Waste

No garbage system in the 18th century – people just threw garbage on the street and free running hogs ate it. In 1865 an estimated 10,000 hogs roamed New York City.

Careers

Waste Management – city recycling coordinators – design/oversee recycling programs

Attorney – specialize in environmental law – provide advice on landfill sitting and compliance with environmental laws.

Entrepreneurs – recycle waste and produce new products Environmental Scientist – over seeing superfund sites. Deffenbaugh Waste Management - Careers [] Waste Management Manufacturing Jobs, Manufacturing Ca

reers, Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Industrial Engineers, Supply Chain Managers, Chemists, Six Sigma Black Belts, Logistics Managers, Finishing Managers, Quality Control Specialists, Safety Technicians,

History of Solid Waste Disposal

1st recorded dump was in Athens in 500 B.C. Age of Sanitation started in the late 1800’s because

of the rat populations and polluted water supplies. 1st incinerator was in England in 1874. 1st incinerator in U.S. was in New York in 1885. Began running out of room for waste disposal in 4

years. 1920’s U.S. filled wetlands Solid waste management was passed in 1965.

History of Solid Waste Disposal Continued Piggeries – in 1900’s fed raw and

cooked garbage to pigs. 1950’s some pigs got sick eating raw

garbage. A law was passed that only cooked garbage could be fed to pigs.

Phased out in 1960’s. In 1988 there were 8,000 landfills. In 1999 there were only 2,300.

Solid Waste Every year, the United States generates approximately

10 billion metric tons of "trash“. If your habits resemble those of average Americans,

you generate about 4.4 pounds of solid trash per day. Less than one-quarter of it is recycled; the rest is

incinerated or buried in landfills. We could reuse or recycle more than 70 percent of the

landfill waste, which includes valuable materials such as glass, metal, and paper.

Wastes are made of biodegradable or non-biodegradable products.

Biodegradable – if it can be broken down by biological products.

Types of Solid Waste Municipal solid waste – what we throw out on a day to day basis

(we throw out enough each year to fill a convoy of garbage trucks that would stretch around the Earth 6 times) – paper makes up the most of this. – fastest growing of all waste

Manufacturing, mining, and agriculture waste – computers, televisions, audio equipment, printers, scrap metal, plastics, paper, sludge, ash, rock and minerals from excavation, crop wastes and manure.

Could We Bury It? -- Landfills

Landfill is a permanent waste disposal facility where wastes are put into the ground and covered with soil, plastic or both.

Most of municipal waste in the U.S. is sent to landfills – more than 50%.

Decompositions rate slow – because garbage is kept isolated soil and water.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, many of the country's landfills have been closed for one or both of these two reasons: They were full. They were contaminating groundwater.

Problems with Landfills Leachate – liquid passed through compacted solid waste in a

landfill. Forms when water seeps down through the landfill and

contains dissolved chemical from decomposing garbage. Paints, pesticides, cleansers, cans, batteries and appliances. Monitoring wells of storage tanks to measure and store

leachate. It is then treated. If not monitored properly can flow into ground waters and

make unsafe drinking water. Methane gas – where no oxygen in present – decomposition

makes gas which is highly flammable. It is usually pumped out as fuel, but if it is not monitored it may seep into basements of homes up to 300 meters away and cause dangerous explosions.

Resource Conservation Recovery Act

In 1976 and 1984 requirement of all new landfills be built with safeguards.

New landfills are to be lined with clay, plastic liner and must have systems for collecting a treating leachate.

Vent pipes will be installed to carry gas.

Increases cost

Could We Burn It?

Yes and no. About 15% of trash burned. Reduce the amount of solid waste by 75%. Can be more toxic that it was before – burn

cleaners, batteries and paint. Incineration does generate energy, but at a cost--

it may release toxins into the air and create ash that requires disposal in hazardous-waste landfills.

1999 there were 102 operational incinerators that burned 94,000 metric tons a day.

