env sci

The waste produced and thrown away daily by businesses and households constitutes approximately __________ of the total solid waste in the United States.

2%

Which legislation requires landfills to have extensive safety measures to protect the environment around the landfill?

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1984

Which legislation made it illegal for companies to dump hazardous waste?

The Superfund Act

Which of these items does NOT contribute to the formation of leachate in landfills?

coffee grounds

Decomposed yard waste and food scraps that are broken down by microorganisms and can be used as manure is ___________________.

composting

Failing to contain leachate may lead to _______________________.

contaminated water supply

A waste disposal strategy in which hazardous wastes are dumped deep into the ground below the groundwater level and sealed is ______________________________.

deep-well injection

Gases, solids, or liquids that contain explosive, toxic, or corrosive materials that may harm people's health is _______________________.

hazardous waste

A permanent waste disposal site in which wastes are covered with plastic or soil to prevent the contamination of the environment is a(n) _____________________.

landfill

Liquid that forms as a result of water seeping down the landfill and absorbing various chemicals from the waste is _______________________.

leachate

Which of these is NOT a reason that waste disposal is a worldwide challenge?

melting of the polar ice caps

Although made from petroleum and natural gas, due to their molecular structure, which of these products cannot be broken down by microorganisms and stay in the environment for many years?

plastic

The process of re-manufacturing or reusing products from waste products or scrap is _________________________.

recycling

Any solid material that is disposed of is ______________________________.

solid waste

One alternative to incineration and landfills is __________________________, which promotes decreasing the amount of solid waste produced.

source reduction