Solid and Hazardous WasteSolid and Hazardous Waste

G. Tyler Miller’sLiving in the Environment

14th EditionEdited by Mr. Manskopf 2009

Chapter 24

G. Tyler Miller’sLiving in the Environment

14th EditionEdited by Mr. Manskopf 2009

Chapter 24

http://www.storyofstuff.com/http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Love Canal, New YorkWhen Waste is Not Disposed of ProperlyLove Canal, New YorkWhen Waste is Not Disposed of Properly

• 1942 to 1958 Hooker Chemicals Disposal Site

• 1953 Sold to Niagara Falls School Board (school, housing)

• 1976 Residents becoming sick

• 1978 Lois Gibbs leads outcry

• 1980 Declared Disaster Site• 2004 Taken off Superfund

List

Chapter 24 Key ConceptsChapter 24 Key Concepts

Types and amounts of wastesTypes and amounts of wastes

Methods to reduce wasteMethods to reduce waste

Methods of dealing with wastesMethods of dealing with wastes

Hazardous waste regulation in the USHazardous waste regulation in the US

Section 1: Wasting ResourcesSection 1: Wasting Resources

• Why should we care about solid waste?

• How much waste does the U.S. produce?

• What is in the garbage?

• The throw away mentality: OUT of SIGHT… OUT OF MIND

Solid WasteSolid Waste • Unwanted or discarded material that is not liquid or gas

• Out of sight Out of Mind

• No Waste In Nature

Two Reasons to Be Concerned:

1) Wasted Resources

2) Causes huge amounts of air, water, land pollution and soil erosion

Wasting ResourcesWasting Resources

Industrial and agricultural wasteIndustrial and agricultural waste

Municipal solid wasteMunicipal solid waste

US: 11 billion metric tons/yearUS: 11 billion metric tons/yearFig. 24-2 p. 533

Affluenza In ActionAffluenza In Action• U.S. produces 1/3rd of

world’s solid waste and buries ½ of it

• Most waste from mining, oil, gas, ag., sewage, industry

• Think about a simple product like a computer…how much waste produced to create it (Life Cycle)

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)

• 1.5% of Solid Waste is MSW

• Between 1960 and 1990 per capita MSW grown 70%...why do you think that is?

• 38% is paper, 12% yard waste, 11% food waste, 10% platics

• E-Waste Growing FAST

MSW Continued…MSW Continued…Garbologists findings

• 50 year old newspapers still readable

• Pork Chops decades old

WHY DO THEY NOT DECOMPOSE????.....what do things need to decompose

MSW Continued…MSW Continued…

• Read page 534 for some examples of how much stuff we waste….

Enough disposable diapers each year linked together would go to moon and back 7 times

Enough office paper to build a wall 11 feet high between NYC and SF

Section 2: Producing Less WasteSection 2: Producing Less Waste

• What are our options? Management or Prevention

• How can we reduce solid waste?

• What can you do?

Producing Less Waste and PollutionProducing Less Waste and Pollution

Waste management (high waste approach)Waste is part of economic growth, lets manage negatives

Waste management (high waste approach)Waste is part of economic growth, lets manage negatives

Burying, burning, shipping Burying, burning, shipping

Waste prevention (low waste approach)Before product is produced look to minimize life cycle

Waste prevention (low waste approach)Before product is produced look to minimize life cycle

Reduce, reuse, recycle Reduce, reuse, recycle

Dealing with Material Use and WastesDealing with Material Use and Wastes

Fig. 24-3 p. 535

The Sustainability SixThe Sustainability Six

1) Consume less: Do we Really NEED this?

2) Redesign products to use less resources: How can we make this product using less resources throughout their life cycle

3) Redesign to use and make less pollution: Toxic substances etc.

