MILLER/SPOOLMAN
    LIVING IN THE ENVIRONMENT          17TH



                  Chapter 21
                  Solid and Hazardous Waste
We Throw Away Huge Amounts of Useful
   Things and Hazardous Materials (1)
• Solid waste
   • Industrial solid waste
      • Mines, farms, industries
   • Municipal solid waste (MSW)
      • Trash
   • Hazardous waste (toxic waste)
      •   Threatens human health of the environment
      •   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
  • U.S. is the largest producer

• Why reduce solid wastes?
  1. ¾ of the materials are an unnecessary waste of the
     earth's resources
  2. Huge amounts of air pollution, greenhouse gases, and
     water pollution
What Harmful Chemicals Are in
        Your Home?




                                Fig. 21-2, p. 559
Natural Capital Degradation: Solid Wastes
      Polluting a River in Indonesia




                                     Fig. 21-3, p. 560
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
Total and Per Capita Production of
 Municipal Solid Waste in the U.S.




                                 Fig. 21-4, p. 560
Hundreds of Millions of Discarded Tires in a
            Dump in Colorado




                                       Fig. 21-5, p. 561
We Can Burn or Bury Solid Waste or
         Produce Less of It
• Waste Management
  • Reduce harm, but not amounts

• Waste Reduction
  • Use less and focus on reuse, recycle, compost

• Integrated waste management
  • Uses a variety of strategies
Integrated Waste Management




                              Fig. 21-6, p. 562
Integrated Waste Management: Priorities
       for Dealing with Solid Waste




                                   Fig. 21-7, p. 562
We Can Cut Solid Wastes by Reducing,
     Reusing, and Recycling (1)
• Waste reduction is based on
  • Reduce
  • Reuse
  • Recycle
We Can Cut Solid Wastes by Reducing,
     Reusing, and Recycling (2)
• Six strategies:
   1. Redesign manufacturing processes and products to
      use less material and energy
   2. Develop products that are easy to repair, reuse,
      remanufacture, compost, or recycle
   3. Eliminate or reduce unnecessary packaging
   4. Use fee-per-bag waste collection systems
   5. Establish cradle-to grave responsibility
   6. Restructure urban transportation systems
What Can You Do? Solid Waste




                               Fig. 21-8, p. 563
Reuse: Important Way to Reduce Solid
  Waste, Pollution, and Save Money
• Reuse: clean and use materials over and over

• Downside of reuse in developing countries
   • Salvaging poor exposed to toxins

• Flea markets, yard sales, second-hand stores, eBay,
  Craigslist, freecycle.org

• 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
   • Bottle deposits create jobs and reduce litter and
     landfill amounts


• Paper, plastic, or reusable cloth bags
   • Pros
   • Cons
What Can You Do? Reuse




                         Fig. 21-9, p. 565
There Are Two Types of Recycling (1)
• Primary, closed-loop recycling
   • Materials recycled into same type: aluminum cans


• Secondary recycling
   • Materials converted to other products: tires


• Types of wastes that can be recycled
   • Preconsumer: internal waste
   • Postconsumer: external waste
We Can Mix or Separate Household Solid
       Wastes for Recycling (1)
• Materials-recovery facilities (MRFs)
   • Can encourage increased trash production


• Source separation
   • Pay-as-you-throw
   • Fee-per-bag


• Which program is more cost effective?

• Which is friendlier to the environment?
We Can Mix or Separate Household Solid
       Wastes for Recycling (2)
• Composting
   • Individual
   • Municipal


• Benefits
Backyard Composter Drum: Bacteria
Convert Kitchen Waste into Compost




                                Fig. 21-10, p. 566
Case Study: Recycling Plastics
• Plastics: composed of resins created from oil and
  natural gas

• Most containers discarded: 4% recycled

• Litter: beaches, oceans
   • Kills wildlife
   • Gets into food chain and seafood
Discarded Solid Waste Litters Beaches




                                  Fig. 21-11, p. 568
Science Focus: Bioplastics (1)
• Plastics from soybeans: not a new concept

• 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
Trade-Offs: Recycling




                        Fig. 21-12, p. 569
We Can Encourage Reuse and
             Recycling (1)
• What hinders reuse and recycling?
   1. Market prices don’t include harmful costs
      associated with production, use, discarding
   2. Recycling industries get less favorable government
      treatment than large industries do
   3. Prices for recycled materials fluctuate
We Can Encourage Reuse and
             Recycling (2)
• 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
   • Fee-per-bag collection
   • New laws
   • Citizen pressure
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. 571
Trade-Offs: Waste-to-Energy Incineration




