Chapter 12 Solid and Hazardous Waste

_______________ solid waste is any non-liquid waste that is created due to the production of a product. It refers to any waste that is created while the product is being manufactured and before it reaches the consumer.

Non-municipal

This law covered the facility that created the hazardous substance, the consumer who used the product, the company that transported it and the waste facility that treated it and disposed of it. The detailed information was then delivered to a state agency for review and monitoring.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

____________ is a general term used to describe objects or particles that accumulate at the location where they are produced.

Solid waste

Why has more pressure been put on taxpayers when it comes to cleaning up contaminated sites?

because of a combination of the high cost of cleanup and the expiration of the Superfund Act

Why are sanitary landfills not the best long term solution?

because of issues like pollution and leachates that would threaten the environment

Which type of ash is created directly from the burned waste?

bottom ash

How does green chemistry directly benefit businesses?

by producing higher yields

How does green chemistry support the goals of source reduction?

by reducing overall amount of hazardous waste and decreasing use of raw materials

In addition to reducing waste, the process of composting also creates a usable product, __________, which is nutrient-rich and can be used to amend poor soils and fertilize gardens instead of using chemical fertilizers. The added compost also helps soil retain water and therefore can improve growing conditions.

humus

Green chemistry helps with _______________, which is when products are designed, manufactured, packaged, and used in a way that limits the amount or toxicity of waste created.

source reduction

The first goal of ________________ is to reduce the overall amount of waste that is produced. The second goal is to conserve resources by not using raw, virgin materials.

source reduction

_________________ is when products are designed, manufactured, packaged, and used in a way that limits the amount or toxicity of waste created.

source reduction

If hazardous waste is being disposed of in a shallow depression in the earth, which is lined with plastic and impervious materials, then it is possible to infer that the waste is being disposed of in _____.

surface impoundments

_______________________ are shallow depressions in the earth that are lined with plastic and impervious materials. The liquid hazardous waste is dumped in the here and left to evaporate.

surface impoundments

Upon the creation of the Superfund Act, who was held responsible for the cleaning of the contaminated site?

the people who contaminated the site

The ____________ of integrated waste management focuses solely on waste management, including treating waste to reduce toxicity, burying or incinerating waste and releasing some waste into the environment for dispersal or dilution.

third priority

In terms of hazardous waste, something is considered _______ if it is harmful to human health when a person is exposed to the substance through inhalation, ingestion or touch.

toxic

___________________ is the process of managing waste that is created and implementing disposal methods that reduce harm to the environment.

waste management

________________ is the process of reducing the total amount of waste produced and also using waste for alternative purposes.

waste reduction

Most mass burn incinerators that are still in use are now referred to as __________________ facilities because they harness the heat produced from burning the waste to create energy.

waste-to-energy

In the 1960s, the United States only recycled around _____% of waste! As of 2010, the United States recycled approximately ____% of the municipal solid waste produced, in comparison to other countries, such as Switzerland and Japan that recycle around ___% of waste.

6%; 25%; 50%

What percentage of solid municipal waste in the United States could be eliminated by the use of integrated waste management?

75-90%

_____________ waste includes any waste produced from raising livestock and growing, harvesting, and processing crops. It is unique because the majority of it is organic and can be recycled and reused for other purposes.

Agricultural

Why are perennial weeds not recommended to add during composting?

Because they grow back and spread.

__________ solid waste refers to any non-liquid waste that is created by an individual person, household, small business, or institution, such as a school or hospital.

Municipal

Jones Oil Company recently hired an outside consultant to examine their use of harmful chemicals in their process. They are hoping to reduce the amount they use. This is an application of _____ of integrated waste management.

first priority

The ____________ of integrated waste management targets large industry and attempts to reduce the overall waste produced at the source.

first priority

The _____________ of integrated waste management involves the primary prevention of pollution and waste by requiring industries to eliminate or reduce the amount of harmful chemicals used in production, reduce packing materials for products and make products that last longer and are easier to recycle, reuse and repair.

first priority

A _____________ substance is anything that is likely to catch on fire, and a _____________ substance is something that can corrode, or break down, metals.

flammable; corrosive

The term _________ is used to indicate that the item being described is more environmentally friendly or incorporates preservation of the environment and sustainable methods.

green

________________ is when chemical products and processes are designed in a way that reduces the use or creation of hazardous substances

green chemistry

___________________ is any solid or liquid waste that is considered toxic, chemically reactive, flammable or corrosive.

hazardous waste

In the United States, what two industries produce the majority of hazardous waste?

petroleum and chemical industries

What percentage of all hazardous waste created in the United States was regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act?

5%

Currently, over _____% of all municipal solid waste that is created in the United States is disposed of in sanitary landfills.

55%

What distinguishes dioxins from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)?

Dioxins can occur naturally; PCBs are man-made.

In the United States, people produce around __________ tons of municipal solid waste each year.