The Sustainability SixThe Sustainability Six

4) Develop products that are easier to repair, reuse, remanufacture, compost or recycle

5) Design products to last longer

6) Eliminate or reduce packaging (nude packaging)

Section 3: Selling Services not ThingsSection 3: Selling Services not Things

• How can we copy nature and reduce waste?

• What is a service flow economy?

• Xerox example

Solutions: Cleaner ProductionSolutions: Cleaner Production

Ecoindustrial revolution: mimic natureEcoindustrial revolution: mimic nature

Resource exchange webs: waste of 1 manufacturer becomes raw materials for another

Resource exchange webs: waste of 1 manufacturer becomes raw materials for another

Biomimicry: using less resources to do sameBiomimicry: using less resources to do same

Service-flow economy selling servicesnot goods. Renting, eco-leasing, etc.

Service-flow economy selling servicesnot goods. Renting, eco-leasing, etc.

Solutions: Selling Services Instead of ThingsSolutions: Selling Services Instead of Things

Service-flow economy Service-flow economy

Uses a minimum amount of material Uses a minimum amount of material

Products last longer Products last longer

Products are easier to maintain, repair, and recycle

Products are easier to maintain, repair, and recycle

Eco-leasing: computers, cell phones, etc. Eco-leasing: computers, cell phones, etc.

See Individuals Matter p. 538See Individuals Matter p. 538

Section 4: ReuseSection 4: Reuse

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of reuse?

• Should we use refillable containers?

• What are some other ways to reuse things?

What is REUSE?What is REUSE?Cleaning and using the material over and over again increasing the lifespan of the product

Junkyards and salvaging wood from old homes etc.

Not Reuse…Not Reuse…

Reuse: ProsReuse: Pros

Extends resource supplies Extends resource supplies

Saves energy and money Saves energy and money

Reduces pollution Reduces pollution

Create jobs Create jobs

Reusable products Reusable products

Reuse: ConsReuse: Cons • Waste (especially e-waste) can contain harmful substances…especially heavy metals

Many eke out living scavenging for waste in large open dumps

Some SuccessSome Success

• 95% of Finland’s soft drink, beer, wine bottles reused

• Germany about 3/4th are refilled

Other examples of Reuse…Other examples of Reuse…

Shopping bags and tool libraries

Section 5: RecyclingSection 5: Recycling

• What is recycling?

• What is composting?

• How should we recycle solid waste?

• How much waste paper is being recycled?

• How feasible is recycling plastics?

• Why isn’t more reused and recycled?

What is recycling?What is recycling?

Reprocessing solid waste into new useful products

5 Categories in US Household Recycling

1) Paper Products

2) Glass

3) Aluminum

4) Steel

5) Some plastics

Types of RecyclingTypes of Recycling

Primary (closed-loop)

Primary (closed-loop)

Preconsumer waste

Preconsumer waste

Secondary (open loop)

Secondary (open loop)

Postconsumer waste

Postconsumer waste

Fig. 24-6 p. 539

Characteristics of Recyclable MaterialsCharacteristics of Recyclable Materials

Easily isolated from other wasteEasily isolated from other waste

Available in large quantitiesAvailable in large quantities

Valuable Valuable

Recycling RatesRecycling Rates

• Switzerland, Japan 50%• U.S. 30% up from 6.4%

in 1960• 60-80% is achievable

Benefits of RecyclingBenefits of Recycling

Fig. 24-8 p. 541

CompostingComposting • Composting organic waste mimics nature

• Only 5% of yard waste composted in U.S….could easily be raised to 35%

• Compost used as fertilizer, topsoil and help restore eroded land

Composting Composting

Recycling MethodsRecycling Methods

Centralized recycling of mixed waste (Materials-Recovery Facilities, MRFs)

Pros/Cons of MRFs

Centralized recycling of mixed waste (Materials-Recovery Facilities, MRFs)

Pros/Cons of MRFs Source separation: separate waste at home Source separation: separate waste at home

