APES Chapter 21

disadvantages of recycling

-can cost more than burying in areas with ample landfill space -reduces profits for landfill and incinerator owners -source separation is sometimes inconvenient

advantages of sanitary landfills

-low operating costs -can handle large amounts of waste -filled land can be used for other purposes -no shortage of landfill space in many areas

Advantages of recycling

-reduces energy and mineral use and air and water pollution -reduces greenhouse gas emissions -reduces solid waste -can save landfill space

disadvantages of waste-to-energy incineration

1) Releases CO2 + other greenhouse gases 2) Expensive (but price somewhat offset by profit from sale of energy produced 3) Produces hazardous waste 4) Encourages waste production

Advantages of waste-to-energy incineration

1) decreases trash volume 2) Produces energy 3) concentrates hazardous substances into ash for burial

What are strategies that industries and communities have used to reduce resource use, waste and pollution

Change industrial processes to eliminate or reduce the use of harmful chemicals, redesign manufacturing processes and products to use less material and energy, develop products that are easy to repair, reuse, remanufacture, compost or recycle, reduce unnecessary packaging, use fee-per bag waste collection and establish cradle to grave responsibility laws

Core Case Study E Waste - An Exploding Problem

Electronic waste consists of discarded television sets, cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices. Only about 14% of all US e-waste is recycled. This leaves lot of leftovers being thrown in landfills or incinerators although it could be recycled for key parts. E-waste is a source of toxic and hazardous chemicals that can contaminate air, surface water, groundwater, and soil and cause serious and even life-threatening health problems to e-waste workers. Lots of US e-waste that isn't buried or incinerated is shipped to China and India where environmental regulations are weak and labor is cheap. The workers consist of many children try to recover parts and leftovers is dumped into waterways and fields or burned in open fires, exposing many people to highly toxic chemicals called dioxins.

disadvantages of sanitary landfills

Noise and traffic Dust Air population from toxic gases and volatile organic compounds Release greenhouse gases Groundwater contamination slow decomposition of wastes discourages waste reduction even. leaks and can contaminate groundwater

Bioplastics

a type of biodegradable plastic derived from biological substances rather than from petroleum.

integrated waste management

a variety of coordinated strategies for both waste disposal and waste reduction

Composting

an import of recycling which involves using bacteria to decompose yard trimmings, vegetable food scraps, and other biodegradable organic wastes into materials than can increase soil fertility

Hazardous (toxic waste)

any discarded material or substance that threatens human health or the environment because it is poisonous, dangerously chemically reactive, corrosive, or flammable

Solid waste

any unwanted or discarded material we produce that is not a liquid or a gas

Individuals Matter Mike Biddle's Contribution to Plastics Recycling

former PhD engineer with Dow Chemical and his business parter founded MBA Polymers. There goal was to develop a commercial process for recycling high-value plastics from complex streams of manufactured good such as computers, electronics, appliances and automobiles. They succeeded by developing a 21-step automated process that separates plastics from nonplastic items in mixed waste streams, and then separates plastics from each other by type and grade

waste management

in which we attempt to control wastes in ways that reduce their environmental harm without seriously trying to reduce the amount of waste produced

Municipal Solid waste

often called garbage or trash, which consists of the combined solid waste produced by homes and workplaces other than factories.

waste reduction

produce much less waste and pollution, and the wastes we do produce are considered to be potential resources that we can reuse, recycle, or compost

Industrial Solid Waste

produced by mines, agriculture, and industries that supply people with goods and services

How can we reduce waste production?

refuse (don't use it), reduce (use less), reuse (use it over and over), recycle (Convert it to useful items and by products made from recycled materials)

Sanitary landfills

solid wastes are spread out in thin layers, compacted, and covered daily with a fresh layer of clay or plastic foam

Secondary recycling

waste materials are converted into different products

Primary or closed-loop recycling

where materials such as aluminum cans are recycled into new products of the same type.