Solid and Hazardous Waste. Key Concepts Types and amounts of wastes Methods to reduce waste Methods of dealing with wastes Hazardous waste regulation.

Solid and Hazardous WasteSolid and Hazardous Waste

Key ConceptsKey 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

Solid wasteSolid waste

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/year

Producing Less Waste and PollutionProducing Less Waste and Pollution

Waste management (high waste approach) Waste management (high waste approach)

Burying, burning, shipping Burying, burning, shipping

Waste prevention (low waste approach) Waste prevention (low waste approach)

Reduce, reuse, recycle Reduce, reuse, recycle

Sustainability Six Sustainability Six

Dealing with Material Use and WastesDealing with Material Use and Wastes

Solutions: Cleaner ProductionSolutions: Cleaner Production

Ecoindustrial revolutionEcoindustrial revolution

Resource exchange websResource exchange webs

BiomimicryBiomimicry

Service-flow economyService-flow economy

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 Eco-leasing

What Can You Do?

Solid Waste

• Follow the four R's of resource use: Refuse, Reduce,

• Reuse, and Recycle.

• Ask yourself whether you really need a particular

item.

• Rent, borrow, or barter goods and services when you

can.

• Buy things that are reusable, recyclable, or

compostable, and be sure to reuse, recycle, and

compost them.

• Do not use throwaway paper and plastic plates, cups,

and eating utensils, and other disposable items when

reusable or refillable versions are available.

• Use e-mail in place of conventional paper mail.

• Read newspapers and magazines online.

• Buy products in concentrated form whenever

possible.

Pharmaceuticalplant

Local farmers

Fish farming

Cementmanufacturer

Area homes

Wallboardfactory

Greenhouses

Oil refinery

Sulfuric acidproducer

Electricpowerplant

Sludge

Sludge

Waste

Heat

Waste

Heat

Waste

Heat

WasteHeat

Was

te

Hea

t

Surplus

Natural gas

Su

rplu

s

Su

lfur

Surplus

Natural gas

Was

te

Cal

ciu

m s

ulf

ate

Ash

Fly

ReuseReuse

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

RecyclingRecycling

Primary (closed-loop)

Primary (closed-loop)

Preconsumer waste

Preconsumer waste

Secondary (open loop)

Secondary (open loop)

Postconsumer waste

Postconsumer waste

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

What Can You Do?

Reuse

• Buy beverages in refillable glass containers instead of cans or throwaway bottles.

• Use reusable plastic or metal lunchboxes.

• Carry sandwiches and store food in the refrigerator in reusable containers instead of wrapping them in aluminum foil or plastic wrap.

• Use rechargeable batteries and recycle them when their useful life is over.

• Carry groceries and other items in a reusable basket, a canvas or string bag, or a small cart.

• Use reusable sponges and washable cloth napkins, dishtowels, and handkerchiefs instead of throwaway paper ones.

Benefits of RecyclingBenefits of Recycling

Recycling MethodsRecycling Methods

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

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

Source separation Source separation

Pay-as-you-throw (PAUT) Pay-as-you-throw (PAUT)

Outsideuses

Pipeline

Shredder

Energy recovery(steam andelectricity)

Incinerator(paper, plastics,

rubber, food,yard waste)

Food, grass, leaves

Separator

Metals Rubber Glass Plastics Paper Residue Compost

Recycled to primary manufacturers or reformulated for new products

Landfill and

reclaimingdisturbed

land

Fertilizer

Consumer (user)

Source materials

Natural gas Petroleum Coal

Feedstocks

Monomers (small molecules)

Polymers

Resins (giant molecules)

ProductsBottles, milk jugs,

soda bottles, drums,

containers

ProductsAppliance

housing, CDs,toys, plastic parts,

aircraft, boats

ProductsVinyl siding,

plastic film andbags, pipe

Refining

Polymerization

Manufacturing

Blow molding(hollow objects)

