Chapter 17 Enviro HW Answers

The average American produces how much trash per day? a) 4.4 pounds b) 10 pounds c) 25 pounds d) 100 pounds

4.4 pounds

Approximately ________% of all U.S. residents are served by curbside recycling programs, and the part of the U.S. waste stream that is recycled is currently about ________%. a) 40; 50 b) 50; 25 c) 60; 100 d) 30; 30 e) 30; 90

50; 25

Recycling aluminum cans saves ________% of the energy needed to make the same amount of aluminum from virgin bauxite. a) 95 b) 70 c) 80 d) 50 e) 25

95

How is compost used? a) It is used as animal feed. b) It is used to generate energy. c) It is used to enrich soil. d) It is used as building material.

It is used to enrich soil.

Which of the following categories comprises the greatest proportion, by weight, of solid waste before recycling in the United States today? a) Paper b) Yard trimmings c) Glass d) Plastic e) Metal

Paper

What is an abandoned waste site that poses a direct threat to health and the environment, designated to have U.S. government funds applied to its cleanup? a) hazardous waste site b) Superfund site c) surface impoundment site d) landfill leachate-producing site

Superfund site

What is the difference between the amount of paper within the waste stream before and after recycling/composting? a) 1.2% b) 11.2% c) 16.2% d) 27.4%

11.2%

Use the figure above to answer the following question. The year ________ demonstrated the greatest volume of recycling. a) 2008 b) 1985 c) 1998 d) 1960 e) 1970

2008

As of 2014, under the jurisdiction of the EPA, approximately ________% of hazardous sites identified under CERCLA as a national priority have been cleaned up. a) 50 b) 3 c) 30 d) 60 e) 40

30

As of 2008, the average American generates about ________ pounds of solid waste per day. a) 9 b) 40 c) 13.7 d) 4.4 e) 1.5

4.4

________ is the conversion of organic waste into mulch or humus. a) Injecting b) Reusing c) Composting d) Cogeneration e) Compacting

Composting

Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below. The prevalence of "throwaway mentalities" and increased packaging has amplified the consumption of paper and plastic in our society. Disposable plates, cups, and utensils are convenient, sanitary, and inexpensive. ...........Methods to reuse and recycle polystyrene are in development, although presently, Styrofoam is not collected with other plastics and so it is considered a contaminant as well. ________ are wastepaper contaminants that cannot effectively be recycled. a) Corrugated cardboard boxes b) Office papers c) Newspapers d) Cereal boxes e) Paper shopping bags

Cereal boxes

Which of the following actions is required for the recycling loop to be successful? a) Genetically modified bacteria must be found to consume toxic components. b) Corporations must make more products from virgin (raw) materials. c) Consumers must purchase only products made in the United States. d) Consumers and businesses must purchase products made from recycled materials.

Consumers and businesses must purchase products made from recycled materials.

Which statement about e-waste is accurate? a) Electronic devices die easily, so few of the devices thrown out in the United States could be reused. b) There is no financial incentive to recycle e-waste. c) E-waste contains toxic heavy metals that can leach into the environment. d) E-waste is biodegradable.

E-waste contains toxic heavy metals that can leach into the environment.

________ represent(s) the largest source of unregulated hazardous waste. a) Small businesses b) Households c) Utilities d) Farmers e) Large industry

Households

Why do industries tend to produce so much waste even though it is not the most efficient way to do business? a) In most cases, there is no financial incentive for becoming efficient. b) It is more profitable to be efficient with waste. c) Industry ecologists do not recommend streamlining industrial waste. d) Most of industry is run by disorganized people.

In most cases, there is no financial incentive for becoming efficient.

Which of the following conditions results from the operation and subsequent use of old landfills built before 1976? a) Hydrogen gas is generated by the organic decomposition and can be sold as a by-product. b) Leachate from old landfills can contaminate groundwater. c) Decommissioned landfills cannot be used as locations for schools, industries, parks, or golf courses for 300 years after the closing of the landfill. d) Modern sanitary landfills are lined with a porous material

Leachate from old landfills can contaminate groundwater.

Which of the following statements about U.S. landfills is true? a) It is against the law to build anything on an abandoned landfill. b) Landfills should be kept as dry as possible to maintain high biodegradation levels. c) More than three-fourths of the landfills in the United States have been closed since 1988. d) There are more active landfills in existence today than ever before.

More than three-fourths of the landfills in the United States have been closed since 1988.

How can an engineered cover on landfills reduce decomposition of the trash? a) The cover keeps the landfill dry, which decreases the ability of bacteria to decompose trash. b) The cap prevents hawks and blue jays from decomposing the trash. c) The cover keeps the landfill moist on the inside, preventing decomposition. d) The cover causes paper to bond to plastic in the landfill.