Pay-as-you-throw (PAUT): pay for waste, not recycling

Pay-as-you-throw (PAUT): pay for waste, not recycling

MRFs: Need large volume and energyMRFs: Need large volume and energy

Wastepaper RecyclingWastepaper Recycling

• Easy to recycle• Removing ink, glue

coating and reconverting into pulp

• 42% of world tree harvest is for paper

• Currently U.S. recycles 49% of waste paper

• Making paper has big enviro impact

How plastics are made

Recycling plastic is difficult chemically and economically

•10% in U.S. recycled

•Different resins

•Low cost of oil

•Biodegradable plastics (bioplatics) offer hope

Types of PlasticTypes of Plastic

Economics of RecyclingEconomics of Recycling

• Paper, aluminum, steel are easy to recycle and make easy economic sense

• CRITICS: 1) plenty of landfill space, 2) Glass and plastic expensive to recycle

• Employs 1.1 million people

Why we don’t recycle moreWhy we don’t recycle more• Enviro Costs not included

(externalities)

• Too few government subsidies

• Tipping fees at landfills cheap

• Price fluctuations for goods

• Often don’t PAUT

• Life cycle costs often not factored in

Section 6: Burning and BuryingSection 6: Burning and Burying

• What are advantages and disadvantages of burning solid waste?

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of burying solid waste?

Typical Waste to Energy Plant (incinerator)

Burning WastesBurning Wastes

Mass burn incineration

Mass burn incineration

Air pollution

Air pollution

Waste to energy

Waste to energy

Fig. 24-13 p. 546

Burning WasteBurning Waste• Japan and Switzerland

over 50%, U.S. about 16%

• More than 280 project canceled in U.S. due to high costs, concern among citizens, air pollution etc.

Burying WastesBurying Wastes

Sanitary landfills Sanitary landfills

Leachate collection Leachate collection

Monitoring wells Monitoring wells

Emit greenhouse gases (CO2 and methane)

Emit greenhouse gases (CO2 and methane)

Open dumps Open dumps

Sanitary LandfillSanitary Landfill

Fig. 24-14 p. 547

Sanitary Landfills: Trade-offsSanitary Landfills: Trade-offs

And what about all of the older landfills around U.S. and the rest of the world???

NIMBYNIMBY • Not In My Back Yard common with landfills and incinerators

Section 7: Hazardous WasteSection 7: Hazardous Waste

• What is hazardous waste?

• What can we do with hazardous waste?

• How can we detoxify waste?

• What are advantages and disadvantages of burying hazardous wastes?

• What are Brownfields?

What is Hazardous Waste?What is Hazardous Waste?Any discarded solid or

liquid that is toxic, ignitable, corrosive or reactive enough to explode or release toxic fumes.

• 80-90% from developed countries

• 72% from Petro-Chem

• 22% mining

Hazardous Wastes: Types Hazardous Wastes: Types

Contains at least one toxic compound

Contains at least one toxic compound

Catches fire easilyCatches fire easily

Reactive or explosiveReactive or explosive

Corrodes metal containersCorrodes metal containers

Not Hazardous Wastes under RCRANot Hazardous Wastes under RCRA Radioactive wastes Radioactive wastes