Molding(solid objects)

Extrusion(flat, rolled, andtubular shapes)

Usebleach,

detergents,water,

pollution

Manufacturingenergy, waste,

pollution

Packagingpaper, plastics,waste, pollution

Reuseless resource

use and waste,less pollution

Raw materialsfertilizer,

energy, water,pollution

Processingenergy,

cleaners,dyes,

pollution

Transportenergy,pollution

LIFE-CYCLE ANALYSIS OF A SHIRTLIFE-CYCLE ANALYSIS OF A SHIRT

Recycle

Disposalwaste, pollution

Wastepaper and PlasticsWastepaper and Plastics

49% of wastepaper recycled in US 49% of wastepaper recycled in US

Chlorine-based compound in paper production

Chlorine-based compound in paper production

10% or less of plastic recycled in US 10% or less of plastic recycled in US

Plastics can be very difficult to recycle Plastics can be very difficult to recycle

Burning WastesBurning Wastes

Mass burn incineration Mass burn incineration

Air pollution

Air pollution

Waste to energy

Waste to energy

Power plant

Steam

Turbine GeneratorElectricity

Crane

Furnace

Boiler

Wetscrubber

Electrostaticprecipitator

Conveyor

Water Bottomash

Conven-tional

landfill

Wastetreatment

Hazardouswastelandfill

Dirtywater

Waste pit

Smokestack

Flyash

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

Advantages

No open burning

Little odor

Low groundwater pollution ifsited properly

Can be built quickly

Low operating costs

Can handle large amounts of waste

Filled land can be used for otherpurposes

No shortage of landfill space inmany areas

Disadvantages

Noise and traffic

Dust

Air pollution from toxic gases and volatile organiccompounds

Releases greenhouse gases (methane and CO2) unless they are collected

Groundwater contamination

Slow decomposition of wastes

Discourages recycling waste reduction

Eventually leaks andcan contaminategroundwater

Sanitary Landfills

Trade-Offs

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

CERCLA (Superfund)

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

CERCLA (Superfund)

National Priority List National Priority List

Polluter-pays principle Polluter-pays principle

Hazardous Wastes: Types According to the RCRA Hazardous Wastes: Types According to the RCRA

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

Dealing with Hazardous WastesDealing with Hazardous Wastes

Detoxifying and Removing WastesDetoxifying and Removing Wastes

BioremediationBioremediation

PhytoremediationPhytoremediation

Plasma incinerationPlasma incineration

Physical methodsPhysical methods

Chemical methodsChemical methods

Deep-well DisposalDeep-well Disposal

Hazardous Waste LandfillHazardous Waste Landfill

Inorganic metal contaminantsOrganic contaminantsRadioactive contaminants

Brake fernPoplar tree

Indian mustard

Oilspill

Groundwater

Soil Soil

Groundwater

Pollutedgroundwaterin

Pollutedleachate

Decontaminatedwater out

Landfill

Willow tree

Phytoextraction Roots of plants such as Indian mustard and brake ferns can absorb toxic metals such as lead, arsenic, and others and store them in their leaves. Plants can then be recycled or harvested and incinerated.

Phytodegradation Plants such as poplars can absorb toxic organic chemicals and break them down into less harmful compounds which they store or release slowly into the air.

Phytostabilization Plants such as willow trees and poplars can absorb chemicals and keep them from reaching groundwater or nearby surface water.

Rhizofiltration Roots of plants such as sunflowers with dangling roots on ponds or in greenhouses can absorb pollutants such as radioactive strontium-90 and cesium-137 and various organic chemicals.