The cover keeps the landfill dry, which decreases the ability of bacteria to decompose trash.

What do chromium, mercury, copper, and tin have in common? a) They are ignitable. b) They are all gases. c) They are heavy metals. d) They are all corrosive materials.

They are heavy metals.

Which of the following statements about current U.S. waste disposal is true? a) We incinerate 50% of our trash and the rest is in open landfills. b) We landfill half of our trash and recycle a third of it. c) We incinerate 90% of our trash and landfill the rest. d) We landfill half of our trash and recycle the other half.

We landfill half of our trash and recycle a third of it.

What is a potential, and likely, drawback to the deep-well injection of hazardous wastes? a) Well casings can corrode leaking hazardous waste into soil, rock, and gravel. b) It is hard to drill very deep into the ground. c) Large buildings must be constructed to house these wells. d) The wells tend to catch fire.

Well casings can corrode leaking hazardous waste into soil, rock, and gravel.

The current state of e-wastes is that ________. a) the recycling rate has dropped significantly between 1999 and 2010 b) by EPA mandate, all metals in electronics have been replaced by biodegradable materials c) only because of the actions of charitable organizations, the recycling rate is 5% d) although recycling is improved, the rate of e-wastes going into landfills and incinerators is rising e) because the EPA has classified e-wastes as toxic, more than 95% are being recycled

although recycling is improved, the rate of e-wastes going into landfills and incinerators is rising

Heavy metals ________. a) are not harmful unless they are directly ingested b) become less hazardous after incineration c) become less hazardous over time as they degrade chemically d) are unregulated by the U.S. government e) bioaccumulate in animal tissues

bioaccumulate in animal tissues

Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below. The prevalence of "throwaway mentalities" and increased packaging has amplified the consumption of paper and plastic in our society. Disposable plates, cups, and utensils are convenient, sanitary, and inexpensive. ...........Methods to reuse and recycle polystyrene are in development, although presently, Styrofoam is not collected with other plastics and so it is considered a contaminant as well. The best way to reduce plastic in landfills is to ________. a) increase use of recycled items b) reuse beverage bottles c) use biodegradable plastic items d) buy products produced locally with minimal packaging e) urge the government to pass more bottle bills

buy products produced locally with minimal packaging

How can consumers decrease waste generation? a) by choosing minimally packaged goods b) by choosing to purchase only imported goods c) by choosing to buy locally made goods d) by purchasing goods with the Energy Star label

by choosing minimally packaged goods

The conversion of organic waste to mulch or humus usable for enriching soil by encouraging natural biological processes of decomposition in a controlled manner is called __________. a) composition b) combustion c) composting d) compromising

composting

__________ is the process of recovering organic waste through decomposition. a) combustion b) composting c) recycling d) recovery

composting

Substances that degrade the metals that make up storage tanks or equipment are called __________. a) corrosives b) alkaline caustic agents c) ignitables d) toxics

corrosives

What are the goals of waste management? a) disposing of waste safely as well as effectively, minimizing the amount of waste generated, and increasing recovery b) developing management training for supervisors of disposal companies c) promoting mid-level managers to high-level managers to more effectively manage waste d) developing technology for more efficient incineration

disposing of waste safely as well as effectively, minimizing the amount of waste generated, and increasing recovery

Life-cycle analysis ________. a) is the study of statistical changes in the human population b) defines how different organisms interact within ecosystems c) is an environmental movement designed to reduce municipal traffic and encourage alternative forms of transport d) examines the life cycle of products for ecological efficiency e) examines the cycling of carbon in the environment

examines the life cycle of products for ecological efficiency

Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below. The prevalence of "throwaway mentalities" and increased packaging has amplified the consumption of paper and plastic in our society. Disposable plates, cups, and utensils are convenient, sanitary, and inexpensive. ...........Methods to reuse and recycle polystyrene are in development, although presently, Styrofoam is not collected with other plastics and so it is considered a contaminant as well. Plastic ________. a) from beverage containers is easily recyclable if decapped, washed, and squashed b) not made from recyclables is made from renewable raw materials c) from grocery bags is labeled with recycling symbols #1 and #2 d) containers from motor oil are recycled with beverage bottles to make new bottles e) polystyrene is considered a plastic contaminant

from beverage containers is easily recyclable if decapped, washed, and squashed

What is one problem associated with the incineration of solid waste? a) leachate the may contaminate groundwater b) the volume of waste increases c) hazardous chemicals are often created and released into the atmosphere d) the waste is radioactive

hazardous chemicals are often created and released into the atmosphere

E-wastes are a source of ________. a) ignitables b) radioactive materials c) compostable organic compounds d) heavy and precious metals e) acid corrosives

