hazardous waste

1. Hazardous WasteHazardous Waste

2. Case Study:Case Study:
Love Canal — There Is No “Away”Love Canal — There Is No “Away”
 1942 – 1953 – Hooker Chemical sealed1942 – 1953 – Hooker Chemical sealed
chemical wastes into steel drums, dumpedchemical wastes into steel drums, dumped
them into an old canal excavation (them into an old canal excavation (LoveLove
CanalCanal))
 In 1953, the canal filled and sold to NiagaraIn 1953, the canal filled and sold to Niagara
Falls school board for $1Falls school board for $1
 Company inserted disclaimer denying liabilityCompany inserted disclaimer denying liability
for the wastesfor the wastes

3. Case Study:Case Study:
Love Canal — There Is No “Away”Love Canal — There Is No “Away”
 1957 – Hooker Chemical warned school not1957 – Hooker Chemical warned school not
to disturb the site because of the toxic wasteto disturb the site because of the toxic waste

1959 – elementary school, playing fields and1959 – elementary school, playing fields and
homes built – disrupted clay cap covering wasteshomes built – disrupted clay cap covering wastes

1976 – residents complained of chemical smells1976 – residents complained of chemical smells
and chemical burns from the siteand chemical burns from the site

4. Case Study:Case Study:
Love Canal — There Is No “Away”Love Canal — There Is No “Away”
 President JimmyPresident Jimmy
Carter declaredCarter declared
Love Canal aLove Canal a
federal disasterfederal disaster
area – area wasarea – area was
abandoned in 1980abandoned in 1980
– homes bought up– homes bought up
 1990 some homes1990 some homes
sold and peoplesold and people
moving backmoving back

5. Case Study:Case Study:
Love Canal — There Is No “Away”Love Canal — There Is No “Away”
 Still controversial as to how much theStill controversial as to how much the
chemicals injured or caused diseases tochemicals injured or caused diseases to
residentsresidents
 Love Canal sparked creation of theLove Canal sparked creation of the
Superfund lawSuperfund law – forced polluters to pay for– forced polluters to pay for
cleaning up abandoned toxic waste dumpscleaning up abandoned toxic waste dumps

6. Love Canal Part 1
Modern Marvels Engineering Disasters
Love Canal Part 2
Modern Marvels Engineering Disasters

7. HAZARDOUS WASTEHAZARDOUS WASTE
 Hazardous wasteHazardous waste – any discarded solid or– any discarded solid or
liquid material that is toxic, ignitable,liquid material that is toxic, ignitable,
corrosive or reactive enough to explode orcorrosive or reactive enough to explode or
release toxic fumesrelease toxic fumes
 Two largest classes:Two largest classes:

Organic compoundsOrganic compounds (e.g. solvents, pesticides,(e.g. solvents, pesticides,
PCBs, dioxins)PCBs, dioxins)

Toxic heavy metalsToxic heavy metals (e.g. lead, mercury, arsenic)(e.g. lead, mercury, arsenic)

8. HAZARDOUS WASTEHAZARDOUS WASTE
 CarcinogenCarcinogen – causes cancer– causes cancer
 MutagenMutagen – causes mutations– causes mutations
 TeratogenTeratogen – causes birth– causes birth
defectsdefects

9. Fig. 22-15, p. 534
What Harmful Chemicals Are in Your Home?
• Glues and cements
• Dry-cell batteries
(mercury and cadmium)
• Rust inhibitor and
rust remover
• Brake and
transmission fluid
General
Cleaning
• Battery acid
• Wood preservatives
• Stains, varnishes,
and lacquers
Automotive
• Gasoline
• Used motor oil
Paint
• Latex and oil-based paints
• Paint thinners, solvents,
and strippers
Gardening
• Pesticides
• Weed killers
• Ant and rodent
killers
• Antifreeze
• Flea powders
• Disinfectants
• Septic tank cleaners
• Spot removers
• Drain, toilet, and
window cleaners
• Artist paints and inks
• Solvents

10. Hazardous Waste Regulations in theHazardous Waste Regulations in the
United StatesUnited States
 Two major federal laws regulate theTwo major federal laws regulate the
management and disposal of hazardousmanagement and disposal of hazardous
waste in the U.S.:waste in the U.S.:

Resource Conservation and Recovery ActResource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA)(RCRA) (1976, 1984)(1976, 1984)

