Solid Waste, First Test
RCRA F-list
(non-specific hazardous source wastes) from common manufacturing and industrial processes, such as solvents that have been used in cleaning or degreasing operations. 40 CFR §261.31
RCRA K-list
(source-specific hazardous wastes) from specific industries, such as petroleum refining or pesticide manufacturing. 40 CFR §261.32.
SW REG 1986
- Congress passes the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA)
SW REG 1984
- Hazardous and Solid Waste Act amendments and reauthorization to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act require tougher federal regulation of landfills.
SW REG 1976
- RCRA and TSCA are passed. All dumps must replaced with "sanitary landfills" and dumping of hazardous chemicals in landfills becomes illegal
SW REG 1959
ASCE publishes a standard guide to sanitary landfilling.
Curb-side/Alley Collection Advantages
Advantage: Crew can move quickly, crew does not have to enter private properly, adapatable to automatied and semiautomated collection equipment
Biological transformations
Aerobic composting Anaerobic composting
1970: Resource Recovery Act
Amendment of Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1965. Shifted emphasis of national solid waste management program from disposal to recycling and reuse of recoverable materials in solid waste as well as conversion of wastes to energy Responsibility shifted from U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) to new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Trash-Trailer (Truck-Trailer) Systems
Applications similar to tilt-frame container systems Better for heavy rubbish Sand, timber, metal scrap Demolition wastes at construction sites Types Open-top - 15-40 yd3 Enclosed trailer-mounted with self-contained compaction mechanism - 20-40 yd3
Collection Route Optimization
Avoid route overlap - Figure 7.15 Points to consider: Point of collection/frequency Crew size and vehicle types Begin/end route near arterial streets using topographical and physical barriers as route boundaries Hilly areas - start at top of grade and go down as truck fills Last container collected closest to destination Early (non-peak traffic hours) collection for congested traffic areas Sources generating large quantities serviced early in day Scattered pick-up points with same frequency scheduled in one trip or at least same day
Characterize MSW: Materials flow
Based on production data (by wt) for materials and products in waste stream Adjusted for imports/exports, diversions from MSW (e.g. materials that go to C&D waste), product life, estimates from waste sampling studies for food and yard wastes as well as dirt and other misc inorganics Product residues (e.g., food in jar, paint in can) not accounted for and source info lost (e.g., residential vs commercial)
Hauled Container Systems
Big containers ideal for high generation rate sources Reduces handling time and unsightly accumulations/unsanitary conditions Flexible wrt container size and shape May suffer from low-volume utilization Compaction important where highly compressible wastes hauled long distance Usually single driver required - optional helper, esp. for hazardous waste loads Requires fewer personnel, but round-trip haul
Anaerobic Digestion
Biodegradable portion of organic fraction of MSW converted to gas (99% CO2+CH4) and stabilized solids when oxygen excluded Organic matter + H2O + nutrients → new cells + resistant organic matter* + CO2 + CH4 + NH3 + H2S + heat
Surge Pit (pro)
Buffer capacity for materials flow Allows for breaking up bulky items and compacting of waste to increase density for more economical shipping No rollout space needed, waste falls directly into truck Eliminates collision potential Best for large transfer stations with high peak flows
Combustion (Chemical Oxidation)
Chemical reaction of oxygen with organic materials - highly exothermic Organics + excess air → N2 + CO2 + H2O + O2 + heat + ash (→ also small amounts of NH3, SO2, and NOx may be formed)
SARA Title II
Cleanup of leaking underground storage tanks (USTs), R&D to promote treatment technologies, Love Canal property acquisition.
SARA Title III
Cleanup of leaking underground storage tanks (USTs), R&D to promote treatment technologies, Love Canal property acquisition.