Household wastes Household wastes

Mining wastes Mining wastes

Oil and gas drilling wastes Oil and gas drilling wastes

Liquids containing organic hydrocarbons Liquids containing organic hydrocarbons

Cement kiln dust Cement kiln dust

<100 kg (220 lb) per month <100 kg (220 lb) per month

Case Study: Bhopal IndiaCase Study: Bhopal India• 1984 World’s worst

industrial accident• Union Carbide

pesticide plant explosion

• Toxic cloud settled over region killing 23,000

• 120,000 to 150,000 suffer chronic illnesses related to accident

Dealing with Hazardous WastesDealing with Hazardous Wastes

Fig. 24-17 p. 550

Detoxifying and Removing WastesDetoxifying and Removing Wastes

BioremediationBioremediation

PhytoremediationPhytoremediation

Plasma incinerationPlasma incineration

Physical methodsPhysical methods

Chemical methodsChemical methods

Deep-well DisposalDeep-well Disposal

Fig. 24-21 p. 553

Hazardous Waste LandfillHazardous Waste Landfill

Fig. 24-23 p. 554

Surface Impoundments: Trade-offsSurface Impoundments: Trade-offs

Fig. 24-22 p. 553

BrownfieldsBrownfields

Abandoned industrial and other hazardous waste site

• Factories, junk yards, gas stations

• Usually older urban areas like Camden are full of them

BrownfieldsBrownfields

• Can be cleaned up and reborn as parks, industrial parks, etc.

• First need to be cleaned

• Some developers weary of taking risks and costs

BrownfieldsBrownfields

One example of many in Camden: http://www.state.nj.us/dep//srp/brownfields/bda/n_camden.htm

Case Studies: LeadCase Studies: Lead

Lead poisoning major problem in children Lead poisoning major problem in children

Primary Sources of LeadPrimary Sources of Lead

Leaded gasoline (phased out by 1986) Leaded gasoline (phased out by 1986)

Lead paint (banned in 1970) Lead paint (banned in 1970)

Lead in plumbing Lead in plumbing

Progress is being made in reducing lead Progress is being made in reducing lead

Case Studies: MercuryCase Studies: Mercury

Vaporized elemental Mercury Vaporized elemental Mercury

Fish contaminated with methylmercury Fish contaminated with methylmercury

Natural inputs Natural inputs

Emission control Emission control

Prevention of contamination Prevention of contamination

Case Studies: DioxinsCase Studies: Dioxins

Potentially highly toxic chlorinated hydrocarbons

Potentially highly toxic chlorinated hydrocarbons

Waste incineration Waste incineration

Fireplaces Fireplaces

Coal-fired power plants Coal-fired power plants

Paper production Paper production

Sources of DioxinsSources of Dioxins

Sewage sludge Sewage sludge

Section 9: Hazardous Waste Regulation in the U.S.Section 9: Hazardous Waste Regulation in the U.S.

• What is RCRA?

• What is Superfund?

Hazardous Waste Regulation in the United StatesHazardous Waste Regulation in the United States

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (Superfund)

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (Superfund)

National Priority List National Priority List

Polluter-pays principle Polluter-pays principle

RCRARCRA 1976 Passed By Congress: amended 1984

1) ID Hazardous Waste and set standards

2) Companies that deal with Haz. Waste over 220 lbs. must get permits

3) Cradle to Grave tracking and submit proof to EPA

CERCLACERCLA Commonly called Superfund

• Passed in 1980 (NJ Congressman leaders)

• Established tax on on chemicals to

1) ID abandoned dumps sites

2) Clean up groundwater

3) Establish NPL list for cleanups

http://www.scorecard.org/env-releases/land/

CERCLACERCLA • Responsible parties must pay

• If no party can be found clean ups down using $ from tax on oil and chemical companies (tax expired 1995)

• 1,250 NPL sites…113 in NJ

• About 72% clean up underway avg. $20 million per site

CERCLACERCLA

• Some estimates 10,000 sites could cost $1 trillion…pollution prevention cheaper?

• Toxic Release Inventory www.epa.gov/tri

Polluter Pays PrinciplePolluter Pays Principle

• Who should pay for cleanup when responsible parties can not be found?

• Currently tax payers• 1 in 4 Americans live

within 4 miles of Superfund NPL site

Solutions: Achieving a Low-Waste SocietySolutions: Achieving a Low-Waste Society

Local grassroots actionLocal grassroots action

International ban on 12 persistent organic pollutants (the dirty dozen) POPs Treaty

International ban on 12 persistent organic pollutants (the dirty dozen) POPs Treaty

Precautionary PrinciplePrecautionary Principle