Comprehensive Environmental Response,Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
((SuperfundSuperfund program, 1980)program, 1980)

11. Hazardous Waste Regulations in U.S.Hazardous Waste Regulations in U.S.
 Resource Conservation and Recovery ActResource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA)(RCRA) (1976, 1984)(1976, 1984)

Prevent unsafe and illegal disposalPrevent unsafe and illegal disposal

Issues permits to produce and disposeIssues permits to produce and dispose

Cradle-to-the-grave system to keep track wasteCradle-to-the-grave system to keep track waste

After Love Canal dumpingAfter Love Canal dumping

But 95% of hazardous waste not regulatedBut 95% of hazardous waste not regulated

12. Hazardous Waste Regulations in U.S.Hazardous Waste Regulations in U.S.
 Comprehensive Environmental Response,Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)
(1980)(1980)

Commonly known asCommonly known as SuperfundSuperfund programprogram

Designed to have polluters pay for cleaning upDesigned to have polluters pay for cleaning up
abandoned hazardous waste sitesabandoned hazardous waste sites

70% of cleanup costs have come from polluters,70% of cleanup costs have come from polluters,
the rest from a trust fund financed until 1995 bythe rest from a trust fund financed until 1995 by
taxes on chemical raw materials and oiltaxes on chemical raw materials and oil

Fund is broke and taxpayers now payFund is broke and taxpayers now pay

13. Hazardous Waste Regulations in U.S.Hazardous Waste Regulations in U.S.
 1322 superfund sites on National Priorities1322 superfund sites on National Priorities
List in 2014 – many not identifiedList in 2014 – many not identified
 Red = on list, yellow = proposed, green = deleted (2013)Red = on list, yellow = proposed, green = deleted (2013)

14. Hazardous Waste Regulations in U.S.Hazardous Waste Regulations in U.S.
 BrownfieldsBrownfields – abandoned industrial and– abandoned industrial and
commercial sites usually contaminated withcommercial sites usually contaminated with
hazardous wasteshazardous wastes

Ex: factories, junkyards, older landfills, gasEx: factories, junkyards, older landfills, gas
stationsstations

Many laws to encourage cleanup andMany laws to encourage cleanup and
developmentdevelopment

15. Hazardous Waste Regulations in U.S.Hazardous Waste Regulations in U.S.
 Toxic Substances Control ActToxic Substances Control Act (1976)(1976)

To regulate and ensure safety of chemicals usedTo regulate and ensure safety of chemicals used
in manufacturingin manufacturing

Companies must notify EPA before using newCompanies must notify EPA before using new
chemicalschemicals

Do not have to provide data about safety – EPADo not have to provide data about safety – EPA
must show harmmust show harm

16. DEALING WITH HAZARDOUS WASTEDEALING WITH HAZARDOUS WASTE
 We can produce less hazardous waste andWe can produce less hazardous waste and
recycle, reuse, detoxify, burn and bury whatrecycle, reuse, detoxify, burn and bury what
we continue to produce.we continue to produce.

17. Conversion to Less HazardousConversion to Less Hazardous
SubstancesSubstances
 Physical MethodsPhysical Methods – using charcoal or resins– using charcoal or resins
to separate out harmful chemicals, removingto separate out harmful chemicals, removing
toxic portion, encapsulating in glass, ceramictoxic portion, encapsulating in glass, ceramic
or cementor cement
 Chemical MethodsChemical Methods – using chemical– using chemical
reactions that can convert hazardousreactions that can convert hazardous
chemicals to less harmful or harmlesschemicals to less harmful or harmless
chemicalschemicals

18. Conversion to Less HazardousConversion to Less Hazardous
SubstancesSubstances
 Biological Methods:Biological Methods:

BioremediationBioremediation – bacteria or enzymes help– bacteria or enzymes help
destroy toxic and hazardous waste or convertdestroy toxic and hazardous waste or convert
them to harmless substancesthem to harmless substances

PhytoremediationPhytoremediation – using natural or genetically– using natural or genetically
engineered plants to absorb, filter and removeengineered plants to absorb, filter and remove
contaminants from polluted soil and watercontaminants from polluted soil and water

19. 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 green-
houses can absorb pollutants
such as radioactive strontium-
90 and cesium-137 and various
organic chemicals.
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.
Inorganic
metal contaminants
Organic
contaminants
Radioactive
contaminants
Brake fernPoplar tree
Indian mustardWillow treeSunflower
Oil
spill
Landfill
Groundwater
Soil
Polluted
leachateDecontaminated
water out
Polluted
groundwater
in
Groundwater
Soil