Transfer Station Location Optimization
Close as possible to weighted center of collection areas served Within easy access of major arterial highway routes and near secondary or supplemental means of transportation Where minimum of public and environmental objection to transfer operations Where construction and operation most economical MRF requirements, if combined Trade-off analysis required Transportation costs Operational constraints
Ultimate Analysis
Determination of amount of major element (%) C (carbon) H (hydrogen) O (oxygen) N (nitrogen) S (sulfur) ash halogens sometimes included Used to define chemical composition and proper mix of waste materials to achieve suitable C/N ratios for biological conversion
Breeding of Flies
Develop in less than 2 weeks after eggs laid Extent of development in on-site storage depends on: Once infested, maggots (larval stage) are hard to remove from container - develop into flies in empty containers Maggots can crawl from uncovered cans and develop into flies in surrounding environment
Waste Storage Alternatives
Direct dump into transfer vehicle or storage container Tipping floor waste storage Surge pit
Manual Methods of collection
Direct lifting and carrying of loaded containers to the collection vehicle for emptying Rolling of loaded containers on their rims to the collection vehicle for emptying Rolling of large loaded containers equipped with wheels - usually followed by mechanically assisted lifting Use of small lifts for rolling loaded containers
Methods to Characterize MSW
Direct or Site-Specific Materials flow Surveys Multipliers for Project Waste Quantities
Non-harzardous waste Subtitle D
Durable goods, non-durable goods, containers and packaging, food waste, and yard waste.
SW REG 1989
EPA calls for an integrated solid waste management approach
SW REG 1899
Earliest US legislation The federal Rivers and Harbors Act restricts dumping in navigable rivers, to keep them open for shipping.
1988: Medical Waste Tracking Act
Established requirements for tracking medical wastes from generation to disposal Directed EPA to develop protocols for infectious waste disposal Amended RCRA by adding Subtitle J In effect November 1988 - June 1991 No federal requirements at this time, but some states have adopted their own
Characterize MSW: Surveys
Estimate composition by distributing questionnaires to generators - usually commercial and industrial Lack of records and confidentiality can be problematic Lack of participation
Mining Waste
Estimated at 1-2 billion tons annually in US Much of waste is returned to site Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 Several components: soil, overburden rock above resource being removed from subsurface tailings or spoils from processing minerals heap wastes left behind from spraying piles of low grade rock or tailings with acid or cyanide solutions to extract precious metals
Drop-off specified collection point Advantage
Least expensive method, offers reasonable strategies for low population densities, low staffing requirement
MRF
Material Recovery Facility
Mechanical volume reduction (densification)
Mechanical volume reduction (densification)
Stationary container systems
Mechanically-loaded collection vehicles Manually-loaded collection vehicles
Energy Content of SW Components
Methods: Use a full scale boiler as a calorimeter Use a laboratory bomb calorimeter Compute from elemental composition Typical data on an as discarded basis given in Table 4-5 (as collected given in Table 4-2)
Wood Grinders
Most are wood chippers used to shred large pieces of wood (large branches, pallets) into chips for fuel or finer material for composting Tub grinders are most common Fed by front-end loader into revolving tub Tub feeds hammer mill continuously Conveyor carries milled material from grinder Material sorted by size in vibrating, rotary (trommel) or disc screen
Size Reduction - Shredders
Most common Hammer mill Flail mill or shredder Shear shredder Others Cutters Cage disintegrators Drum pulverizers Wet pulpers
Logistics of picking up trash
Most difficult and complex in urban settings Generation in every home and business and public space 50-70% of $'s spent on collection Improvements in efficiency can have big impact on cost
Categories of solid waste
Municipal Hazardous Industrial Medical Universal Construction and demolition (C&D) Radioactive Mining Agricultural
Curb-side/Alley Collection Disadvantages
Waste visible from the street, collection days must be scheduled, residents are responsible for placing containers at the proper collection point
Medical Waste
generated by hospitals, physicians, dentists, veterinarians, long-term healthcare facilities, clinics, laboratories, blood banks, funeral homes potentially infectious wastes 1988-91 Medical Waste Tracking Act as part of RCRA amendment not reauthorized by Congress, but impacted waste management policies
Component separation
mechanical or manual means to separate out identifiable components from commingled waste for recycle and hazard reduction
Source-separated wastes
Recyclable Compostable
NEW 2015 Definition of Solid Waste
(DSW) Final Rule - effective July 13, 2015 Major provisions Retains generator-controlled exclusions with strengthened requirements. Replaces transfer-based exclusion with verified recycler exclusion. Codifies definition of legitimate recycling with built-in recognition for in-process recycling and commodity-grade materials. Finalizes remanufacturing exclusion for certain higher-value spent solvents. Strengthens existing variance and non-waste determination provisions.
