Module 5.3 homework

In the path depicted here, if discarded materials were recycled, the "discard" step would loop back to the "_____" step. natural resources → take → make → use → discard

make Recycled materials would be available to create new products.

A municipal composter can turn biodegradable trash into compost in as little as:

a few days. When the trash has degraded to compost, it takes a few weeks for the compost to cure before it can be used on gardens or in landscaping. This is much faster than would happen in a backyard compost pile.

In 2016, what was the global percentage of e-waste that was recycled properly?

20%

In 2015, each American produced about _____ pounds of solid waste per day.

4.5 This is a much as ten times the amount produced by most less developed countries.

All of the following would reduce the level of toxic air pollutants emitted from incinerators EXCEPT:

burying the toxic ash in a hazardous waste landfill. The air pollutants have already been released by the time the ash is landfilled, so the handling of the ash does not decrease toxic air pollutants.

Many municipal facilities remove their compost from the digester to decompose further in a sheltered place before making it available for use on gardens or in landscaping. What is the term for this final step?

curing Even after decomposition appears to be complete, the aerobic activity is still active. Curing slows the process so that the material is more stable when applied to gardens or used in landscaping applications.

Avoiding the use of chemicals that are potentially hazardous is a form of:

refusing. Not buying the product is a form of refusing. For example, a consumer may choose to buy a natural weed killer rather than one that is a potential carcinogen even if the natural product is more expensive or less effective.

What are more manufacturers considering to reduce the amount of waste generated by their products?

reuse potential in the design stage Some manufactures want to tackle the problem of waste generated by their products as early in the process as possible so that there is less waste to manage.

What are some actions that humans can take to turn their linear system of waste into a circular system that better reflects nature, and reduces or eliminates solid waste? disposing waste in landfills returning to nature relegating to government agencies reusing products recycling when possible

reusing products recycling when possible returning to nature

What is the term for putting items in the recycling bin with the hope that they can be recycled?

wish-cycling A number of plastics cannot be recycled. When people put nonrecyclable plastics in with recyclable plastics, that plastic becomes contaminated and can no longer be used to make new products. The contaminated plastic ends up in landfills or incinerators.

Of the following, which one best explains why so much e-waste from the United States ends up in Asia or Africa?

The United States has no federal e-waste policy. Currently 20 U.S. states prohibit the landfilling of e-waste, but because there is no federal policy addressing e-waste, it is often disposed of improperly.

What is the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) most preferred method of dealing with solid waste?

source reduction and reuse To reduce impacts of solid waste on the environment, the EPA has recommendations for preferred disposal methods of municipal waste. The preferred method is source reduction and reuse. This method has the least impact on the environment because it reduces consumer waste generation, meaning that there is less overall waste to dispose. According to data from 2014, only 1% of total waste is mitigated using this method. Recycling and composting is the second‑most preferred method. Recycling effectively repurposes materials, reducing the impact of resource extraction. However, there are some environmental impacts of recycling, such as additional energy usage. Composting reduces the amount of waste that goes into landfills. In 2014, recycling and composting accounted for about 35% of U.S. municipal solid waste disposal. The next preferred method is incineration with energy capture. Although waste incineration produces substantial amounts of air pollution and toxic ash, these types of incinerators can also produce electricity. This potential for energy production helps offset some of the negative environmental impacts. As of 2014, incineration accounts for only 12.8% of U.S solid waste disposal. However, not all incineration facilities have the capability to capture energy and produce electricity, which increases their environmental impact significantly. The EPA's least preferred method of waste disposal is the traditional landfill. These have the largest impacts on the environment and human health. Unfortunately, landfills are the most common method for solid waste disposal in the United States, with more than 50% of U.S. solid waste ending up in landfills.

Most like to receive E waste

Nigeria or India

Biodegradable waste is waste that quickly and easily turns back into soil through naturally occuring chemical and physical processes. Nondegradable waste is the primary cause of Earth's solid waste problem because it neither quickly breaks down nor easily assimilates back to nature.