Sunflower

Trade-Offs

Phytoremediation

Advantages Disadvantages

Easy to establish

Inexpensive

Can reduce material dumped into land fills

Produces little air pollution compared to incineration

Low energy use

Slow (can take several growing seasons)

Effective only at depth plant roots can reach

Some toxic organic chemicals may evaporate from plant leaves

Some plants can become toxic to animals

Trade-Offs

Plasma Arc

Advantages Disadvantages

Small

Mobile. Easy to move to different sites

Produces no toxic ash

High cost

Produces CO2 and CO

Can release particulates and chlorine gas

Can vaporize and release toxic metals and radioactive elements

Trade-Offs

Surface Impoundments

Advantages Disadvantages

Low construction costs

Low operating costs

Can be built quickly

Wastes can beeasily retrievedif necessary

Can store wastesindefinitely withsecure doubleliners

Groundwatercontaminationfrom leaking liners(or no lining)

Air pollution fromvolatile organiccompounds

Overflow fromflooding

Disruption andleakage fromearthquakes

Promotes wasteproduction

LeadLead

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

Solutions

Lead Poisoning

Prevention Control

Wash fresh fruits andvegetables

Sharply reduce lead emissions from old and new incinerators

Replace lead pipes andplumbing fixturescontaining lead solder

Remove leaded paint and lead dust from older houses and apartments

Remove lead from TV sets and computer monitors before incineration or land disposal

Test for lead in existingceramicware used to serve food

Test existing candlesfor lead

Phase out leadedgasoline worldwide

Phase out wasteincineration

Test blood for lead by age 1

Ban lead solder inplumbing pipes, fixtures,and food cans

Ban lead glazing for ceramicware used toserve food

Ban candles withlead cores

MercuryMercury

Vaporized elemental Mercury Vaporized elemental Mercury

Fish contaminated with methyl mercury Fish contaminated with methyl mercury

Natural inputs Natural inputs

Emission control Emission control

Prevention of contamination Prevention of contamination

AIRWINDS PRECIPITATION WINDS PRECIPITATION

WATER

SEDIMENT

BIOMAGNIFICATIONIN FOOD CHAIN

Human sources Elementalmercury

vapor(Hg)

Inorganicmercury

and acids(Hg2+)

Inorganic mercuryand acids

(Hg2+)

Large fish

Small fish

Phytoplankton Zooplankton

Elementalmercury

liquid (Hg)

Inorganicmercury

(Hg2+)

Organicmercury(CH3Hg+)

De

po

sit

ion

Va

po

rizatio

n

De

po

sit

ion

Dep

ositio

n

Settles out

Bacteria

Bacteria and acids

Settles out

Oxidation

Incinerator Coal-burning plant

Photo-chemical oxidation

Hg and SO2 Hg2+ and acids Hg2+ and acids

Bacteria

Bacteria

Oxidation

Settles out

Runoff of Hg2+ and acids

Solutions

Mercury Pollution

Prevention Control

Sharply reduce mercury emissions from coal burning plants and incinerators

Tax each unit of mercury emitted by coal-burning plants and incinerators

Collect and recycle mercury containing electric switches, relays, and dry-cell batteries

Require labels on all products containing mercury

Phase out waste incineration

Remove mercury from coal before it is burned

Convert coal to liquid or gaseous fuel

Switch from coal to natural gas and renewable energy resources such as wind, solar cells, and hydrogen

Phase out use of mercury in all products unless they are recycled

DioxinsDioxins

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

Achieving a Low-Waste SocietyAchieving a Low-Waste Society

Local grassroots actionLocal grassroots action

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

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

Precautionary PrinciplePrecautionary Principle

What Can You Do?

Hazardous Waste

• Use pesticides in the smallest amount possible.

• Use less harmful substances instead of commercial chemicals for most household cleaners. For example, use liquid ammonia to clean appliances and windows; vinegar to polish metals, clean surfaces, and remove stains and mildew; baking soda to clean household utensils, deodorize, and remove stains; borax to remove stains and mildew.

• Do not dispose of pesticides, paints, solvents, oil, antifreeze, or other products containing hazardous chemicals by flushing them down the toilet, pouring them down the drain, burying them, throwing them into the garbage, or dumping them down storm drains.