Post on 22-Dec-2015
transcript
Solid and Hazardous WasteSolid and Hazardous Waste
G. Tyler Miller’sLiving in the Environment
14th EditionEdited by Mr. Manskopf 2009
Chapter 24
G. Tyler Miller’sLiving in the Environment
14th EditionEdited by Mr. Manskopf 2009
Chapter 24
http://www.storyofstuff.com/http://www.storyofstuff.com/
Love Canal, New YorkWhen Waste is Not Disposed of ProperlyLove Canal, New YorkWhen Waste is Not Disposed of Properly
• 1942 to 1958 Hooker Chemicals Disposal Site
• 1953 Sold to Niagara Falls School Board (school, housing)
• 1976 Residents becoming sick
• 1978 Lois Gibbs leads outcry
• 1980 Declared Disaster Site• 2004 Taken off Superfund
List
Chapter 24 Key ConceptsChapter 24 Key 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
Section 1: Wasting ResourcesSection 1: Wasting Resources
• Why should we care about solid waste?
• How much waste does the U.S. produce?
• What is in the garbage?
• The throw away mentality: OUT of SIGHT… OUT OF MIND
Solid WasteSolid Waste • Unwanted or discarded material that is not liquid or gas
• Out of sight Out of Mind
• No Waste In Nature
Two Reasons to Be Concerned:
1) Wasted Resources
2) Causes huge amounts of air, water, land pollution and soil erosion
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/yearFig. 24-2 p. 533
Affluenza In ActionAffluenza In Action• U.S. produces 1/3rd of
world’s solid waste and buries ½ of it
• Most waste from mining, oil, gas, ag., sewage, industry
• Think about a simple product like a computer…how much waste produced to create it (Life Cycle)
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
• 1.5% of Solid Waste is MSW
• Between 1960 and 1990 per capita MSW grown 70%...why do you think that is?
• 38% is paper, 12% yard waste, 11% food waste, 10% platics
• E-Waste Growing FAST
MSW Continued…MSW Continued…Garbologists findings
• 50 year old newspapers still readable
• Pork Chops decades old
WHY DO THEY NOT DECOMPOSE????.....what do things need to decompose
MSW Continued…MSW Continued…
• Read page 534 for some examples of how much stuff we waste….
Enough disposable diapers each year linked together would go to moon and back 7 times
Enough office paper to build a wall 11 feet high between NYC and SF
Section 2: Producing Less WasteSection 2: Producing Less Waste
• What are our options? Management or Prevention
• How can we reduce solid waste?
• What can you do?
Producing Less Waste and PollutionProducing Less Waste and Pollution
Waste management (high waste approach)Waste is part of economic growth, lets manage negatives
Waste management (high waste approach)Waste is part of economic growth, lets manage negatives
Burying, burning, shipping Burying, burning, shipping
Waste prevention (low waste approach)Before product is produced look to minimize life cycle
Waste prevention (low waste approach)Before product is produced look to minimize life cycle
Reduce, reuse, recycle Reduce, reuse, recycle
Dealing with Material Use and WastesDealing with Material Use and Wastes
Fig. 24-3 p. 535
The Sustainability SixThe Sustainability Six
1) Consume less: Do we Really NEED this?
2) Redesign products to use less resources: How can we make this product using less resources throughout their life cycle
3) Redesign to use and make less pollution: Toxic substances etc.
The Sustainability SixThe Sustainability Six
4) Develop products that are easier to repair, reuse, remanufacture, compost or recycle
5) Design products to last longer
6) Eliminate or reduce packaging (nude packaging)
Section 3: Selling Services not ThingsSection 3: Selling Services not Things
• How can we copy nature and reduce waste?
• What is a service flow economy?
• Xerox example
Solutions: Cleaner ProductionSolutions: Cleaner Production
Ecoindustrial revolution: mimic natureEcoindustrial revolution: mimic nature
Resource exchange webs: waste of 1 manufacturer becomes raw materials for another
Resource exchange webs: waste of 1 manufacturer becomes raw materials for another
Biomimicry: using less resources to do sameBiomimicry: using less resources to do same
Service-flow economy selling servicesnot goods. Renting, eco-leasing, etc.
Service-flow economy selling servicesnot goods. Renting, eco-leasing, etc.