Could We Pay Someone to Take It?

Not likely. As our population grows, former outlying

areas are becoming bedroom communities, and their residents mount stiff opposition to plans for expanding existing landfills or creating new ones, even in return for some perks.

As local and state government officials cope with the costs and problems of their own waste disposal, they are less willing to import other communities' waste and the pollution it generates.

Could We Recycle It?

Process of reusing materials or recovering valuable materials from waste or scrap.

28% of waste is recycled. Series of steps:

Collected and sorted Cleaned and made ready to be used again. Materials used to manufacture new products. New products are sold to consumers.

Could We Recycle It Continued

Source reduction – change in design, manufacture, purchase of use of materials/products to reduce their amount or toxicity before they become solid waste.

Produce less and reduce the expense. As a consumer you can buy less packaging and

products that last longer. (Dish towels instead of paper, re-chargeable batteries instead of regular)

95% less energy to make aluminum from recycled aluminum than ore.

70% less energy is needed to make paper from recycled paper.

Could We Compost It?

Compost is one of nature's best mulches and soil amendments, and you can use it instead of commercial fertilizers.

Compost is cheap. Using compost improves soil structure, texture, and

aeration and increases the soil's water-holding capacity, improves soil fertility and stimulates healthy root development in plants.

Compost loosens clay soils and helps sandy soils retain water.

The organic matter provided in compost provides food for microorganisms, which keeps the soil in a healthy, balanced condition.

Why Make Compost?

Cities are starting to refuse to haul off leaves and grass clippings.

About 1/3 of the space in landfills is taken up with organic waste from our yards and kitchens, just the type of material that can be used in compost.

The composting process involves four main components:

Organic matter – includes plant material, food scraps and animal manure

Moisture – supports decomposition Oxygen – accelerates decomposition of

plant material Bacteria/Organisms – turns organic

material into nutrient rich soil additive

Compost Materials: The Right Mix

Almost any organic material is suitable for a compost pile. The pile needs a proper ratio of carbon-rich materials, or

"browns," and nitrogen-rich materials, or "greens." Among the brown materials are dried leaves, straw, and

wood chips. Nitrogen materials are fresh or green, such as grass

clippings, coffee grounds and kitchen scraps. Mixing certain types of materials or changing the

proportions can make a difference in the rate of decomposition. The ideal ratio approaches 25 parts browns to 1 part greens.

Too much carbon will cause the pile to break down too slowly, while too much nitrogen can cause odor. The carbon provides energy for the microbes, and the nitrogen provides protein.

Ingredients to Compost Leaves represent a large percentage of total yard waste. If you

can grind them in a shredder or mow over them, they will reduce in size making them decompose faster.

Pine Needles need to be chopped or shredded, as they decompose slowly. They are covered with a thick, waxy coating.

Grass Clippings break down quickly and contain as much nitrogen as manure. Since fresh grass clippings will clump together, become anaerobic, and start to smell, mix them with plenty of brown material.

Ingredients to Compost

Kitchen Refuse includes melon rinds, carrot peelings, tea bags, apple cores, banana peels - almost everything that cycles through your kitchen. The average household produces more than 200 pounds of kitchen waste every year. However, meat, meat products, dairy products, and high-fat foods like salad dressings and peanut butter, can present problems. Meat scraps and the rest will decompose eventually, but will smell bad and attract pests. Egg shells are a wonderful addition, but decompose slowly, so should be crushed.

Wood Ashes from a wood burning stove or fireplace can be added to the compost pile.

Garden Refuse should make the trip to the pile. All of the spent plants, thinned seedlings, and deadheaded flowers can be included.

Ingredients to Compost

Spoiled Hay or Straw makes an excellent carbon base for a compost pile, especially in a place where few leaves are available.