The P-list and the U-list
(discarded commercial hazardous chemical products) include specific commercial chemical products in an unused form, e.g., pesticides and some pharmaceutical products 40 CFR §261.33
MSW Management Cost
1. Up front cost 2, Operating Cost 3. Back-end Cost 4. remidation Cost 5. contingent 6. environmental 7. social
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response
29 CFR 1910.120 OSHA Covers workers involved in hazardous waste cleanup; treatment, storage and disposal (TSD); and emergency response to HazMat incidents. Specific training is mandated.
RCRA Characteristic Hazardous Wastes
40 CFR Part 261 Subpart C - Ignitability, Corrosivity, Reactivity, and Toxicity
Major Components of Recycling
Collection Curbside, drop-off centers, buy-back centers, deposit/refund programs Processing at MRF Manufacturing Newspapers; paper towels; aluminum, plastic, and glass soft drink containers; steel cans; and plastic laundry detergent bottles; glass in roadway asphalt (glassphalt); recovered plastic in carpeting, park benches, and pedestrian bridges. Purchasing recycled products
Alley Collection
Collection from containers stored in alley behind residence where part of city layout
Backyard Collection Advantages
Collection not scheduled, waste not visible from street, residents not involved, requires fewer crew members than setout/setback method.
Chemical transformations
Combustion Pyrolysis Gasfication
Recovery of Conversion Products and Energy
Combustion to produce steam and electricity Pyrolysis to produce synthetic gas, liquid or solid fuel, and solids Gasification to produce a synthetic fuel Biological conversion to produce compost Biodigestion to produce methane and stabilized organic humus
Physical transformations of solid waste
Component separation Volume reduction (densification) Size reduction
Baler
Compress waste into dense, self-contained bales Very high cost, but high payload Baler can be used for packaging recyclables Normally only used for high-volume operations with long haul to disposal
SW REG 1980
Congress passes the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA or "Superfund")
Intermodal Container System
Container designed to fit on flatbed trailers and railroad flatcars Sealable containers have moisture and odor control features - can be stored >24 hours Economic to accumulate larger load before transport
Setout Collection
Containers set out from homeowner's property
Setout-setback Collection
Containers set out from homeowner's property and set back after being emptied
Hoist Truck Systems
Containers vary in size from 2 to 12 yd3 Important for two types of systems: Collection of wastes by small operator with few pick up points where considerable amounts of waste generated Collection of bulky items and industrial rubbish - scrap metal and construction debris - where compaction not suitable
Backyard carry
Crew collects and returns filled containers from backyard using wheeled caddy or collects bags (?) using burlap carry cloths or hand-carry bin
Backyard Collection Disadvantages
Crew enters private property, more time consuming, waste spills are possible
Collection Services for Source-Separated Wastes
Curbside Conventional collection vehicles Specially-designed collection vehicles Incidental curbside collection by charitable organizations Delivery by residents to drop-off and buyback centers
Collection Services for Commingled from Low-& Medium-Rise Apartments
Curbside collection - building maintenance staff responsible for transporting containers to street Collector moves containers to collection vehicle Small dumpsters emptied mechanically using collection vehicles with unloading mechanisms
Collection Location
Curbside or alley Backyard carry (or curb collection may be combined with separate set-out/set-back service) Drop-off
Fusing point of ash
Defined as that temperature at which the ash resulting from the burning of waste will form a solid (clinker) by fusion and agglomeration
Surge Pit (con)
Expensive to construct Fall hazard-people/vehicles Hazards to operators working in pit Difficult to remove unacceptable waste once in pit Increase number of stories/larger building profile required Equipment needed to reload waste into transfer trailer Additional fire control equipment required