20. Fig. 22-18, p. 538
Inexpensive
Low energy use
Easy to establish
Trade-Offs
Phytoremediation
Advantages Disadvantages
Some plants
can become
toxic to
animals
Some toxic
organic
chemicals may
evaporate from
plant leaves
Produces little
air pollution
compared to
incineration
Can reduce
material
dumped into
landfills
Slow (can
take several
growing
seasons)
Effective only
at depth plant
roots can
reach

21. Phytoremediation

22. Conversion to Less HazardousConversion to Less Hazardous
SubstancesSubstances
 IncinerationIncineration – heating hazardous waste to– heating hazardous waste to
high temperatures – up to 2000high temperatures – up to 2000 °C°C – to break– to break
them down and convert them to less harmfulthem down and convert them to less harmful
or harmless chemicalsor harmless chemicals

Air pollutionAir pollution

Highly toxic ashHighly toxic ash

23. Conversion to Less HazardousConversion to Less Hazardous
SubstancesSubstances
 Plasma TorchPlasma Torch – passing electrical current– passing electrical current
through gas to generate an electric arc andthrough gas to generate an electric arc and
very high temperatures can create plasmavery high temperatures can create plasma

Can be carried out in a torch to decompose liquidCan be carried out in a torch to decompose liquid
or solid hazardous organic materialor solid hazardous organic material

24. Fig. 22-19, p. 538
Advantages
Trade-Offs
Plasma Arc
Small High cost
Produces no
toxic ash
Can vaporize and
release toxic metals
and radioactive
elements
Can release
particulates and
chlorine gas
Mobile. Easy to
move to different
sites
Produces CO2
and CO
Disadvantages

25. Long-Term Storage of Hazardous WasteLong-Term Storage of Hazardous Waste
 Can be disposed of on or underneath theCan be disposed of on or underneath the
earth’s surfaceearth’s surface
 Without proper design and care can polluteWithout proper design and care can pollute
air and waterair and water
 Last resort after reduction and conversionLast resort after reduction and conversion

Deep-well disposalDeep-well disposal – liquid hazardous wastes– liquid hazardous wastes
are pumped under pressure into dry porous rockare pumped under pressure into dry porous rock
far beneath aquifersfar beneath aquifers

Surface impoundmentsSurface impoundments – excavated– excavated
depressions (ponds, pits, lagoons) into whichdepressions (ponds, pits, lagoons) into which
liners are placed and liquid hazardous wastesliners are placed and liquid hazardous wastes
are storedare stored

26. Fig. 22-20, p. 539
Safe method if
sites are chosen
carefully
Trade-Offs
Deep Underground Wells
Advantages Disadvantages
Encourages
waste production
Existing fractures
or earthquakes
can allow wastes
to escape into
groundwater
Leaks from
corrosion of well
casing
Leaks or spills at
surface
Low cost
Easy to do
Wastes can be
retrieved if
problems
develop

27. Fig. 22-21, p. 539
Low construction
costs
Can store wastes
indefinitely with
secure double liners
Groundwater
contamination
from leaking liners
(or no lining)
Trade-Offs
Surface Impoundments
Advantages
Promotes waste
production
Disruption and
leakage from
earthquakes
Overflow from
flooding
Air pollution from
volatile organic
compounds
Wastes can be
retrieved if
necessary
Can be built
quickly
Low operating
costs
Disadvantages

28. Long-Term Storage of Hazardous WasteLong-Term Storage of Hazardous Waste
 Long-Term Retrievable StorageLong-Term Retrievable Storage – some– some
highly toxic materials cannot be detoxified orhighly toxic materials cannot be detoxified or
destroyed – stored in metal drums in areasdestroyed – stored in metal drums in areas
that can be inspected and retrievedthat can be inspected and retrieved
 Secure LandfillsSecure Landfills – hazardous wastes put– hazardous wastes put
into drums and buried in carefully designedinto drums and buried in carefully designed
and monitored sitesand monitored sites

29. Secure Hazardous Waste LandfillSecure Hazardous Waste Landfill
 In the U.S. thereIn the U.S. there
are only 23are only 23
commercialcommercial
hazardous wastehazardous waste
landfills.landfills.