                                    Fig. 21-14, p. 571
Burying Solid Waste Has Advantages and
             Disadvantages
• Open dumps
   • Widely used in less-developed countries
   • Rare in developed countries


• Sanitary landfills
Solutions: State-of-the-Art Sanitary Landfill




                                                Fig. 21-15, p. 572
Trade-Offs: Sanitary Landfills




                                 Fig. 21-16, p. 572
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. 573
We Can Store Some Forms of
         Hazardous Waste (1)
• Burial on land or long-term storage
   • Last resort only


• Deep-well disposal
   • 64% of hazardous liquid wastes in the U.S.
Trade-Offs: Deep-Well Disposal




                                 Fig. 21-20, p. 576
We Can Store Some Forms of
         Hazardous Waste (2)
• Surface impoundments
   • Lined ponds or pits


• Secure hazardous landfills
Surface Impoundment in Niagara Falls,
             New York




                                  Fig. 21-21, p. 577
Trade-Offs Surface Impoundments




                              Fig. 21-22, p. 577
Solutions: Secure Hazardous Waste Landfill




                                             Fig. 21-23, p. 577
What Can You Do? Hazardous Waste




                              Fig. 21-24, p. 578
Leaking Barrels of Toxic Waste at a Superfund Site in
    the United States-has since been cleaned up




                                               Fig. 21-25, p. 578
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”
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