220 million

What percentage of all municipal solid waste in the United States is yard and food waste?

27%

Mass burn incinerators run at _____.

1,500 degrees Fahrenheit

In the United States, how many pounds of hazardous waste are found in the average household?

100

Each year in the United States, over _____________ tons of solid waste is disposed of.

11 billion

In what year was the Superfund Act established?

1980

What is the average thickness of the plastic liner inside of sanitary landfills?

2-4 feet

In 1980, the federal government created the _____________________________________, also known as 'CERCLA,' or the 'Superfund Act.'

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act

This law covered many aspects of hazardous waste, such as containment, cleanup and remediation of used toxic waste sites. The main goal of this law was to identify locations of hazardous waste contamination and provide regulations for cleaning up the locations.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as the Superfund Act

Mass burn incinerators: When the waste has been completely burned, the ash, known as bottom ash, is processed to remove any remaining metals. The combustion gas that is produced during the burning of the waste is moved through a structure called a scrubber, where the gas is chemically treated to remove hazardous components and neutralize noxious gases, such as sulfur dioxide.

During this process, many gases are turned into water and salts. These particulates that form are referred to as fly ash. The remaining gas and the fly ash are then passed through a structure known as the baghouse, which filters out the particulates. This last step lowers the amount of pollutants entering the air. The remaining gas is released through smokestacks and the fly ash collected is combined with the bottom ash from the waste and transported to a landfill.

How is the baghouse structure important in the mass burn incinerator?

It filters out particulates.

Which type of compost system utilizes the technique of windrows?

Large-scale composting by municipalities

__________ is the term used to describe liquids that leach or leak from the landfill

Leachates

Established in 1976, this law created the first program for testing and managing hazardous substances. The program required that facilities and organizations involved with hazardous substances keep detailed information on the handling and processing of the materials.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

Where is the famous Fresh Kills Landfill located?

Staten Island, NY

What is the problem with the approach of many countries to Integrated Waste Management?

They focus too much on waste management at the expense of waste reduction.

Livestock excrement is an example of _____.

agricultural waste

A substance is _________________ when it is unstable or could react when exposed to another compound.

chemically reactive

Hazardous waste that is considered ________________ is likely to explode or produce harmful fumes when exposed to other compounds.

chemically reactive

_________ is a form of waste disposal where organic waste decomposes naturally under oxygen-rich conditions

composting

____________________ is when liquid waste is injected into a well that has been created in the porous rock deep below the water table

deep-well injection

In which phases, of the life cycle of a chemical, is green chemistry involved?

design, manufacturing, consumer use and disposal

This is the waste from an industry other than mining or agriculture. The most common examples are waste from demolition and scraps of material from manufacturing and clothing production.

industrial waste

________________________ combines a variety of strategies for both waste management and waste reduction.

integrated waste management

Which of the following is a component of the sanitary landfill system that is NOT directly involved in helping prevent leakage? -plastic liner -layers of soil -layers of clay

layers of soil

_________ waste accounts for the majority of non-municipal solid waste in the United States.

mining

Non-municipal solid waste is a large category of waste that is often divided into three types:

mining waste, agricultural waste, and industrial waste

The most common items disposed of as ___________ solid waste are paper, yard trimmings, food, plastics, metals, rubbers, and textiles. E-waste is also included

municipal

The most dangerous hazardous waste is the waste created by ________________ and ____________________

nuclear power plants; nuclear weapons facilities

It is estimated that nearly __________ of the food produced is disposed of.

one-quarter

Before 1935, which method of waste disposal was most common?

open-air piles

Renee has started to compost her food scraps and leaves/yard trimmings. When it all breaks down into soil, she'll use that for her garden. This is an example of which waste management strategy?

recycle

__________, which in terms of waste is the reprocessing of disposed materials into new and useful products.

recycle

The three Rs are really a waste management hierarchy with ________ being the most important strategy.

reduce

In terms of the hierarchy, what is the order of the three Rs?

reduce, reuse, recycle

Instead of throwing out old clothes and towels, Julia cuts the items up and uses them as cleaning rags. This is an example of which of the following waste management strategies?

reuse

_________ is when an item is cleaned and the materials are used again. This concept can be difficult because we currently live in a world with many disposable items, and it takes some imagination and creativity.

reuse

The main source of mining waste is the ______ and _______ removed from the ground. It also includes the equipment used and any waste produced at the mining site.

rocks; soil

_______________ are a method of waste disposal where the waste is buried either underground or in large piles. This method of waste disposal is controlled and monitored very closely.

sanitary landfills

The _________________ of integrated waste management targets small businesses and individuals and focuses on secondary prevention of pollution and waste.

second priority

This step of integrated waste management involves educating and encouraging people to buy reusable products, repair broken items, recycle, reuse products and compost.

second priority

Which of the three priorities for integrated waste management deals with the actions of individuals and small businesses?

second priority