MRF Function
Function as centralized facility for Separation Cleaning Packaging Shipping of large volumes of materials recovered from MSW Most current facilities integrate manual and mechanical separation Sophistication depends on Number/types of components to be separated Waste diversion goals for program Specifications for separated product quality
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
Garbage plant & animal waste generated while preparing & consuming food putrescible Rubbish everything else in waste other than food not putrescible a portion of rubbish is combustible
Tipping Floor Waste Storage (con)
Garbage on tipping is messy and slippery (fall hazard) Accident potential higher - equipment on floor moving waste Requires roll-out space on floor for trucks to tip Equipment needed on floor to move waste to trailer Additional fire control equipment required to control fires in waste piles on tipping floor
RCRA Subtitles
General Provisions Office of Solid Waste: Authorities of the Administrator and Interagency Coordinating Committee Hazardous Waste Management State or Regional Solid Waste Plans Duties of the Secretary of Commerce in Resource and Recovery Federal Responsibilities Miscellaneous Provisions Research, Development, Demonstration, and Information Regulation of Underground Storage Tanks Standards for the Tracking and Management of Medical Wastes
Agricultural Waste
Generated in > quantities than MSW, but usually in more sparsely populated areas Much is handled on-site Crop residues Pesticide containers and packaging CAFOs - Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations
Glass Crushers
Glass is crushed to reduce storage space and shipping costs Crushed in separation processes so can be removed by screening out Optical sorting by color is possible, but equipment expensive and often unreliable
Backyard Setout - Setback Collection Disadvantage
Have to enter private property, more time consuming, residents not involved so more crew members are required so this method is more costly
HAZWOPER
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response
Single Stream Collection Recyclables (pro)
Higher volume More households participate High public approval - easy and convenient Higher diversion rates - esp. cardboard and paper Reduced risk to workers (more automation) Wider range of workers qualified for automated collection jobs Greater efficiency and productivity Lower costs (including worker's comp savings) Opportunity to add new materials to collection systems, esp. green waste
MSW Composition
Highly Variable; changes based on seasons, geography, household, national economy;
Hauled container systems
Hoist truck Tilt-frame container Trash trailer
Curb Collection
Homeowner responsible for bringing to curb and replacing empty containers to storage location
40 CFR 240.101 Definition of Solid Waste
IS garbage, refuse, sludges, and other discarded solid materials resulting from industrial and commercial operations and from community activities IS NOT silt, suspended solids or dissolved material in water, e.g. in domestic sewage water resources industrial wastewater effluents irrigation return flows.
Tilt-Frame Container Systems
Ideally suited for all types of solid waste from location requiring use of large containers Popular for private collectors serving commercial accounts Types - Open top (drop or debris boxes) - 12-50 yd3 Construction sites, warehouses Used with stationary compactor - 15-40 yd3 Apartment complexes, commercial services, transfer stations Equipped with self-contained compaction mechanism - 20-40 yd3
Hammer Mill
Impact device with hammers fastened radially to an inner shaft or disk rotated at high speed (700-120 rev/min) Waste is struck forcefully by hammers against breaker plates or cutter bars around periphery until material is small enough to fall out of the bottom of the mill Horizontal-shaft most reliable, but can also be designed with vertical shaft
Drop-off specified collection point Disadvantage
Inconvienent for residents, illegal dumping possible, risk of injury to residents
SW REG 1657
New Amsterdam (now Manhattan) passes a law against casting waste in the streets.
