Bio370 Ch. 16

What industrial approach follows the same process in which natural systems handle waste?

biomimicry

Toxic waste can be disposed of through ________ , which is a process where bacteria and enzymes help to destroy hazardous substances or convert them to harmless compounds.

bioremediation

What is a good way for a manufacturer of goods to reduce solid waste production?

develop products that are easy to repair, reuse, remanufacture, compost, or recycle

Deep-well disposal is often a permanent solution for hazardous waste disposal.

false

Land becomes useless after it is used as a sanitary landfill.

false

Surface impoundments have the advantage of nearly zero water and air pollution.

false

Waste-to-energy incineration is likely to lead to much less resource production.

false

While rechargeable batteries create less solid waste, they actually create more toxic waste.

false

According to the EPA, all ________ are likely to leak and could contaminate groundwater.

impoundment liners

From an environmental standpoint, the first three Rs (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse) are preferred because they are ________ approaches that tackle the problem of waste production before it occurs.

input

Most municipal solid waste in the U.S. will end up in a(n) ________ .

landfill

Sanitary landfills are covered daily with ________ to help keep material dry and prevent leaks.

layers of clay or plastic foam

Some landfills also have systems for collecting ________ and burning it as a fuel.

methane

Huge quantities of plastic bags and other plastic products and solid wastes end up in ________ .

oceans

Sanitary landfills represent a(n) ________ approach that encourages waste production.

output

Various plants have been identified as ________ that can be used to help clean up soil and water that is contaminated with chemicals.

pollution sponges

In ________ recycling, materials such as aluminum cans are recycled into new products of the same type.

primary

Waste ________ is a process in which we produce much less solid waste, and the wastes we do produce are considered to be potential resources that we can reuse, recycle, or compost.

reduction

Cities that make money by recycling and that have higher recycling rates tend to use a(n) ________ system for both recyclable and nonrecyclable materials.

single-pickup

________ waste is any discarded material or substance that threatens human health or the environment.

toxic

A disadvantage of a waste-to-energy incinerator is the emission of CO2.

true

A disadvantage of recycling is that it can cost more than sending waste to a landfill.

true

Cooking with whole fresh foods is a sustainable way to avoid creating waste.

true

Hazardous waste recycling and reduction in the United States could be substantially reduced through clearinghouses.

true

In Ireland, a tax of approximately 25¢ per bag helped to cut plastic bag litter by 90% as people switched to reusable bags.

true

Many resource experts believe that we are doing the opposite of what we should be doing with solid waste.

true

More-developed countries such as the United States produce most of the world's hazardous waste.

true

Renting, borrowing, and bartering for goods and services is a good way to for individuals to address our solid waste problems.

true

Some resource experts propose that we should change the name of the trash we produce from municipal solid waste to mostly wasted resources.

true

The city of Fort Worth, Texas went from losing money in its recycling program to making a substantial profit because of increased sales of recycled materials to industries.

true