WasteWaste

Chapter 19Chapter 19

Hazardous WasteHazardous Waste

Hazardous Waste- any Hazardous Waste- any waste that is a risk to the waste that is a risk to the health of humans or other health of humans or other living thingsliving things– Toxic- PoisonousToxic- Poisonous– Corrosive- will dissolve Corrosive- will dissolve

metalmetal– Explosive- will explodeExplosive- will explode

Hazardous WasteHazardous Waste

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)- requires producers of hazardous waste to (RCRA)- requires producers of hazardous waste to keep records of hazardous waste from the time of keep records of hazardous waste from the time of production until it is properly disposed of.production until it is properly disposed of.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (Superfund Act)- Compensation, and Liability Act (Superfund Act)- gives the EPA the right to sue companies that gives the EPA the right to sue companies that improperly handle hazardous wasteimproperly handle hazardous waste– 1,200 sites (only 75 have been cleaned)1,200 sites (only 75 have been cleaned)

Hazardous WasteHazardous Waste

Hazardous WasteHazardous Waste

U.S. produces 252 metric tons of hazardous U.S. produces 252 metric tons of hazardous wastewaste– Reduce the amount producedReduce the amount produced– ReuseReuse– Conversion to nonhazardous wasteConversion to nonhazardous waste– Land disposalLand disposal– Biological treating of wasteBiological treating of waste– IncinerationIncineration– Exporting hazardous wastedExporting hazardous wasted

Hazardous WasteHazardous Waste

Land disposalLand disposal– Deep well injection- waste is pumped into a Deep well injection- waste is pumped into a

vacant layer of rock below the water tablevacant layer of rock below the water table– Surface Impoundment- waste are pumped into Surface Impoundment- waste are pumped into

a pond with a sealed bottom and collecta pond with a sealed bottom and collect

Hazardous WasteHazardous Waste

Hazardous WasteHazardous Waste

Most cities offer some sort of hazardous Most cities offer some sort of hazardous waste collectionwaste collection

The Garbage StoryThe Garbage Story