Production of Odors
Odors develop when waste is stored, worse in warm climates Typically from anaerobic decomposition of organic components Sulfate (SO42-) reduced to sulfide (S2-) which forms hydrogen sulfide (H2S) (rotten egg odor) Mercaptans Volatile acids
Collection Frequency
Once per week common for residential Twice per week in hot, humid climates Cost trade-offs - remember collection is where the majority of cost of SWM occurs
Shear Shredder
Operate in scissorlike action in which two counterrotating knives cut or shear the waste Low speed compared to hammer mills (60-190 rev/min) Driven by hydraulic motor that can be reversed in case of a jam
Biological Properties of MSW
Organic fraction (excluding plastic, rubber, and leather components) Water soluble - sugars, starches, amino acids, various organic acids Hemicellulose (condensation product of 5- and 6-C sugars) Cellulose (condensation product of 6-C glucose) Fats, oils, and waxes (esters of alcohols and long-chain fatty acids) Lignin (polymeric material containing aromatic rings with methoxyl (-OCH3) groups, exact chemical nature unknown, present in some paper products) Lignocellulose (combo of lignin and cellulose) Proteins (composed of chains of amino acids)
Gasification
Partial combustion of carbonaceous fuel to generate a combustible fuel gas rich in CO, H2 and some saturated hydrocarbons, principally CH4 Combustible fuel gas combusted in internal combustion engine or boiler
12/1984 - Bhopal disaster
Pesticide plant producing Sevin. Methyl isocyanate (MIC) was released while people slept. Thousands of people died and many thousands remain ill. Calls to improve community awareness - Right-to-Know - added to SARA in 1986 MIC is still used in US manufacturing.
Composition
Physical composition transport, processing equipment, combustion characteristics, landfill lifetime/stability Chemical composition utility as fuel, gaseous emissions, ash composition, landfill gas production, leachate composition, suitability for composting
Aerobic Composting
Primarily yard wastes and organic fraction of MSW converted to stable organic residue known as compost in 4-6 weeks with oxygen Organic matter + O2 + nutrients → new cells + resistant organic matter* + CO2 + H2O + NH3 + SO2- + heat
Management of Collection Systems
Private-Entity Operations Unrestricted access to capital for equipment purchase Flexible use of workers Competition in setting costs Public-Entity Operations Control of waste management system for public health considerations Public access to cost data Combination of private and public
Drop-Off and Buy-Back Centers for Recyclables
Problems Low participation rate - convenience, charity Storage at source - space/aesthetic problems Buy-Back Centers - monetary incentive
Mechanical size reduction
Processes used to reduce size (not necessarily volume) of waste materials Shredding, grinding, milling
Funding the Collection System
Property tax revenues Flat fees Variable-rate fees ("pay as you throw")
Walking Floor Transfer Trailer
Pros: Allows for unloading anywhere Cons: More prone to leak liquids from bottom of trailer More prone to damage from dense or sharp objects that fall into empty trailer Suitable for range of volumes and distances
Trailer Tipper
Pros: Allows use of lightweight trailers to maximize payloads Ideal for rail-based container intermodal system Cons: High reliability or redundancy required, no way to unload trailer at landfill if tipper fails Tippers can be unstable if placed over waste at landfill Application: Long-distance, high-volume hauls to large landfills equipped with a tipper
Push-out blade transfer trailer
Pros: Pushes out horizontally, eliminating the danger of tipping at the landfill Can unload anywhere Cons: Push-out blade uses some of payload capacity Material can become stuck behind blade Blade can bind during extension or retraction Application: Short-distance, low-volume hauling
SARA Title 1
Protection of workers in hazardous waste operations/HAZWOPER/emergency response plans
Chemical Properties of MSW
Proximate analysis Fusing point of ash Ultimate analysis (major elements) Energy content Essential nutrients and other elements
1976: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Public Law 94-580 gave EPA the authority to control hazardous waste from the "cradle-to-grave", including generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal (Part C). set forth a framework for the management of non-hazardous wastes (Part D). 1986 amendments enabled EPA to address environmental problems that could result from underground tanks storing petroleum and other hazardous substances. Amended Focuses only on active and future facilities and does not address abandoned or historical sites
1980: Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (Superfund)
Public Law 96-510, 42 U.S.C. Article 9601 provides a Federal "Superfund" to clean up uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous-waste sites accidents, spills, and other emergency releases orphan sites when responsible parties cannot be identified or located, or when they fail to act.