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: computers, cell phones, etc. Eco-leasing: computers, cell phones, etc.
See Individuals Matter p. 538See Individuals Matter p. 538
Section 4: ReuseSection 4: Reuse
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of reuse?
• Should we use refillable containers?
• What are some other ways to reuse things?
What is REUSE?What is REUSE?Cleaning and using the material over and over again increasing the lifespan of the product
Junkyards and salvaging wood from old homes etc.
Not Reuse…Not Reuse…
Reuse: ProsReuse: Pros
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
Reuse: ConsReuse: Cons • Waste (especially e-waste) can contain harmful substances…especially heavy metals
Many eke out living scavenging for waste in large open dumps
Some SuccessSome Success
• 95% of Finland’s soft drink, beer, wine bottles reused
• Germany about 3/4th are refilled
Other examples of Reuse…Other examples of Reuse…
Shopping bags and tool libraries
Section 5: RecyclingSection 5: Recycling
• What is recycling?
• What is composting?
• How should we recycle solid waste?
• How much waste paper is being recycled?
• How feasible is recycling plastics?
• Why isn’t more reused and recycled?
What is recycling?What is recycling?
Reprocessing solid waste into new useful products
5 Categories in US Household Recycling
1) Paper Products
2) Glass
3) Aluminum
4) Steel
5) Some plastics
Types of RecyclingTypes of Recycling
Primary (closed-loop)
Primary (closed-loop)
Preconsumer waste
Preconsumer waste
Secondary (open loop)
Secondary (open loop)
Postconsumer waste
Postconsumer waste
Fig. 24-6 p. 539
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
Recycling RatesRecycling Rates
• Switzerland, Japan 50%• U.S. 30% up from 6.4%
in 1960• 60-80% is achievable
Benefits of RecyclingBenefits of Recycling
Fig. 24-8 p. 541
CompostingComposting • Composting organic waste mimics nature
• Only 5% of yard waste composted in U.S….could easily be raised to 35%
• Compost used as fertilizer, topsoil and help restore eroded land
Composting Composting
Recycling MethodsRecycling Methods
Centralized recycling of mixed waste (Materials-Recovery Facilities, MRFs)
Pros/Cons of MRFs
Centralized recycling of mixed waste (Materials-Recovery Facilities, MRFs)
Pros/Cons of MRFs Source separation: separate waste at home Source separation: separate waste at home
Pay-as-you-throw (PAUT): pay for waste, not recycling
Pay-as-you-throw (PAUT): pay for waste, not recycling
MRFs: Need large volume and energyMRFs: Need large volume and energy
Wastepaper RecyclingWastepaper Recycling
• Easy to recycle• Removing ink, glue
coating and reconverting into pulp
• 42% of world tree harvest is for paper
• Currently U.S. recycles 49% of waste paper
• Making paper has big enviro impact
How plastics are made
Recycling plastic is difficult chemically and economically
•10% in U.S. recycled
•Different resins
•Low cost of oil
•Biodegradable plastics (bioplatics) offer hope
Types of PlasticTypes of Plastic
Economics of RecyclingEconomics of Recycling
• Paper, aluminum, steel are easy to recycle and make easy economic sense
• CRITICS: 1) plenty of landfill space, 2) Glass and plastic expensive to recycle
• Employs 1.1 million people
Why we don’t recycle moreWhy we don’t recycle more• Enviro Costs not included
(externalities)
• Too few government subsidies
• Tipping fees at landfills cheap
• Price fluctuations for goods
• Often don’t PAUT
• Life cycle costs often not factored in
Section 6: Burning and BuryingSection 6: Burning and Burying
• What are advantages and disadvantages of burning solid waste?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of burying solid waste?
Typical Waste to Energy Plant (incinerator)
Burning WastesBurning Wastes
Mass burn incineration
Mass burn incineration
Air pollution
Air pollution
Waste to energy
Waste to energy
Fig. 24-13 p. 546
Burning WasteBurning Waste• Japan and Switzerland
over 50%, U.S. about 16%
• More than 280 project canceled in U.S. due to high costs, concern among citizens, air pollution etc.
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
Fig. 24-14 p. 547
Sanitary Landfills: Trade-offsSanitary Landfills: Trade-offs
And what about all of the older landfills around U.S. and the rest of the world???
