and tax breaks, and price subsidies and tax breaks, and price fluctuations.fluctuations.
BURNING AND BURYING SOLID BURNING AND BURYING SOLID WASTEWASTE
Globally, MSW is burned in over 1,000 large Globally, MSW is burned in over 1,000 large waste-to-energy incineratorswaste-to-energy incinerators, which boil , which boil water to make steam for heating water, or water to make steam for heating water, or space, or for production of electricity.space, or for production of electricity. Japan and a few European countries incinerate Japan and a few European countries incinerate
most of their MSW.most of their MSW.
Burning Solid WasteBurning Solid Waste
Waste-to-energy incinerator with pollution Waste-to-energy incinerator with pollution controls that burns mixed solid waste.controls that burns mixed solid waste.
Figure 22-10Figure 22-10
Fig. 22-12, p. 532
Sand
When landfill is full,layers of soil and clayseal in trash
Methane storageand compressorbuilding
Leachatestoragetank
Leachatemonitoringwell
Groundwatermonitoringwell
Electricitygeneratorbuilding Leachate
treatment system
Methane gasrecovery well
Compactedsolid waste
Leachatepipes
Leachate pumpedup to storage tankfor safe disposal
GroundwaterClay and plastic liningto prevent leaks; pipescollect leachate frombottom of landfill
Topsoil
SandClaySubsoil
Probes todetectmethaneleaks
Garbage
Garbage
Syntheticliner
Sand
Clay
Pipes collect explosive methane as used as fuel to generate electricity
Case Study: What Should We Do with Case Study: What Should We Do with Used Tires?Used Tires?
We face a dilemma We face a dilemma in deciding what to in deciding what to so with hundreds so with hundreds of millions of of millions of discarded tires.discarded tires.
Figure 22-14Figure 22-14
HAZARDOUS WASTEHAZARDOUS WASTE
Hazardous wasteHazardous waste: is any discarded solid or : is any discarded solid or liquid material that is toxic, ignitable, liquid material that is toxic, ignitable, corrosive, or reactive enough to explode or corrosive, or reactive enough to explode or release toxic fumes.release toxic fumes. The two largest classes of hazardous wastes are The two largest classes of hazardous wastes are
organic compounds (e.g. pesticides, PCBs, organic compounds (e.g. pesticides, PCBs, dioxins) and toxic heavy metals (e.g. lead, dioxins) and toxic heavy metals (e.g. lead, mercury, arsenic).mercury, arsenic).
Hazardous Waste Regulations in the Hazardous Waste Regulations in the United StatesUnited States
Two major federal laws regulate the Two major federal laws regulate the management and disposal of hazardous management and disposal of hazardous waste in the U.S.:waste in the U.S.: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA)(RCRA)• Cradle-to-the-grave system to keep track waste.Cradle-to-the-grave system to keep track waste.
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)• Commonly known as Superfund program.Commonly known as Superfund program.
Hazardous Waste Regulations in the Hazardous Waste Regulations in the United StatesUnited States
The Superfund law was designed to have The Superfund law was designed to have polluters pay for cleaning up abandoned polluters pay for cleaning up abandoned hazardous waste sites.hazardous waste sites. Only 70% of the cleanup costs have come from Only 70% of the cleanup costs have come from
the polluters, the rest comes from a trust fund the polluters, the rest comes from a trust fund financed until 1995 by taxes on chemical raw financed until 1995 by taxes on chemical raw materials and oil.materials and oil.
Conversion to Less Hazardous Conversion to Less Hazardous SubstancesSubstances
Physical MethodsPhysical Methods: using charcoal or resins : using charcoal or resins to separate out harmful chemicals.to separate out harmful chemicals.
Chemical MethodsChemical Methods: using chemical : using chemical reactions that can convert hazardous reactions that can convert hazardous chemicals to less harmful or harmless chemicals to less harmful or harmless chemicals.chemicals.
Conversion to Less Hazardous Conversion to Less Hazardous SubstancesSubstances
Biological MethodsBiological Methods: : BioremediationBioremediation: bacteria or enzymes help : bacteria or enzymes help
destroy toxic and hazardous waste or convert destroy toxic and hazardous waste or convert them to more benign substances.them to more benign substances.
PhytoremediationPhytoremediation: involves using natural or : involves using natural or genetically engineered plants to absorb, filter and genetically engineered plants to absorb, filter and remove contaminants from polluted soil and remove contaminants from polluted soil and water.water.
PhytostabilizationPlants such as willow trees and poplars can absorb chemicals and keep them from reaching groundwater or nearby surface water.
RhizofiltrationRoots 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.
PhytoextractionRoots 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.
PhytodegradationPlants such as poplarscan absorb toxic organic chemicals and break them down into less harmful compounds which they store or release slowly into the air.
