Solid and Hazardous Waste
Chapter 21
Core Case Study: E-waste—An Exploding Problem (1)
Electronic waste, e-waste: fastest growing solid waste problem
Composition includes • High-quality plastics • Valuable metals • Toxic and hazardous pollutants
Core Case Study: E-waste—An Exploding Problem (2)
Shipped to other countries • What happens in China?
International Basel Convention • Bans transferring hazardous wastes from
developed countries to developing countries
European Union • Cradle-to-grave approach
Core Case Study: E-waste—An Exploding Problem (3)
What should be done? • Recycle • E-cycle • Reuse • Prevention approach: remove the toxic materials
Rapidly Growing E-Waste from Discarded Computers and Other Electronics
21-1 What Are Solid Waste and Hazardous Waste, and Why Are They Problems?
Concept 21-1 Solid waste represents pollution and unnecessary waste of resources, and hazardous waste contributes to pollution, natural capital degradation, health problems, and premature deaths.
We Throw Away Huge Amounts of Useful Things and Hazardous Materials (1)
Solid waste • Industrial solid • Municipal solid waste (MSW) • Hazardous, toxic, waste
Hazardous wastes • Organic compounds • Toxic heavy metals • Radioactive waste
We Throw Away Huge Amounts of Useful Things and Hazardous Materials (2)
80–90% of hazardous wastes produced by developed countries
Why reduce solid wastes? • ¾ of the materials are an unnecessary waste of
the earth's resources • Huge amounts of air pollution, greenhouse gases,
and water pollution
What Harmful Chemicals Are in Your Home?
Fig. 21-2, p. 562
What Harmful Chemicals Are in Your Home?
Cleaning Gardening Disinfectants Pesticides Drain, toilet, and window cleaners
Weed killers Ant and rodent killers
Spot removers Flea powders Septic tank cleaners
Paint Products Paints, stains, varnishes, and lacquers Paint thinners, solvents, and strippers Wood preservatives
Automotive
Artist paints and inks Gasoline Used motor oil
General Antifreeze Dry-cell batteries (mercury and cadmium)
Battery acid Brake and transmission fluid
Glues and cements
Fig. 21-2, p. 562
What Harmful Chemicals Are in Your Home?
Cleaning Disinfectants Drain, toilet, and window cleaners Spot removers Septic tank cleaners
Paint Products Paints, stains, varnishes, and lacquers Paint thinners, solvents, and strippers Wood preservatives Artist paints and inks
Gardening Pesticides Weed killers Ant and rodent killers Flea powders
General Dry-cell batteries (mercury and cadmium)
Glues and cements
Automotive Gasoline Used motor oil Antifreeze Battery acid Brake and transmission fluid
Stepped Art
Natural Capital Degradation: Solid Wastes Polluting a River in Indonesia
Solid Waste in the United States
Leader in solid waste problem • What is thrown away?
Leader in trash production, by weight, per person
Recycling is helping
Hundreds of Millions of Discarded Tires in a Dump in Colorado, U.S.
Case Study: Trash Production, Recycling in NYC: Past, Present, and Future
1920–1940: Highest trash due to coal ash
1962 and 1963: Lowest trash, coal burning phased out
1964 and 1974: Rise in trash due to throwaway containers
1999: Mandatory recycling
2001: Fresh Kills landfill closed, trash hauling
21-2 How Should We Deal with Solid Waste?
Concept 21-2 A sustainable approach to solid waste is first to reduce it, then to reuse or recycle it, and finally to safely dispose of what is left.