Vehicle Unloading Alternatives
Push-out blade transfer trailer Walking floor transfer trailer Trailer tipper for transfer trailers and trailer-mounted containers Open-top railcar tippers
1992: Federal Facility Compliance Act
RCRA amendment in 1992 Public Law 102-386 handled legal dispute as to whether federal facilities are subject to enforcement actions under RCRA Waived government immunity from prosecution with regard to improper management of hazardous wastes
1996: Land Disposal Program Flexibility Act
RCRA amendment in 1996 Public Law 104-119 provides regulatory flexibility for land disposal of certain wastes.
1986: Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA)
Reauthorized CERCLA to continue cleanup activities around the country Site-specific amendments Definitions clarifications Technical requirements were added to the legislation, including additional enforcement authorities. Title III of SARA also authorized the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
Single Stream Collection Recyclables (con)
Recycled product quality lower Glass a particular problems for paper industry Lower end-market Expensive cost for processing Collection cost is low Increase in sorting and processing costs Decrease in revenues due to material loss
Recycling Benefits
Recycling conserves energy Recycled newspaper uses 40% less energy. Recycled glass uses 40% less energy. Recycled steel uses 60% less energy. Recycled plastic uses 70% less energy. Recycled aluminum uses 95% less energy Recycling benefits the economy The recycling industry has a total economic impact of 169,000 jobs and $6 billion in annual wages, just in the state of Ohio. The recycling industry accounts for $7.3 billion in annual sales, just in the state of Ohio. Recycling supplies valuable materials to industry
Industrial Waste
Regulations managed by state and local governments - vary widely NPDES permits for wastewater discharge to surface waters federal government involved under Clean Water Act Generated and managed on-site at industrial facilities coal combustion pulp and paper industry iron and steel industry chemical industry ~4x more than amount MSW produced annually in US
Transfer Stations Economic When
Relatively small, manually loaded collection vehicles used to collect residential waste distant from disposal destination Extremely large quantities of wastes must be hauled over long distances One transfer station can be used by a number of collection vehicles
MSW Solid Waste Generations
Residential, commercial, institutional, industrial, and municipal.
2008 Definition of Solid Waste (DSW)
Rule: EPA530-F-08-006 EPA issued rule streamlining regulation of hazardous secondary materials to encourage beneficial recycling and help conserve resources. Went through revision and public comment period in 2011 and was finalized in 2015.
Essential Elements and Other Nutrients
See Table 4-6 for data on principal materials that compose the organic fraction of MSW Important with respect to microbial nutrient balance for biological conversion processes
Field Capacity (FC)
Total amount of moisture that can be retained in a waste sample subject to the downward pull of gravity Water in excess of field capacity released as leachate
Screening
Separate mixtures of materials of different sizes into two or more fractions Applications Removal of oversize materials Removal of undersize materials Separation of waste into light combustibles and heavy noncombustibles Recovery of paper, plastics and other light materials from glass and metal Separation of glass, grit and sand from combustible materials Separation of rocks and other debris from soil excavated at construction sites Removal of oversize materials from combustion ash
Flail Mill
Similar to hammer mill with hammers spaced farther apart Coarse shredding - single pass Often used as bag breakers
Direct dump into transfer vehicle or storage container (open top transfer trailers)
Simple technology Can dump on tipping floor to sort waste Flexible for low-volume operations
Tipping Floor Waste Storage (pro)
Simple, minimal equipment breakdowns Less expensive and more operational flexibility than pits Buffer capacity for materials flow Allows easy screening and additional processing of waste Suitable for small and large transfer stations; can manage nearly all waste type
Direct Dump into Transfer Vehicle or Storage Container (pro)
Simple, minimal equipment breakdowns Low capital cost Less housekeeping Smaller building footprint since no storage space needed, but may require more queuing space Small transfer stations in rural or tribal settings with relatively short haul to disposal site
Recyclable
Single stream - all recyclables mixed together Paper separated from containers Separated by paper, glass, metals, plastic
Unit Operations for Separation and Processing of Waste Materials
