Summary of topic 8.3

Topic 8Human Systems and Resource Use

8.3 Solid domestic waste

http://edroness.blogspot.mx/2013/12/the-story-of-stuff.html

separation of solid waste

Solid Domestic Waste

• Note that we are referring to domestic solid waste here, rather than industrial waste and/or liquid waste

• The production of domestic solid waste is dynamic – it changes with location and time

Types of Solid Domestic Waste

paper 1%

garden waste 25%

kitchen waste 21%

household sweepings 11%

glass 9%

wood 6%

furniture 6%

scrap metal 6%soil 4% textiles 4%

packaging 4%

disposable nappies 3%

Estimate of the proportions of solid domestic waste produced in the UK in 2010 (Davis and Nagle, Environmental Systems and Societies, Pearson, 2010)

Percentage Composition of WasteCountry Organics Paper Glass Metals Plastics Textiles Other

Belgium 43 28 9 4 7 9 0Denmark 37 30 6 3 7 18 0Germany 32 24 8 5 9 0 22France 21 27 7 4 11 2 28Greece 49 20 5 4 9 13 0Ireland 42 15 6 4 11 8 14Italy 32 27 8 4 7 3 19Luxembourg 41 16 4 3 8 3 25Netherlands 39 25 8 5 8 15 0Portugal 39 20 4 2 9 5 21Spain 44 21 7 4 11 5 8

Disposable Nappies (Diapers)

• One of the most problematic types of domestic waste

• Made of resistant plastics• Also contain faeces and urine which

may carry disease• Approx. 3 billion kg disposed of to

landfills in the US per year• It takes about 500 years for one

nappy to break down completely

Disposal Problems• Landfill Disposal

– Biodegradation of organics in landfills produces methane (explosive and greenhouse gas)

– This may also biodegrade to CO2

– Leachates may contaminate rivers and groundwater, causing eutrophication

– Punishments for not collecting animal poo (sealing landfills causes increased methane production

– Cause local problems of noise, smell and vermin

Disposal Problems• Incineration

– Many waste gases produced – CO2, SOx, NOx, Cl2, dioxins

– These lead to indirect problems such as acid rain, smog, global warming, lung diseases etc.

– Large amounts of road traffic, producing more greenhouse gases, fuel use, noise etc.

Ukranian politician Viktor Yushchenko before and after dioxin poisoning

Management Strategies1. Reduce

o Producers can consider expanding lifespan of goods and reducing packaging

o Consumers can demand or use less packaging2. Reuse

o Use of refillable bottles – e.g. garafonso Refurbishment of used productso Donation of used items for resale (charity shops)

3. Recovero Recyclingo Compostingo Incineration to collect heat

4. Disposeo Landfill

Management Strategies

• Recycling– Reduces pressure on landfill sites– Reduces mining, use of oil to produce

plastics and transportation of new goods– Not all recycling companies are ethical

and many materials are simply exported (in 2015, 410 000 tonnes of plastic were collected for recycling in US alone; approx 57% was exported to Asia)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3fOLL10yxY

Management Strategies

• Composting– The recycling of organic material to produce

nutrient-rich soil– May divert approx. 30% of total household

waste from landfill– Introduces beneficial microorganisms to the

soil– Helps to reduce leaching of nutrients and

problems of eutrophication (increasing amounts of sewage sludge are now being composted worldwide)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eXRfynD-M8

Management Strategies• Incineration

– Combustion of waste (organic and inorganic) – Produces ash, flue gases and heat– Heat can be used to produce electricity– Ash is sometimes used to produce paving

slabs, bricks or road fill– Reduces the amount of waste which is sent

to landfill– Reduces harmfulness of wastes which might

otherwise go to landfill – e.g. hospital waste– Produces polluting gases including CO2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhJRuiEId9Y

Questions

1. Describe the different types of domestic solid waste2. Describe the dynamic nature of domestic solid waste

production in terms of location and time3. Describe and evaluate different pollution

management strategies for domestic solid waste disposal

4. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of disposal to landfill

5. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of disposal by incineration