We Can Burn or Bury Solid Waste or Produce Less of It
Waste Management
Waste Reduction
Integrated waste management • Uses a variety of strategies
Integrated Waste Management
Fig. 21-5, p. 565
Raw materials
Processing and
manufacturing Products
Solid and hazardous wastes generated during
the manufacturing process
Waste generated by households and
businesses
Food/yard waste
Hazardous waste
Remaining mixed waste Plastic Glass Metal Paper
To manufacturers for reuse or for recycling Compost Hazardous waste
management Landfill Incinerator
Fertilizer
Integrated Waste Management: Priorities for Dealing with Solid Waste
Fig. 21-6, p. 565
First Priority Second Priority Last Priority Primary Pollution and Waste Prevention
Secondary Pollution and Waste Prevention
Waste Management
Change industrial process to eliminate use of harmful chemicals
Reuse Treat waste to reduce toxicity
Repair Incinerate waste Use less of a harmful product Recycle Bury waste in landfills Reduce packaging and materials in products
Compost Release waste into environment for dispersal or dilution
Make products that last longer and are recyclable, reusable, or easy to repair
Buy reusable and recyclable products
Fig. 21-6, p. 565
Use less of a harmful product
Last Priority Waste Management
Treat waste to reduce toxicity Incinerate waste Bury waste in landfills
Release waste into environment for dispersal or dilution
First Priority Primary Pollution and Waste Prevention Change industrial process to eliminate use of harmful chemicals
Reduce packaging and materials in products Make products that last longer and are recyclable, reusable, or easy to repair
Second Priority Secondary Pollution and Waste Prevention Reuse Repair Recycle Compost Buy reusable and recyclable products
Stepped Art
Science Focus: Garbology
William Rathje: analyzes garbage in landfills
Landfills and trash decomposition
We Can Cut Solid Wastes by Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling (1)
Waste reduction is based on • Reduce • Reuse • Recycle
Seven strategies: (1) Redesign manufacturing processes and
products to use less material and energy (2) Redesign manufacturing processes to produce
less waste and pollution
We Can Cut Solid Wastes by Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling (2)
Seven strategies cont… (3) Develop products that are easy to repair,
reuse, remanufacture, compost, or recycle (4) Eliminate or reduce unnecessary packaging (5) Use fee-per-bag waste collection systems (6) Establish cradle-to grave responsibility (7) Restructure urban transportation systems
What Can You Do? Solid Waste
Fig. 21-7, p. 566 Stepped Art
21-3 Why Is Reusing and Recycling Materials So Important?
Concept 21-3 Reusing items decreases the use of matter and energy resources and reduces pollution and natural capital degradation; recycling does so to a lesser degree.
Reuse: Important Way to Reduce Solid Waste, Pollution and to Save Money
Reuse: clean and use materials over and over
Downside of reuse in developing countries
Salvaging automobiles parts
Rechargeable batteries
Case Study: Use of Refillable Containers
Reuse and recycle • Refillable glass beverage bottles • Refillable soft drink bottles made of polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) plastic
Paper, plastic, or reusable cloth bags • Pros • Cons
Energy Consumption Involved with Using Different Types of 350 ml Containers
Fig. 21-8, p. 568
Aluminum can, used once
Steel can, used once
Recycled steel can
Glass drink bottle, used once
Recycled aluminum can
Recycled glass drink bottle
Refillable drink bottle, used 10 times
0 8 16 24 32
Energy (thousands of kilocalories)
What Can You Do? Reuse
There Are Two Types of Recycling (1)
Primary, closed-loop recycling
Secondary recycling
Types of wastes that can be recycled • Preconsumer: internal waste • Postconsumer: external waste
There Are Two Types of Recycling (2)
Do items actually get recycled?
What are the numbers?
Will the consumer buy recycled goods?
We Can Mix or Separate Household Solid Wastes for Recycling
Materials-recovery facilities (MRFs)
Source separation • Pay-as-you-throw • Fee-per-bag
Which program is more cost effective?
Which is friendlier to the environment?
We Can Copy Nature and Recycle Biodegradable Solid Wastes
Composting • Individual • Municipal
Benefits
Successful program in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Backyard Composter Drum: Bacteria Convert Kitchen Waste into Compost
Case Study: Recycling Paper
Production of paper versus recycled paper • Energy use • Water use • Pollution
Countries that are recycling
Replacement of chlorine-based bleaching chemicals with H2O2 or O2
Case Study: Recycling Plastics (1)
Plastics: composed of resins
Most containers discarded: 4% recycled
Litter: beaches, water • Significance?
Case Study: Recycling Plastics (2)
Low plastic recycling rate • Hard to isolate one type of plastic • Low yields of plastic • Cheaper to make it new
Discarded Solid Waste Litters Beaches
Individuals Matter: Mike Biddle’s Contribution to Recycling Plastics
Mike Biddle and Trip Allen: MBA Polymers, Inc.
