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Flashcards

Chapter 16: Waste Generation and Disposal

sabrinapar22 English 51 cards

Cards in this deck (51)

  1. 1waste-outputs not useful or consumed, non useful products generated within the system
  2. 2What are examples of inputs in human systems?raw materials, energy
  3. 3What are examples of outputs in human systems?-waste energy, material that can be recycled or disposed of
  4. 4What caused consumption patterns in the United States to change?-rapid population growth after WW II
    -increased industrialization
    -wealth
    -cultural changes
  5. 5planned obsolescencethe design of a product so that it will need to be replaced within a few years
  6. 6municipal solid waste MSWrefuse collected by municipalities from households, small businesses, institutions (schools, prisons), municipal buildings, and hospitals
    -60% MSW from residences
    -40% MSW from commercial and institutional facilities
  7. 7What factors vary waste generation?-season of the year
    -socioeconomic status of the individual
    -geographic location
  8. 8waste stream-flow of solid waste that is recycled, incinerated, placed in a solid landfill, or disposed of in another way
  9. 9paper in solid waste stream-newsprint, office paper, cardboard, boxboard
    -31% of waste stream
    -231 million metric tons (254 million US tons)
    -decreased from 40%
  10. 10organic materials in the solid waste stream-yard waste and food scraps 26% of MSW
    -wood 7% of MSW
  11. 11plastic in solid waste stream-12% MSW
  12. 12compostable goods-largely made up of organic material that can decompose under proper conditions
  13. 13containers and packaging in solid waste stream31% of MSW
    -intended for one use
  14. 14food and yard waste in the solid waste stream-26% of MSW
  15. 15non durable goods in the solid waste stream25% MSW
    -newspapers, white paper, printed products, plastic items
  16. 16durable goods in the solid waste stream-18% of MSW
    -appliances, tires, other manufactured products
  17. 17E-waste in the waste stream-2%
    -televisions, computers, cell phones
  18. 18How is e-waste dangerous to the environment?-contains heavy metals such as mercury, cadium
    -little infrastructure to recycle
  19. 19reduce-optimal way to reduce solid waste generation
    -waste minimization or prevention
    -reduced input = reduced output
  20. 20source reduction-reduction of wast by reducing the use of materials in the early stages of design and manufacture
    -increase energy efficiency
    -economic benefits
    -implemented on both individual or corporate levels
  21. 21reuse-allows a material to cycle within a system longer before becoming an output
  22. 22recycling-process by which are collected and converted into raw materials that are then used to produce new objects
    -rates increased in US since 1975
    -US recycles 1/3 of MSW
    -requires more energy than reducing or reusing
  23. 23closed loop recycling-recycling of a product into the same product
    -eg aluminum cans made into new aluminum cans
  24. 24open loop recycling-one product is recycled into another product
    -eg plastic soda bottle is recycled into polar fleece jackets
    -does not reduce demand for raw material
  25. 25What are the two problems of organic materials in landfills?-take up space
    -absence of oxygen causes material to decompose anaerobically and produce methane gas
  26. 26compostorganic matter that has decomposed under controlled conditions to produce an organic-rich material that enhances soil structure, cation exchange capacity, and fertility
  27. 27What materials are compostable?vegetables, vegetable by-products such as cornstalks, grass, animal manure, yard wastes, and paper fiber
  28. 28What is the process of composting?1. detritivores break down dead tissues and waste products into smaller particles
    2. decomposers complete the breakdown process by recycling nutrients from dead tissues and wastes back into the ecosystem
    3. frequent turning for aerobic decomposition
  29. 29What carbon to nitrogen ration best supports rapid decomposition?30:1
    -layers of brown material and green material
  30. 30How do large scale composting facilities operate?1. waste us dumped in a tipping area
    2. compostable and noncompostable materials are separated
    3. noncompostable material is removed to landfill
    4. compostable material is aerated and turned one or more times for a period of 30 days to a year
    5. composted material is allowed to cure
    6. finished compost is transported for use
  31. 31leachate-water that leaches through the solid waste and removes various chemical compounds which it comes into contact