NIMBYNIMBY • Not In My Back Yard common with landfills and incinerators
Section 7: Hazardous WasteSection 7: Hazardous Waste
• What is hazardous waste?
• What can we do with hazardous waste?
• How can we detoxify waste?
• What are advantages and disadvantages of burying hazardous wastes?
• What are Brownfields?
What is Hazardous Waste?What is Hazardous Waste?Any discarded solid or
liquid that is toxic, ignitable, corrosive or reactive enough to explode or release toxic fumes.
• 80-90% from developed countries
• 72% from Petro-Chem
• 22% mining
Hazardous Wastes: Types Hazardous Wastes: Types
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
Case Study: Bhopal IndiaCase Study: Bhopal India• 1984 World’s worst
industrial accident• Union Carbide
pesticide plant explosion
• Toxic cloud settled over region killing 23,000
• 120,000 to 150,000 suffer chronic illnesses related to accident
Dealing with Hazardous WastesDealing with Hazardous Wastes
Fig. 24-17 p. 550
Detoxifying and Removing WastesDetoxifying and Removing Wastes
BioremediationBioremediation
PhytoremediationPhytoremediation
Plasma incinerationPlasma incineration
Physical methodsPhysical methods
Chemical methodsChemical methods
Deep-well DisposalDeep-well Disposal
Fig. 24-21 p. 553
Hazardous Waste LandfillHazardous Waste Landfill
Fig. 24-23 p. 554
Surface Impoundments: Trade-offsSurface Impoundments: Trade-offs
Fig. 24-22 p. 553
BrownfieldsBrownfields
Abandoned industrial and other hazardous waste site
• Factories, junk yards, gas stations
• Usually older urban areas like Camden are full of them
BrownfieldsBrownfields
• Can be cleaned up and reborn as parks, industrial parks, etc.
• First need to be cleaned
• Some developers weary of taking risks and costs
BrownfieldsBrownfields
One example of many in Camden: http://www.state.nj.us/dep//srp/brownfields/bda/n_camden.htm
Case Studies: LeadCase Studies: Lead
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
Case Studies: MercuryCase Studies: Mercury
Vaporized elemental Mercury Vaporized elemental Mercury
Fish contaminated with methylmercury Fish contaminated with methylmercury
Natural inputs Natural inputs
Emission control Emission control
Prevention of contamination Prevention of contamination
Case Studies: DioxinsCase Studies: Dioxins
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
Section 9: Hazardous Waste Regulation in the U.S.Section 9: Hazardous Waste Regulation in the U.S.
• What is RCRA?
• What is Superfund?
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 (Superfund)
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (Superfund)
National Priority List National Priority List
Polluter-pays principle Polluter-pays principle
RCRARCRA 1976 Passed By Congress: amended 1984
1) ID Hazardous Waste and set standards
2) Companies that deal with Haz. Waste over 220 lbs. must get permits
3) Cradle to Grave tracking and submit proof to EPA
CERCLACERCLA Commonly called Superfund
• Passed in 1980 (NJ Congressman leaders)
• Established tax on on chemicals to
1) ID abandoned dumps sites
2) Clean up groundwater
3) Establish NPL list for cleanups
http://www.scorecard.org/env-releases/land/
CERCLACERCLA • Responsible parties must pay
• If no party can be found clean ups down using $ from tax on oil and chemical companies (tax expired 1995)
• 1,250 NPL sites…113 in NJ
• About 72% clean up underway avg. $20 million per site
CERCLACERCLA
• Some estimates 10,000 sites could cost $1 trillion…pollution prevention cheaper?
• Toxic Release Inventory www.epa.gov/tri
Polluter Pays PrinciplePolluter Pays Principle
• Who should pay for cleanup when responsible parties can not be found?
• Currently tax payers• 1 in 4 Americans live
within 4 miles of Superfund NPL site
Solutions: Achieving a Low-Waste SocietySolutions: Achieving a Low-Waste Society
Local grassroots actionLocal grassroots action
International ban on 12 persistent organic pollutants (the dirty dozen) POPs Treaty
International ban on 12 persistent organic pollutants (the dirty dozen) POPs Treaty
Precautionary PrinciplePrecautionary Principle