Solid and Hazardous Waste

Chapter 21

“Solid wastes are only raw materials we’re too stupid to

use.”

Arthur C. Clarke

Key Concepts

Types and amounts of wastes

Methods to reduce waste

Methods of dealing with waste

Hazardous waste regulation in the US

Wasting Resources

Industrial and agriculture wasteMunicipal solid waste

Fig. 21-2, pg. 526

US: 1,600 lb/person

Hazardous Wastes

NOT Hazardous Wastes

Radioactive wastes

Household wastes

Mining wastes

Oil and gas drilling wastes

Liquids containing organic hydrocarbons

Cement kiln dust

< 100 kg (220 lb) per month

Producing Less Waste and Pollution

Waste management (high waste approach)

Burying, burning, shipping

Waste prevention (low waste approach)

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Chemical or biological treatmentBurial

Dealing with Material Use and Wastes

Fig. 21-3, pg 528

Dealing with Hazardous Wastes

Fig. 21-4, pg 530

Solutions: Cleaner Production

Refer to Solutions p. 533

Solutions: Selling Services Instead of Things

Service-flow economyUses a minimum amount of materialProducts last longerProducts are easier to maintain, repair, and recycleCustomized services needed by customers

See Individuals Matter, pg. 534

Reuse

See Solutions pg. 535

Extends resource suppliesMaintains high-quality matterReduced energy useRefillable beverage containersReusable shipping containers and grocery bags

Recycling

Fig. 21-6, p 535

Primary (closed-loop)Post consumer wasteSecondary (open loop)

Characteristics of Recyclable Materials

Easily isolated from other waste

Available in large quantities

Valuable

Pay-as-you-throw garbage collection

Benefits of Recycling

Fig. 21-7 pg. 536

Recycling in the US

Centralized recycling of mixed waste (MRFs)

Separated recycling

Economic benefits

Increasing recycling in the US

See Case Study pg. 540

Case Studies: Recycling Aluminum, Wastepaper, and Plastics

40% of aluminum recycled in US

Recycled aluminum uses over 90% fewer resources

Paper: preconsumer vs. postconsumer recycling

10% or less of plastic recycled in US

Plastics can be very difficult to recycle

Detoxifying Wastes

Bioremediation

Microorganisms break down wastes

Phytoremediation

Removal of wastes from the soil

Burning Wastes

Mass burn incineration

Air pollution

Waste to energy

Fig. 21-11, pg. 543

Burying Wastes

Sanitary landfill

Leachate collection

Monitoring wells

Emit greenhouse gases (CO2 and methane)

Space near where waste is produced

Sanitary Landfill

Fig. 21-12, pg. 544

Deep-well Disposal

Fig. 21-14, pg. 546

Hazardous Waste Landfill

Fig. 21-16, pg. 547

Above Ground Hazardous Waste Disposal

Fig. 21-17, pg. 547

Exporting Wastes

Shipping to developing countries

Potentially huge profits for exporters

Basel Convention on Hazardous Waste

Many developing countries refusing wastes

Case Studies: Lead

Lead poisoning major problem in children

Leaded gasoline (phased out by 1986)Lead paint (banned in 1970)Lead in plasticsLead in plumbing

Progress is being made in reducing lead

Primary Sources of Lead

Case Studies: Mercury

Vaporized elemental Mercury

Fish contaminated with methyl mercury

Natural inputs

Emission control

Prevention of contamination

Case Studies: Chlorine

Environmentally damaging and potential health threat

Plastics

Solvents

Paper and pulp bleaching

Water disinfectionMany safer and cheaper substitutes are available

Sources of Chlorine

Case Studies: Dioxins

Potentially highly toxic chlorinated hydrocarbons

Waste incineration

Fireplaces

Coal-fired power plants

Paper productions

Sewage sludge

Sources of Dioxins

Hazardous Waste Regulation in the United States

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

Superfund

National Priority List

Polluter-pays principle

Brownfields

See Solutions pg. 554

Solutions: Achieving a Low-Waste Society

Local grassroots action

International ban on 12 persistent organic pollutants (the dirty dozen)

Cleaner production

Improved resource productivity

Service flow economies