  32. 32sanitary landfillsengineered ground facilities designed to hold MSW with as little contamination of the surrounding environment as possible
  33. 33What are the layers of sanitary landfills?-clay/plastic lining at bottom
    -pipes constructed below to collect leachate
    -cover of soil and clay (cap) at top when landfill reaches capacity
  34. 34Why is rainfall and other water inputs minimized in sanitary landfills?-cause greater rate of anaerobic decomposition and methane release
    -greater likelihood of leachate
  35. 35What types of waste should not go in a landfill?aluminum and other metals, toxic materials, organic materials
    -anything that contains substantial quantities of metals
  36. 36Process of a landfill1. solid waste transported to the landfill
    2. waste is compacted by a specialized machine
    3. leachate collection system removes water and contaminants and carries them to a wastewater treatment plant
    5. methane produced in closed cells is extracted and either burned off or collected for use as fuel
  37. 37How are landfill construction fees recovered?-tipping fees: fee charged for disposing of material in a landfill or incinerator
  38. 38Where should a sanitary landfill be located?-soil rich in clay
    -away from rivers, streams, and other water bodies
    -far from population centers, but not to far
  39. 39What problems are caused by landfills?-locating landfills near populations who do not have the resources to object
    -possibility of leachate contaminating water
    -anaerobic decomposition produces greenhouse gases and explosion hazards
  40. 40incinerationprocess of burning waste materials to reduce the volume and mass and sometimes to generate electricity or heat
    -efficient incinerators may reduce the volume of solid waste by 90% and weight by 75%
  41. 41Process of mass burn MSW incinerator1. MSW sorted, recyclables diverted
    2. remaining material is tipped into refuse bunker and certain materials are removed
    3. crane transfers waste from bunker to hopper
    4. waste burned in incineration chamber and combustion releases water and CO2
    5. ash is collected and removed from plant
    6. baghouse filter cleans air before it is released through chimney
    7. heat energy can be used to create steam and generate electricity
  42. 42ashresidual nonorganic material that does not combust during incineration
  43. 43bottom ashresidue collected underneath the furnace
  44. 44fly ashresidue collected beyond the furnacr
  45. 45waste to energy-heat generated by incineration is used rather than released to the atmosphere
  46. 46What are the problems with incineration?-higher tipping fees ($70 per ton)
    -NIMBY and environmental justice issues
    -air pollutants
    -concentrated and toxic ash
    -large and expensive to build
    -require large daily MSW amounts to be efficient and profitable=less likely to encourage recycling
    -,ay not completely burn all waste
  47. 47hazardous waste-liquid, solid, gaseous, or sludge waste that is harmful to humans or ecosystems
  48. 48What are some sources of hazardous waste?industrial processes, dry cleaners, automobile service stations, small farms, households
  49. 49Resource Conservation and Recovery Act RCRA-1970s
    -protect human health and environment by reducing or eliminating generation of hazardous waste
    -EPA maintains lists of hazardous wastes and works with businesses and state/local authorities to minimize and track hazardous waste
    -modified in 1984 to Hazardous Solid Waste Amendments HSWA to encourage waste minimization and phase out disposal of hazardous wastes on land, increase punishment of violators
  50. 50Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act CERCLA (Superfund Act)-passed 1980 amended 1986
    -tax on chemical and petroleum industries
    -revenue from tax used to fund cleanup of abandoned and nonoperating hazardous waste sites
    -fed gov can respond directly to release or threat of release of toxic substances
    -National Priorities List NPL of contaminated sites eligible for funds
  51. 51Brownfields Program-assists state and local gov in cleaning up contaminated land that did not achieve conditions necessary to be in Superfund category
    -brownfields: contaminated industrial or commercial sites that may require environmental cleanup before they can be redeveloped or expanded
    -management varied from region to region since it is run by state and local govs

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Flashcards on Chapter 16: Waste Generation and Disposal, created by sabrinapar22 on 19/02/2015.
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