Bio 105 Chapter 21

  • 1.
    MILLER/SPOOLMAN LIVING IN THE ENVIRONMENT 17TH Chapter 21 Solid and Hazardous Waste
  • 2.
    We Throw AwayHuge Amounts of Useful Things and Hazardous Materials (1) • Solid waste • Industrial solid waste • Mines, farms, industries • Municipal solid waste (MSW) • Trash • Hazardous waste (toxic waste) • Threatens human health of the environment • Organic compounds • Toxic heavy metals • Radioactive waste
  • 3.
    We Throw AwayHuge Amounts of Useful Things and Hazardous Materials (2) • 80–90% of hazardous wastes produced by developed countries • U.S. is the largest producer • Why reduce solid wastes? 1. ¾ of the materials are an unnecessary waste of the earth's resources 2. Huge amounts of air pollution, greenhouse gases, and water pollution
  • 4.
    What Harmful ChemicalsAre in Your Home? Fig. 21-2, p. 559
  • 5.
    Natural Capital Degradation:Solid Wastes Polluting a River in Indonesia Fig. 21-3, p. 560
  • 6.
    Solid Waste inthe United States • Leader in solid waste problem • What is thrown away? • Leader in trash production, by weight, per person • Recycling is helping
  • 7.
    Total and PerCapita Production of Municipal Solid Waste in the U.S. Fig. 21-4, p. 560
  • 8.
    Hundreds of Millionsof Discarded Tires in a Dump in Colorado Fig. 21-5, p. 561
  • 9.
    We Can Burnor Bury Solid Waste or Produce Less of It • Waste Management • Reduce harm, but not amounts • Waste Reduction • Use less and focus on reuse, recycle, compost • Integrated waste management • Uses a variety of strategies
  • 10.
  • 11.
    Integrated Waste Management:Priorities for Dealing with Solid Waste Fig. 21-7, p. 562
  • 12.
    We Can CutSolid Wastes by Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling (1) • Waste reduction is based on • Reduce • Reuse • Recycle
  • 13.
    We Can CutSolid Wastes by Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling (2) • Six strategies: 1. Redesign manufacturing processes and products to use less material and energy 2. Develop products that are easy to repair, reuse, remanufacture, compost, or recycle 3. Eliminate or reduce unnecessary packaging 4. Use fee-per-bag waste collection systems 5. Establish cradle-to grave responsibility 6. Restructure urban transportation systems
  • 14.
    What Can YouDo? Solid Waste Fig. 21-8, p. 563
  • 15.
    Reuse: Important Wayto Reduce Solid Waste, Pollution, and Save Money • Reuse: clean and use materials over and over • Downside of reuse in developing countries • Salvaging poor exposed to toxins • Flea markets, yard sales, second-hand stores, eBay, Craigslist, freecycle.org • Rechargeable batteries
  • 16.
    Case Study: Useof Refillable Containers • Reuse and recycle • Refillable glass beverage bottles • Refillable soft drink bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic • Bottle deposits create jobs and reduce litter and landfill amounts • Paper, plastic, or reusable cloth bags • Pros • Cons
  • 17.
    What Can YouDo? Reuse Fig. 21-9, p. 565
  • 18.
    There Are TwoTypes of Recycling (1) • Primary, closed-loop recycling • Materials recycled into same type: aluminum cans • Secondary recycling • Materials converted to other products: tires • Types of wastes that can be recycled • Preconsumer: internal waste • Postconsumer: external waste
  • 19.
    We Can Mixor Separate Household Solid Wastes for Recycling (1) • Materials-recovery facilities (MRFs) • Can encourage increased trash production • Source separation • Pay-as-you-throw • Fee-per-bag • Which program is more cost effective? • Which is friendlier to the environment?
  • 20.
    We Can Mixor Separate Household Solid Wastes for Recycling (2) • Composting • Individual • Municipal • Benefits
  • 21.
    Backyard Composter Drum:Bacteria Convert Kitchen Waste into Compost Fig. 21-10, p. 566
  • 22.
    Case Study: RecyclingPlastics • Plastics: composed of resins created from oil and natural gas • Most containers discarded: 4% recycled • Litter: beaches, oceans • Kills wildlife • Gets into food chain and seafood
  • 23.
    Discarded Solid WasteLitters Beaches Fig. 21-11, p. 568
  • 24.
    Science Focus: Bioplastics(1) • Plastics from soybeans: not a new concept • Sources • Corn • Soy • Sugarcane
  • 25.
    Science Focus: Bioplastics(2) • Sources cont… • Switchgrass • Chicken feathers • Some garbage • CO2 from coal-burning plant emissions • Benefits: lighter, stronger, cheaper, and biodegradable
  • 26.
    Trade-Offs: Recycling Fig. 21-12, p. 569
  • 27.
    We Can EncourageReuse and Recycling (1) • What hinders reuse and recycling? 1. Market prices don’t include harmful costs associated with production, use, discarding 2. Recycling industries get less favorable government treatment than large industries do 3. Prices for recycled materials fluctuate
  • 28.
    We Can EncourageReuse and Recycling (2) • 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 • Fee-per-bag collection • New laws • Citizen pressure
  • 29.
    Burning Solid WasteHas Advantages and Disadvantages • Waste-to-energy incinerators • 600 globally • Most in Great Britain • Advantages • Disadvantages
  • 30.
    Solutions: A Waste-to-EnergyIncinerator with Pollution Controls Fig. 21-13, p. 571
  • 31.
  • 32.
    Burying Solid WasteHas Advantages and Disadvantages • Open dumps • Widely used in less-developed countries • Rare in developed countries • Sanitary landfills
  • 33.
    Solutions: State-of-the-Art SanitaryLandfill Fig. 21-15, p. 572
  • 34.
  • 35.
    We Can UseIntegrated 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
  • 36.
    Integrated Hazardous WasteManagement Fig. 21-17, p. 573
  • 37.
    We Can StoreSome Forms of Hazardous Waste (1) • Burial on land or long-term storage • Last resort only • Deep-well disposal • 64% of hazardous liquid wastes in the U.S.
  • 38.
  • 39.
    We Can StoreSome Forms of Hazardous Waste (2) • Surface impoundments • Lined ponds or pits • Secure hazardous landfills
  • 40.
    Surface Impoundment inNiagara Falls, New York Fig. 21-21, p. 577
  • 41.
  • 42.
    Solutions: Secure HazardousWaste Landfill Fig. 21-23, p. 577
  • 43.
    What Can YouDo? Hazardous Waste Fig. 21-24, p. 578
  • 44.
    Leaking Barrels ofToxic Waste at a Superfund Site in the United States-has since been cleaned up Fig. 21-25, p. 578
  • 45.
    Grassroots Action HasLed to Better Solid and Hazardous Waste Management • “Not in my backyard” • Produce less waste • “Not in anyone’s backyard” • “Not on planet Earth”
  • 46.
    We Can Makethe 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