Manure is one of the finest materials you can add to any compost pile. It contains large amounts of both nitrogen and beneficial microbes. Manure for composting can come from bats, sheep, ducks, pigs, goats, cows, pigeons, and any other vegetarian animal. As a rule of thumb, you should avoid manure from carnivores, as it can contain dangerous pathogens. Most manures are considered "hot" when fresh, meaning it is so rich in nutrients that it can burn the tender roots of young plants or overheat a compost pile, killing off earthworms and friendly bacteria. If left to age a little, however, these materials are fine to use.

Compost Site Selection

Any pile of organic matter will eventually rot, but a well-chosen site can speed up the process. Look for a level, well-drained area. If you plan to add kitchen scraps, keep it accessible to the back door. Don't put it so far away you'll neglect the pile. In cooler latitudes, keep the pile in a sunny spot to trap solar heat. Look for some shelter to protect the pile from freezing cold winds which could slow down the decaying process. In warm, dry latitudes, shelter the pile in a shadier spot so it doesn't dry out too quickly.

Build the pile over soil or lawn rather than concrete or asphalt, to take advantage of the earthworms, beneficial microbes, and other decomposers, which will migrate up and down as the seasons change. Uncovered soil also allows for drainage.

Look for a spot that allows you to compost discretely, especially if you have neighboring yards in close proximity. Aim for distance and visual barriers between the pile and the neighbors.

Using Compost

Finished compost is dark brown, crumbly, and is earthy-smelling.

It can take anywhere from three to 12 months to produce compost

Hazardous Waste

Hazardous waste presents immediate or long-term risks to humans, animals, plants, or the environment.

It requires special handling for detoxification or safe disposal.

Solids, liquids or gases – anything that is toxic, corrosive or explosive

Look for warning symbols, paint, nail polish remover, oil, wee killer and take to a facility.

U.S. Legal Definition of Hazardous Waste Any discarded solid, liquid or gas that contains one or

more of 39 carcinogenic or mutagenic compounds at levels that exceed established limits (including many solvents, pesticides, and paint strippers).

Catches fire easily (such as gasoline, paints, and solvents).

Is reactive or unstable enough to explode or release toxic fumes (including acids, bases, ammonia, and chlorine bleach).

Is capable of corroding metal containers such as tanks, drums, and barrels (such as industrial cleaning agents and oven and drain cleaners).

Who is Responsible?

Businesses such as metal finishers, gas stations, auto repair shops, dry cleaners, and photo developers produce many toxic waste products.

Households using automotive products, such as gasoline, antifreeze, and batteries oil-based paints and thinners, pool chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, and other garden products and household cleaning products.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

Requires producers of hazardous waste to keep records of how their wastes are handled from the time the wastes are made to the time the wastes are placed in an approved disposal facility.

If the waste cause a problem in the future, the producer is legally responsible for the problem.

Superfund Sites

Of the nation's worst toxic waste sites: 1,305 are scheduled for cleanup on the National Priorities List (NPL). About 11 million people in the U.S., including 3-4 million children, live within 1 mile of a federal Superfund site and confront potential public health risks.

Love Canal 1950 Love Canal 1980

Superfund Act of 1980

Disposal of hazardous waste is expensive. Gives the U.S. Environmental Protection

agency the right to sue the owners of hazardous waste sites who had illegally dumped waste.

Gained the right to force the owners to pay for cleaning up abandoned hazardous waste sites.

Kansas has 12 Superfund sites.

Hazardous Waste Management Each year the U.S. produces about 252

million metric tons of hazardous waste. One way to prevent it is to produce less of

it. Redesign methods. Another way to deal with it is to find a way

to reuse it. Some types of wastes can be treated with

chemicals to make the waste less hazardous.

Disposal

Most of hazardous waste produced in the U.S. is disposed of on land.

Deep well injection – well under ground water and cement on top

Surface impoundment – pond that has a sealed bottom

Solid waste often put into barrels and buried in landfills.

Some can be absorbed, broken down or toxicity reduced with bacteria.

Some can be disposed by burning in special incinerators.

Exported to other states and countries.