heavy and precious metals

Why does the average U.S. citizen create more waste today than 50 years ago? a) lack of composting facilities b) high rates of recycling c) higher rates of consumption d) lack of landfill space

high rates of consumption

Of the following, ________ represent criteria for classifying hazardous waste. a) inorganic and organic b) solid, liquid, gaseous c) ignitable, corrosive, reactive, toxic d) non-biodegradable and biodegradable e) municipal, industrial and agricultural

ignitable, corrosive, reactive, toxic

Deep inside landfills, bacteria decompose organic wastes in a low oxygen environment. This anaerobic decomposition results in a mix of gases called landfill gas, which consists of about 50% ________. a) argon b) methane c) chlorine gas d) carbon monoxide e) hydrogen

methane

Of the following, ________ produce(s) the largest amount of hazardous waste. a) industry b) agriculture c) building demolitions d) utilities e) households

industry

Which of the following sectors produces the most hazardous waste? a) industry b) small businesses c) grocery stores d) residential

industry

All of the following are considered to define types of hazardous waste except ________. a) inert b) corrosive c) ignitable d) toxic e) reactive

inert

Deep-well injection ________. a) is a method of disposing of hazardous wastes in deep aquifers b) has been banned as unsafe by the Dept. of the Interior c) injects mostly liquid hazardous wastes into porous rock isolated by impervious clay deep beneath human water supplies d) is a pool of strong acids on the land surface used for breaking down e-waste e) is the EPA-approved method of disposing of low-level radioactive wastes

injects mostly liquid hazardous wastes into porous rock isolated by impervious clay deep beneath human water supplies

As recycling and composting efforts have grown, what has occurred with the annual amount of waste sent to landfills? a) it has proportionally increased b) it has stayed the same c) it has disproportionally increased d) it has proportionally decreased

it has proportionally decreased

Which of the following represents the largest waste disposal practice in the United States? a) landfills b) incineration c) composting d) recycling

landfills

The EPA is charged with cleaning up brownfields, which are ________. a) desert regions used for unsafe nuclear waste disposal b) urban areas contaminated by acid drainage from mining c) agricultural lands polluted by acid and heavy metals d) lands whose reuse or development is complicated by the presence of hazardous materials e) coastal sea grass beds damaged by industrial dumping

lands whose reuse or development is complicated by the presence of hazardous materials

Of the following, ________ are classified as hazardous heavy metals. a) nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium b) lead, mercury, cadmium c) any non-biodegradable materials d) aluminum, iron, silicon e) carbon, hydrogen, oxygen

lead, mercury, cadmium

Which type of analysis is performed by industrial ecologists when they examine a product from its beginning as a raw material until its disposal? a) reverse-engineering analysis b) disposal-tracking analysis c) life-cycle analysis d) full-term analysis

life-cycle analysis

To safeguard against groundwater contamination, sanitary landfills are ________. a) lined with plastic and clay b) lined with cement c) located in unpopulated areas d) located on industrial sites where groundwater is not used for drinking or agriculture e) located on slopes so water runs downhill

lined with plastic and clay

What prevents the contamination of groundwater in landfills? a) locating them at least 6 meters above the water table b) locating them below the water table c) locating them in layers of impermeable rock d) locating them in deserts

locating them at least 6 meters above the water table

The Trash Track project ________. a) monitors the movement of trash items to improve efficiency of management processes b) measures the volume of various categories of municipal waste in various cities c) allows cities to charge polluters who dump large volumes of trash d) monitors the amount of hazardous items in municipal waste e) tells managers which items should be recycled

monitors the movement of trash items to improve efficiency of management processes

Use the figure above to answer the following question. From the 1960s to the present, the trend has been that ________ over time. a) less waste was sent to landfills b) more overall waste was produced c) less overall waste was produced d) less waste was recovered for recycling e) there have been equal ratios of land disposal, combustion, and recovery

more overall waste was produced

What is the largest component of the U.S. municipal solid waste stream? a) yard waste b) paper and paper products c) all varieties of plastics d) metals

paper and paper products

Which of the following is an example of a product found in a "throwaway society," such as the United States? a) reusable cloth diapers b) reusable razor blades c) fine silverware d) paper napkins

paper napkins

The earthworms, fungi, and bacteria in your compost pile will NOT be happy if you give them ________. a) plastic b) autumn leaves c) grass clippings d) food scraps e) paper