Editor's Notes

  • #5 Figure 21.2: Harmful chemicals are found in many homes. The U.S. Congress has exempted disposal of these materials from government regulation. For more details on hazardous chemicals in household products see www. H ealthyStuff.org and the Cancer Prevention Coalition website at www.preventcancer.com. Question: Which of these chemicals are in your home?
  • #6 Figure 21.3: Natural capital degradation. These solid wastes pollute a river in Jakarta, Indonesia, a city of more than 11 million people. The man in the boat is looking for items to salvage or sell.
  • #8 Figure 21.4: This graph shows the total and per capita production of municipal solid waste in the United States, 1960–2008. (Data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency )
  • #9 Figure 21.5: Hundreds of millions of discarded tires have accumulated in this massive tire dump in Midway, Colorado (USA). Lehigh Technologies has developed a recycling method that uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the scrap tires, making them brittle. The rubber is then pulverized into a fine powder, which can be used in a variety of products such as paints, sealants, and coatings. A preventive approach to managing this waste would be to double the average lifetime of tires in order to reduce the number thrown away each year.
  • #11 Figure 21.6: Integrated waste management: Wastes are reduced through reuse, recycling, and composting or managed by burying them in landfills or incinerating them. Most countries rely primarily on burial and incineration. Question: What happens to the solid waste you produce?
  • #12 Figure 21.7: Integrated waste management: The U.S. National Academy of Sciences suggests these priorities for dealing with solid waste. To date, these waste-reduction priorities have not been followed in the United States or in most other countries. Instead, most efforts are devoted to waste management through disposal (bury it, burn it, or send it somewhere else). Question: Why do you think most countries do not follow these priorities, even though they are based on reliable science? (Data from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. National Academy of Scienc es)
  • #15 Figure 21.8: I ndividuals matter. You can save resources by reducing your output of solid waste and pollution. Questions: Which three of these actions do you think are the most important? Why? Which of these things do you do?
  • #18 Figure 21.9: I ndividuals matter. There are many ways to reuse the items we purchase. Question: Which of these suggestions have you tried and how did they work for you?
  • #22 Figure 21.10: Bacteria convert plant wastes into rich compost in this backyard kitchen composter drum. When the compost is ready, the device can be wheeled out and emptied into vegetable and flower gardens.
  • #24 Figure 21.11: Discarded solid waste litters beaches, poses a threat to beach users, and washes into the ocean and threatens marine animals.
  • #27 Figure 21.12: Recycling solid waste has advantages and disadvantages ( Concept 21-3 ). Questions: Which single advantage and which single disadvantage do you think are the most important? Why?
  • #31 Figure 21.13: S olutions. A modern waste-to-energy incinerator with pollution controls burns mixed solid wastes and recovers some of the energy to produce steam to use for heating or producing electricity. Great Britain burns about 90% of its MSW in incinerators and Denmark burns about 54%, compared to 13% in the United States and 8% in Canada. To be economically feasible, incinerators must be fed huge volumes of trash every day. This encourages trash production and discourages reuse, recycling, and waste reduction. Questions: Would you invest in such a project? Why or why not?
  • #32 Figure 21.14: Waste-to-energy incineration of solid waste has advantages and disadvantages ( Concept 21-4 ). These trade-offs also apply to the incineration of hazardous waste. Since 1985, more than 280 new incinerator projects have been delayed or canceled in the United States because of high costs, concern over air pollution, and intense citizen opposition. Questions: Which single advantage and which single disadvantage do you think are the most important? Why?
  • #34 Figure 21.15: S olutions. A state-of-the-art sanitary landfill is designed to eliminate or minimize environmental problems that plague older landfills. Since 1997, only modern sanitary landfills have been permitted in the United States. As a result, many small, older landfills have been closed and replaced with larger local or regional landfills. Question: Some experts say that these landfills will eventually develop leaks and could emit toxic liquids. How do you think this could happen?
  • #35 Figure 21.16: Using sanitary landfills to dispose of solid waste has advantages and disadvantages ( Concept 16-4 ). Questions: Which single advantage and which single disadvantage do you think are the most important? Why?
  • #37 Figure 21.17: Integrated hazardous waste management: The U.S. National Academy of Sciences has suggested these priorities for dealing with hazardous waste ( Concept 21-5 ). Question: Why do you think that most countries do not follow these priorities? (Data from U.S. National Academy of Science s)
  • #39 Figure 21.20: Injecting liquid hazardous wastes into deep underground wells has advantages and disadvantages. Questions: Which single advantage and which single disadvantage do you think are the most important? Why?
  • #41 Figure 21.21: This surface impoundment for storing liquid hazardous wastes is located in Niagara Falls, New York (USA). Such sites can pollute the air and nearby ground water and surface water.
  • #42 Figure 21.22: Storing liquid hazardous wastes in surface impoundments has advantages and disadvantages. Questions: Which single advantage and which single disadvantage do you think are the most important? Why?
  • #43 Figure 21.23: S olutions. This diagram shows how hazardous wastes can be isolated and stored in a secure hazardous waste landfill.
  • #44 Figure 21.24: I ndividuals matter. You can reduce your output of hazardous wastes ( Concept 21-5 ). Questions: Which two of these measures do you think are the most important? Why?
  • #45 Figure 21.25: These leaking barrels of toxic waste were found at a Superfund site in the United States that has since been cleaned up.