Size reduction - shredders, glass crushers, wood grinders Screening - wet or dry; vibrating, rotary, disc screens Density separation - air classifiers, [de-]stoners, flotation, heavy media separators Optical sorting - newest technology one to watch! Magnetic/electric field separation - magnetic, electrostatic, eddy current Densification - stationary compactors, baling, cubing/pelleting, can crushers
Storage Containers
Size/weight - depends on collection method Manual collection - limits for worker safety Automated collection - special containers Prevent pest access Lids Bag thickness/closures Durability
Hazardous Waste
Solid waste that owing to quantity concentration or physical, chemical or infectious characteristics may cause or contribute to increased mortality, serious illness or incapacitation pose substantial hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of or otherwise managed
Radioactive Wastes
Special category of industrial waste from nuclear plants, nuclear waste reprocessing facilities, and nuclear weapons facilities (e.g., former local Superfund site at Fernald - will tour remediated site), as well as research and medical facilities Long half-lives, hazardous at a distance, radiation can penetrate living tissue death, mutation, cancer Disposal is controversial, esp. high-level radiation NIMBY
Compactor System
Stationary compactors use hydraulic ram to compact waste in transfer trailer Heavy trailer required, reduces payload Declining in popularity
Proximate Analysis
Test method for proximate analysis of MSW based on standard practice for proximate analysis of coal and coke (ASTM 3172): Moisture content determination
CFR vs. FR
The FR announces ongoing activities of the agencies and notifies you when you can comment on a proposed regulation. Once a final decision is issued in the form of a final regulation, the regulation is then codified when it is incorporated into the CFR.
SW REG 1970
The Federal Clean Air Act enacted. New regulations lead to incineration shut downs. April 22 the first Earth Day. USEPA is created.
1984: Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA)
The Federal Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments are the 1984 amendments to RCRA required phasing out land disposal of hazardous waste. increased enforcement authority for EPA more stringent hazardous waste management standards comprehensive underground storage tank program
SW REG 1965
The Solid Waste Disposal Act is enacted, calling for US to find better ways of dealing with trash.
SW REG 1885
The first garbage incinerator in the U.S. is built on Governors Island in New York Harbor
SW REG 1897
The first recycling center is established in New York City.
Pyrolysis (Destructive Distillation)
Thermal cracking and condensation of organics in oxygen-free atmosphere into gaseous (H2, CH4, CO, CO2), liquid (tar/oil containing products like acetic acid, acetone, methanol) and solid (char - C) fractions - highly endothermic
Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR)
Title 40: Protection of Environment deals with EPA's mission of protecting human health and the environment. Official revisions published annually on July 1
1965: Solid Waste Disposal Act
Title II of Public Law 89-272 set stage for current regulation of solid waste Enforcement by USPHS of Department of Health, Education and Welfare and the Bureau of Mines (Department of the Interior) Primary thrust was to develop more efficient disposal methods rather than to protect public health and the environment Promote the demonstration, construction, and application of solid waste management and resource recovery systems that preserve and enhance the quality of air, water and land resources Provide technical and financial assistance to state and local governments and interstate agencies in the planning and development of resource recovery and solid waste disposal programs Promote a national research and development program for improved management techniques; more effective organizational arrangements; new and improved methods of collection, separation, recovery and recycling of solid wastes; and the environmentally safe disposal of non-recoverable residues Provide for the promulgation of guidelines for solid waste collection, transport, separation, recovery, and disposal systems Provide for training grants in occupations involving the design, operation, and maintenance of solid waste disposal systems
Direct Dump into Transfer Vehicle or Storage Container (con)
Transfer trailer must be in place to accept waste No short term storage capacity to accommodate peak flows - long queues Low payload in trailers, little compaction Fall hazard Limits ability to screen wastes Not suitable for receiving waste from long roll-off or large packer trucks Damage to transfer trailer from large items possible
Transfer Station Vehicles to consider