Leaders in plastic recycling
Plants in • U.S. • China • Australia
Science Focus: Bioplastics (1)
Plastics from soybeans: not a new concept
Key to bioplastics: catalysts
Sources • Corn • Soy • Sugarcane
Science Focus: Bioplastics (2)
Sources cont… • Switchgrass • Chicken feathers • Some garbage • CO2 from coal-burning plant emissions
Benefits: lighter, stronger, cheaper, and biodegradable
Recycling Has Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
Disadvantages
Trade-Offs: Recycling, Advantages and Disadvantages
Fig. 21-12, p. 573
TRADE-OFFS Recycling
Advantages Disadvantages Reduces air and water pollution
Can cost more than burying in areas with ample landfill space
Saves energy Reduces mineral demand May lose money for
items such as glass and some plastics Reduces greenhouse
gas emissions Reduces solid waste production and disposal Reduces profits for
landfill and incinerator owners Helps protect
biodiversity Can save landfill space
Source separation is inconvenient for some people Important part of
economy
We Can Encourage Reuse and Recycling (1)
What hinders reuse and recycling?
Encourage reuse and recycling • Government
• Increase subsidies and tax breaks for using such products
• Decrease subsidies and tax breaks for making items from virgin resources
We Can Encourage Reuse and Recycling (2)
• Fee-per-bag collection • New laws • Citizen pressure
21-4 The Advantages and Disadvantages of Burning or Burying Solid Waste
Concept 21-4 Technologies for burning and burying solid wastes are well developed, but burning contributes to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and buried wastes eventually contribute to pollution and land degradation.
Burning Solid Waste Has Advantages and Disadvantages
Waste-to-energy incinerators
600 Globally • Most in Great Britain
Advantages
Disadvantages
Solutions: A Waste-to-Energy Incinerator with Pollution Controls
Fig. 21-13, p. 575
Electricity
Turbine Smokestack Crane Steam
Generator
Furnace Wet scrubber
Boiler
Electrostatic precipitator
Waste pit
Water added
Conveyor Bottom
ash Dirty
water Fly ash
Ash for treatment, disposal in landfill, or use as landfill cover
Trade-Offs: Incineration, Advantages and Disadvantages
Burying Solid Waste Has Advantages and Disadvantages
Open dumps
Sanitary landfills
Solutions: State-of-the-Art Sanitary Landfill
When landfill is full, layers of soil and clay seal in trash
Topsoil
Sand Electricity generator building Clay
Garbage Methane storage and compressor building
Leachate treatment system
Probes to detect methane leaks
Pipes collect explosive methane for use as fuel to generate electricity
Methane gas recovery well
Leachate storage tank Compacted
solid waste
Leachate pipes Garbage Leachate pumped
up to storage tank for safe disposal
Groundwater monitoring well Sand
Synthetic liner
Leachate monitoring well Sand Groundwater
Clay Clay and plastic lining to prevent leaks; pipes collect leachate from bottom of landfill
Subsoil
Trade-Offs: Sanitary Landfills, Advantages and Disadvantages
Fig. 21-16, p. 576
TRADE-OFFS
Sanitary Landfills
Advantages Disadvantages No open burning Noise and traffic Little odor Dust Low groundwater pollution if sited properly
Air pollution from toxic gases and trucks
Can be built quickly Releases greenhouse gases (methane and CO2) unless they are collected Low operating costs
Can handle large amounts of waste
Slow decomposition of wastes
Filled land can be used for other purposes
Output approach that encourages waste production
No shortage of landfill space in many areas
Eventually leaks and can contaminate groundwater
21-5 How Should We Deal with Hazardous Waste?
Concept 21-5 A sustainable approach to hazardous waste is first to produce less of it, then to reuse or recycle it, then to convert it to less hazardous materials, and finally, to safely store what is left.