Inorganicmetal contaminants
Organiccontaminants
Radioactivecontaminants
Brake fernPoplar treeIndian mustardWillow treeSunflower
Oilspill
Landfill
GroundwaterSoil
PollutedleachateDecontaminated
water out
Pollutedgroundwater in
GroundwaterSoil
Conversion to Less Hazardous Conversion to Less Hazardous SubstancesSubstances
IncinerationIncineration: heating many types of : heating many types of hazardous waste to high temperatures – up hazardous waste to high temperatures – up to 2000 to 2000 °C°C – in an incinerator can break them – in an incinerator can break them down and convert them to less harmful or down and convert them to less harmful or harmless chemicals.harmless chemicals.
Conversion to Less Hazardous Conversion to Less Hazardous SubstancesSubstances
Plasma TorchPlasma Torch: passing electrical current : passing electrical current through gas to generate an electric arc and through gas to generate an electric arc and very high temperatures can create plasma.very high temperatures can create plasma. The plasma process can be carried out in a torch The plasma process can be carried out in a torch
which can decompose liquid or solid hazardous which can decompose liquid or solid hazardous organic material.organic material.
Long-Term Storage of Hazardous Long-Term Storage of Hazardous WasteWaste
Hazardous waste can be disposed of on or Hazardous waste can be disposed of on or underneath the earth’s surface, but without underneath the earth’s surface, but without proper design and care this can pollute the proper design and care this can pollute the air and water.air and water. Deep-well disposalDeep-well disposal: liquid hazardous wastes : liquid hazardous wastes
are pumped under pressure into dry porous rock are pumped under pressure into dry porous rock far beneath aquifers.far beneath aquifers.
Surface impoundmentsSurface impoundments: excavated depressions : excavated depressions such as ponds, pits, or lagoons into which liners such as ponds, pits, or lagoons into which liners are placed and liquid hazardous wastes are are placed and liquid hazardous wastes are stored.stored.
Long-Term Storage of Hazardous Long-Term Storage of Hazardous WasteWaste
Long-Term Retrievable StorageLong-Term Retrievable Storage: Some : Some highly toxic materials cannot be detoxified or highly toxic materials cannot be detoxified or destroyed. Metal drums are used to stored destroyed. Metal drums are used to stored them in areas that can be inspected and them in areas that can be inspected and retrieved.retrieved.
Secure LandfillsSecure Landfills: Sometimes hazardous : Sometimes hazardous waste are put into drums and buried in waste are put into drums and buried in carefully designed and monitored sites.carefully designed and monitored sites.
Secure Hazardous Waste LandfillSecure Hazardous Waste Landfill
In the U.S. there In the U.S. there are only 23 are only 23 commercial commercial hazardous waste hazardous waste landfills.landfills.
Figure 22-22Figure 22-22
Case Study: LeadCase Study: Lead
Lead is especially Lead is especially harmful to children harmful to children and is still used in and is still used in leaded gasoline and leaded gasoline and household paints in household paints in about 100 countries.about 100 countries.
Figure 22-24Figure 22-24
Fig. 22-25, p. 542
BIOMAGNIFICATION IN FOOD CHAIN
SEDIMENT
PRECIPITATIONPRECIPITATION WINDSWINDSAIR
WATER
Inorganic mercury and acids
(Hg2+)
Inorganic mercury and acids (Hg2+)
Organicmercury (CH3Hg+)
Inorganicmercury (Hg2+)
Hg2+ and acids
Runoff of Hg2+ and acids
Large fish
Small fish
ZooplanktonPhytoplankton
Hg and SO2Hg2+ and acids
Human sources
Incinerator
Coal-burning plant
Elemental mercury
vapor (Hg)
Photo-chemical
OxidationElemental
mercury liquid (Hg)
Deposition
Dep
ositi
on
Bacteria
Bacteria and acids
Settles out Settles
out Settles out
Vaporization
Dep
ositi
on
Deposition
Global Outlook: International Action to Global Outlook: International Action to Reduce Hazardous WasteReduce Hazardous Waste
An international treaty calls for phasing out An international treaty calls for phasing out the use of harmful persistent organic the use of harmful persistent organic pollutants (POPs).pollutants (POPs). POPs are insoluble in water and soluble in fat.POPs are insoluble in water and soluble in fat. Nearly every person on earth has detectable Nearly every person on earth has detectable
levels of POPs in their blood.levels of POPs in their blood. The U.S has not ratified this treaty.The U.S has not ratified this treaty.
Making the Transition to a Low-Waste Making the Transition to a Low-Waste Society: A New VisionSociety: A New Vision
Everything is connected.Everything is connected. There is no “away” for the wastes we There is no “away” for the wastes we
produce.produce. Dilution is not always the solution to pollution.Dilution is not always the solution to pollution. The best and cheapest way to deal with The best and cheapest way to deal with
wastes are reduction and pollution wastes are reduction and pollution prevention.prevention.