Transfer trailers hauling waste from facility Commercial haulers Packer trucks Hauled roll-off containers Small businesses - varies, trucks/vans Residential - cars and pick-ups
Screening - Rotary (Trommel)
Trommel screens most common type Large diameter screen formed into a cylinder rotating on a horizontal axis Used to protect shredders in RDF production facilities and to separate out cardboard and paper in MRFs Can be used a bag breakers if equipped with metal blades or teeth in first third of cylinder
Recycling
Turns materials that would normally join the waste stream into valuable resources
Stationary Container Systems
Types Mechanically loaded Enclosed top, side loading - 1-8 yd3 Special containers for residential waste - 0.23-0.45 yd3 (60-120 gal) Manually loaded Small plastic or galvanized metal containers, disposable paper and plastic bags - 0.08-0.21 yd3 (20-55 gal) Most collection vehicles equipped with internal compaction mechanisms Personnel requirements vary - Mechanically loaded - one driver, helper optional Manually loaded - 2-5 person crew, depending on service level
Universal Waste
Universal Waste Rule (1995) simplifies RCRA requirements for certain wastes generated both by households and businesses formerly regulated as hazardous: Batteries Ni/Cd, small Pb acid in electronic equipment, mobile phones, portable computers Agricultural pesticides that are obsolete, recalled or banned Thermostats that contain liquid Hg Lamps that contain Hg or Pb
Vibrating Screens
Used to Remove relatively dry undersized material from source-separated and commingled MSW, e.g., glass or metals Wood chips from ground wood for compost Process construction and demolition wastes Designed to vibrate Side-to-side Vertically Lengthwise For MSW, have an incline and use a vertical motion
Characterize MSW: Surveys: Multipliers for Project Waste Quantities
Used to estimate waste quantities in a region once have some data Based on surveys, published data and direct sampling
Pre-compactor System
Uses hydraulic ram inside a cylinder to create a compacted log Log loaded on trailer - high payload High cost, need extra unit for backup Good for high volume with a long haul to disposal site
Biodegradability of Organic Waste Components
Volatile solids (VS) content - determined by ignition at 550 oC - often used, but misleading because some components are highly volatile but not very biodegradable
Construction and Demolition (C&D) Debris
Waste material generated during construction, renovation or demolition of buildings, roads, bridges Components: concrete asphalt wood metals gypsum wallboard roofing land-clearing debris
Collection Services for Commingled from High-Rise Apartments
Wastes picked up by building maintenance personnel from various floors and taken to basement or service area Wastes taken to basement or service area by tenants Wastes, usually bagged, are placed by tenants in a waste chute system leading to a centralized service location (Figure 7.4a) Centralized wastes collected in large containers with or without compaction that are 1) mechanically emptied into collection vehicles or 2) hauled off-site for unloading
Transfer Stations
Wastes, containers or collection vehicle bodies holding wastes are transferred from a collection vehicle to a haul vehicle
Collection Services for Commingled from Commercial-Industrial Facilities
Where traffic congestion is a problem Waste collected in late evening or early morning Manual collection at curb - waste in disposable bags or boxes Where traffic congestion not a problem Large movable containers commonly used Containers may be coupled with stationary compactor Containers may be mechanically emptied into collection vehicle or hauled off-site
Compostable
Yard waste Food waste
Backyard Setout - Setback Collection Advantage
collection need not be scheduled, waste not visible from street, use of additional crew members reduced loading time
Flat fees
common for communities with private haulers lessens impact on property tax, but still no connection to amounts SW generated
Decision-Maker's Guide to Solid Waste Management
developed for solid waste management practitioners, such as local government officials, facility owners and operators, consultants, and regulatory agency specialists contains technical and economic information to help practitioners meet challenges of planning, managing, and operating MSW programs and facilities encourages reduction of waste at the source and fosters implementation of integrated solid waste management systems that are cost-effective and protect human health and the environment
Property tax revenues
only property owners pay never see a bill disconnect from SW amounts generated
Variable-rate fees ("pay as you throw")
purchase special bags or stickers different rates for different size cans/# cans increases recycling participation
The Federal Register
the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents
Commingled waste
unseparated waste