We Can Use Integrated Management of Hazardous Waste
Integrated management of hazardous wastes • Produce less • Convert to less hazardous substances • Rest in long-term safe storage
Increased use for postconsumer hazardous waste
Integrated Hazardous Waste Management
Fig. 21-17, p. 577
Produce Less Hazardous Waste
Convert to Less Hazardous or Nonhazardous Substances
Put in Perpetual Storage
Change industrial processes to reduce or eliminate hazardous waste production
Natural decomposition Landfill Incineration Underground
injection wells
Recycle and reuse hazardous waste
Thermal treatment Surface impoundments Chemical, physical, and
biological treatment Underground salt formations Dilution in air or water
Case Study: Recycling E-Waste
70% goes to China • Hazardous working conditions
Reduce toxic components in electronics
2008: Basal Action Network • Instituted e-Stewards Initiative
We Can Detoxify Hazardous Wastes
Collect and then detoxify • Physical methods • Chemical methods • Use nanomagnets • Bioremediation • Phytoremediation
Incineration
Using a plasma arc torch
Solutions: Phytoremediation
Trade-Offs: Phytoremediation, Advantages and Disadvantages
Fig. 21-19, p. 579
TRADE-OFFS
Phytoremediation
Advantages Disadvantages Easy to establish Slow (can take
several growing seasons) Inexpensive Effective only at depth plant roots can reach
Can reduce material dumped into landfills Some toxic organic
chemicals may evaporate from plant leaves
Produces little air pollution compared to incineration Some plants can
become toxic to animals Low energy use
Trade-Offs: Plasma Arc, Advantages and Disadvantages
Fig. 21-20, p. 580
TRADE-OFFS
Plasma Arc
Advantages Disadvantages Small High cost
Produces CO2 and CO Mobile. Easy
to move to different sites Can release
particulates and chlorine gas
Can vaporize and release toxic metals and radioactive elements
Produces no toxic ash
We Can Store Some Forms of Hazardous Waste
Burial on land or long-term storage
Deep-well disposal
Surface impoundments
Secure hazardous landfills
Trade-Offs: Deep-Well Disposal, Advantages and Disadvantages
Fig. 21-21, p. 580
TRADE-OFFS
Deep-Well Disposal
Advantages Disadvantages
Safe method if sites are chosen carefully
Leaks or spills at surface
Leaks from corrosion of well casing
Wastes can often be retrieved if problems develop
Existing fractures or earthquakes can allow wastes to escape into groundwater
Output approach that encourages waste production
Easy to do
Low cost
Surface Impoundment in Niagara Falls, New York, U.S.
Trade-Offs Surface Impoundments, Advantages and Disadvantages
Fig. 21-23, p. 581
TRADE-OFFS
Surface Impoundments
Advantages Disadvantages Low construction costs
Groundwater contamination from leaking liners (or no lining) Low operating
costs Air pollution from volatile organic compounds Can be built
quickly Overflow from flooding Wastes can often
be retrieved if necessary Disruption and
leakage from earthquakes Can store wastes
indefinitely with secure double liners
Output approach that encourages waste production
Solutions: Secure Hazardous Waste Landfill
Fig. 21-24, p. 582
Bulk waste
Gas vent
Topsoil
Earth Plastic cover
Sand Impervious clay cap
Clay cap
Impervious clay
Water table
Earth Leak detection system
Groundwater
Double leachate collection system
Plastic double liner
Reactive wastes in drums
Groundwater monitoring well
What Can You Do? Hazardous Waste
Case Study: Hazardous Waste Regulation in the United States
1976: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
1980: Comprehensive Environmental, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), or Superfund • Pace of cleanup has slowed • Superfund is broke
Laws encouraging the cleanup of brownfields
Leaking Barrels of Toxic Waste at a Superfund Site in the United States
21-6 How Can We Make the Transition to a More Sustainable Low-Waste Society?
Concept 21-6 Shifting to a low-waste society requires individuals and businesses to reduce resource use and to reuse and recycle wastes at local, national, and global levels.
Grassroots Action Has Led to Better Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
“Not in my backyard”
Produce less waste • “Not in anyone’s backyard” • “Not on planet Earth”
Providing Environmental Justice for Everyone Is an Important Goal
Environmental Justice
Which communities in the U.S. have the largest share of hazardous waster dumps?
Countries Have Developed International Treaties to Reduce Hazardous Waste (1)
1989 Basel Convention • 1995: Amended • 2008: Ratified by 192 countries, but not
• The United States • Afghanistan • Haiti
Countries Have Developed International Treaties to Reduce Hazardous Waste (2)
2000: Delegates from 122 countries completed a global treaty • Control 12 persistent organic pollutants
2000: Swedish Parliament Law • By 2020 ban all chemicals that are persistent and
can accumulate in living tissue
We Can Make the Transition to Low-Waste Societies
Norway, Austria, and the Netherlands • Committed to reduce resource waste by 75%
East Hampton, NY, U.S. • Reduced solid waste by 85%
Follow guidelines to prevent pollution and reduce waste
Animation: Economic types