Because biodegradable waste is created from organic or plant‑based items, it breaks down in nature efficiently. Nondegradable waste, which is nonorganic and highly processed, can last for decades or even centuries as solid waste. This unnatural solid waste pollutes soil, water, and sometimes air. Biodegradable waste does not contribute to Earth's solid waste problem since it returns to soil through natural processes. If an item is biodegradable, it generally can be composted either in a backyard space or in municipal compost facilities. Composting allows organic or plant‑based waste to break down into soil more quickly, often within weeks or months. Items that are acceptable to compost include yard waste, plant‑based food waste, coffee filters, and paper towels. Clothing that is made from all‑natural materials, such as cotton or wool, is also compostable, but it may take six months to a year to deteriorate. Nondegradable waste, which includes plastics, aluminum, metals, polystyrene foam, synthetic rubber, and glass, does not break down easily. In fact, some products, such as glass and polystyrene foam, may take thousands of years to assimilate back into the environment. Therefore it is crucial to reduce purchases of nondegradable items, reuse when feasible, and recycle as much as possible to help minimize the environmental consequences of solid waste.

source reduction. Less packaging means fewer materials entering the waste stream.

Choosing to buy goods with minimal packaging is an example of:

Classify composting materials as brown, green, or unsuitable.

Compost is produced by letting a variety of materials, such as fruit and vegetable waste, plants, and used paper decompose. Composting is a way to recycle these types of waste into a product that can feed the soil. Examples of brown materials include dead leaves, newspaper, and untreated sawdust. These are all carbon‑rich plant materials that are either dried or processed. Examples of green materials include grass clippings, vegetable peels, and coffee grounds. These are all nitrogen‑rich plant materials that are fresh and either unprocessed or minimally processed. Examples of materials that should not be composted include meat scraps, cooking oil, and pet waste. Meat and oil take too long to break down and could attract pests. Pet waste can spread parasites that are dangerous for humans.

Identify the statements that correctly describe waste incinerators.

Incinerators are facilities that burn trash at high temperatures. Burning trash in incinerators reduces the amount of solid waste that is disposed of in landfills. The heat produced by burning waste can also be used to generate electricity. Heat from the incinerator boils water, which creates steam that then moves a turbine and generates electricity. Unfortunately, burning trash that contains plastics and other chemicals releases toxic substances into the air. Incinerators also produce greenhouse gases, particulate matter, and toxic ash. A barrier to incineration is the high cost to build and operate incinerators. Fees to dispose of trash at incinerator facilities are much higher than disposing at landfills. Due to these expenses, and the negative environmental effects, incinerators are not the most widely used method for solid waste disposal.

Of the following, which one does NOT need to be removed from incinerator emissions?

Methane

E‑waste contains precious and rare‑earth metals. Therefore, recycling e‑waste reduces the environmental impact of mining that is required to extract these metals from the earth. Many of these metals are also toxic. Toxic, heavy metals can cause neurological disorders, birth defects, organ damage, and cancer. Most e‑waste contains a sufficient amount toxic metals to cause these health issues. For these reasons, countries like the U.S. send some of their e‑waste to developing countries, where poverty drives individuals to extract these dangerous metals from used electronic components. Phthalates are endocrine disruptors and commonly found in plastics. Although phthalates are found in the plastic components of electronics, the major route of exposure is ingestion. Therefore, e‑waste is not typically a source of phthalate exposure. Fluoropolymers are a high‑performance plastic used in many high‑tech industries. They are also used in some consumer products. Some types of fluoropolymers can cause certain types of cancer and metabolic disorders. Although fluoropolymers are used in some parts of electronics, e‑waste is not a significant source of exposure to fluorinated chemicals. Antimicrobials are used in many personal care products and can cause hormonal disruption. However, e‑waste does not contain antimicrobials.

Why is electronic waste (e‑waste) considered hazardous?

All of the following are found at a waste incinerator that produces electricity EXCEPT:

a methane collection system. Some sanitary landfills capture the methane released by anaerobic bacteria and burn it to make electricity. Incinerators use steam rather than methane to produce electricity.