Hazardous Waste

Hazardous Waste• Wastes that are a risk to the health of living

things.

• Characteristics of hazardous wastes:– Toxic– Corrosive– Explosive– Flammable

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

• Requires producers of hazardous waste to keep records of how their wastes are handled from the time the wastes are made until that are disposed of properly.

But… illegal dumping happens because hazardous waste disposal is very

expensive.

Superfund Act

• Gives the EPA the right to:– Sue owners of hazardous waste sites who have illegally

dumped waste– Force owners to pay for cleanup– Create money for cleaning up abandoned hazardous waste

sites

Hazardous Waste ManagementThe US produces ~252 million metric tons of hazardous waste a year.

• 1. Prevent hazardous waste – Produce less of it

• Ex: Using plastic beads as sandblasters instead of chemicals to clean metal parts

– Reuse it• Ex: Selling used chemicals for reuse elsewhere

• 2. Conversion into Nonhazardous Substances– Ex: Lime (a base) is added to acids to neutralize them

Hazardous Waste ManagementThe US produces ~252 million metric tons of hazardous waste a year.

• 3. Land disposal– Deep-well injection – wastes

are pumped deep into the ground & covered with cement to prevent groundwater contamination.

– Surface impoundment – pond of hazardous wastes that has a sealed bottom

– Barrels

Hazardous Waste ManagementThe US produces ~252 million metric tons of hazardous waste a year.

• 4. Biologically Treating Hazardous Waste– Ex: Bioremediation – bacteria used to clean-up oil

spills

• 5. Incinerating Hazardous Waste

• 6. Exporting Hazardous Waste

Hazardous Wastes At Home• Disposing of household

hazardous wastes– Collection or facilities for

drop off – Sorted for recycling or

safe disposal