plastic

Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below. The prevalence of "throwaway mentalities" and increased packaging has amplified the consumption of paper and plastic in our society. Disposable plates, cups, and utensils are convenient, sanitary, and inexpensive. ...........Methods to reuse and recycle polystyrene are in development, although presently, Styrofoam is not collected with other plastics and so it is considered a contaminant as well. Closing the recycling loop refers to ________. a) purchasing items made from recycled materials b) composting of biodegradable plastic c) covering landfills once they have outlived their usefulness and converting them to public parks d) avoiding contamination of plastic and paper collectables during sorting e) finding ways to recycle all plastics, including polystyrene

purchasing items made from recycled materials

Which of the following types of hazardous waste are unstable and pose dangers when in contact with other compounds? a) toxic b) corrosive c) reactive d) ignitable

reactive

In Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, glass is ________. a) melted down to make light bulbs b) recycled into reflective paint and signs c) composted d) incinerated e) dumped at landfills

recycled into reflective paint and signs

Industrial ecologists ________. a) redesign industrial systems to minimize physical inefficiency and maximize economic efficiency b) primarily analyze industrial inputs c) advocate for taxes on green industries d) urge an emphasis on internal manufacturing costs rather than external costs e) favor an economy that moves linearly rather than circularly

redesign industrial systems to minimize physical inefficiency and maximize economic efficiency

The best solution to the solid waste problem is to ________. a) increase the number of WTE facilities b) subsidize WTE facilities c) increase the number of oceanic burial sites d) increase the number of sanitary landfills e) reduce the amount of material that enters the waste stream

reduce the amount of material that enters the waste stream

What is the goal of an industrial ecologist? a) to save endangered species b) reduce the waste in industrial systems c) to increase expenditures in industry in order to generate more landfill space d) to make industry more profitable regardless of environmental impact

reduce the waste in industrial systems

RCRA is a U.S. law enacted in the 1970s to ________. a) protect endangered species b) restrict use of off-road vehicles in national parks c) regulate how hazardous waste is handled d) reduce environmental levels of the 12 most toxic chemicals, called the "dirty dozen" e) regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants

regulate how hazardous waste is handled

The Fresh Kills Landfill ________. a) will remain open until late 2020 b) was abandoned in the late 1970s c) site will be converted into a public park d) is the United States' first landfill conversion project e) is New York's first and only modern sanitary landfill

site will be converted into a public park

What is the term that refers to the reduction of the amount of waste entering the waste stream? a) recycling b) source reduction c) inventory d) liquidation

source reduction

How can solid waste incineration be of benefit? a) it can generate methane b) it can be used to clean the air c) the heat from waste combustion can be used to generate energy d) the fly ash can be used as compost or mulch

the heat from waste combustion can be used to generate energy

Use the figure above to answer the following question. Volume of waste recovered by composting was insignificant until ________. the early 1960s a) 2000 b) 1980 c) 2009 d) the late 1980s

the late 1980s

Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below. The prevalence of "throwaway mentalities" and increased packaging has amplified the consumption of paper and plastic in our society. Disposable plates, cups, and utensils are convenient, sanitary, and inexpensive. ...........Methods to reuse and recycle polystyrene are in development, although presently, Styrofoam is not collected with other plastics and so it is considered a contaminant as well. LDPE is ________. a) the plastic used to make grocery bags b) a toxin found in most plastics c) the most widely recycled plastic d) not currently recycled e) banned in Denmark

the plastic used to make grocery bags

The second step in the recycling loop is ________. a) the use of recyclables by industry to manufacture new products b) the purchase by consumers of products made from recycled materials c) the incineration of paper d) the elimination of number 1 plastics e) the collection and processing of recyclable materials

the use of recyclables by industry to manufacture new products

Read the following scenario and answer the question(s) below. The prevalence of "throwaway mentalities" and increased packaging has amplified the consumption of paper and plastic in our society. Disposable plates, cups, and utensils are convenient, sanitary, and inexpensive. ...........Methods to reuse and recycle polystyrene are in development, although presently, Styrofoam is not collected with other plastics and so it is considered a contaminant as well. Paper and plastic waste share the following characteristics: ________. a) they readily degrade in landfills b) their increased consumption leads to increased waste c) they are both made from petrochemicals d) they cannot be incinerated to produce energy e) both are more than 90% recycled in the United States

their increased consumption leads to increased waste

Which of the following choices best describes a surface impoundment used for hazardous waste disposal? a) a permanent disposal option for liquid hazardous wastes b) used for nuclear waste storage c) used to store and concentrate dilute liquid hazardous d) waste before it is moved to a permanent disposal option e) any artificial lake created by a dam

used to store and concentrate dilute liquid hazardous waste before it is moved to a permanent disposal option

What sort of waste is predominantly generated by U.S. industrial facilities? a) radioactive b) heavy metals c) organic d) wastewater

wastewater