Environmental Science: Toward a Sustainable Future Richard T. Wright

Municipal Solid Waste: Disposal and Recovery

PPT by Clark E. Adams

Chapter 18

Municipal Solid Waste: Disposal and Recovery

The solid-waste problem Solutions to the solid-waste problem Public policy and waste management

The Solid-Waste Problem

Disposal of municipal solid waste Landfills Combustion: waste to energy Costs of municipal solid-waste disposal

Disposal of Municipal Solid-Waste (MSW)

The solid-waste problem: We generate huge amounts of MSW, and it is

increasingly expensive to dispose of it in ways that are environmentally responsible and protective of human health.

MSW Components

The Fate of MSW

Factors Contributing to Increasing Amounts of MSW Increasing populations Changing lifestyles Disposable materials*

Diapers Excessive packaging*

* = two largest contributors to waste volume

Old Landfill Problems

Leachate generation Methane production Incomplete

decomposition Settling

http://www.zerowasteamerica.org/Pictures.htm

Improving Landfills

Located above water table and away from airports

Contoured floor for leachate-collection system

Covered with earthen material Groundwater monitoring wells

A Modern Landfill

Landfill Siting: Public Reactions

LULU (locally unwanted land use)

NIMBY (not in my backyard)

NIMTOO (not in my term of office)

http://www.zerowasteamerica.org/Pictures.htm

Interstate Transfer of MSW

Trash to Treasure (Table 18-1)

Highest (more than 1 million tons) net importers of MSW Pennsylvania Virginia Michigan

Trash to Treasure (Table 18-1)

Highest (more than 1 million tons) net exporters MSW New York New Jersey Maryland Missouri

Combustion: Waste to Energy (WTE)

WTE Benefits

80% MSW burned for electrical energy production

12% recovered and recycled 8% put into landfill

WTE Benefits

Tipping fees = $15 to $100/ton Efficient Electricity and fuel oil savings

WTE Benefits

Extends life of landfill Reduces pollution Concrete blocks Resource recovery

WTE Drawbacks

Cost of construction Uninterrupted MSW stream flow Hazardous materials Siting Competition with recycling efforts

Costs of MSW Disposal

Tipping fees increase: $34 to $263/ton All revenues from MSW disposal = >$14

billion a year in 2002. Illegal dumping

Tires Refrigerators Car parts

Solutions to the Solid-Waste Problem

Source reductions The recycling solution Municipal recycling Regional recycling options

Source Reduction

Less weight Internet information transfer Resale and donation of durable goods Lengthening a product’s life cycle Refusing bulk mail Composting

The Recycling Solution

Paper to paper Newspaper = 13% MSW stream Worth $30/ton Ton of newspapers = 17 trees

The Recycling Solution

Paper Glass Plastic Metals Yard wastes Textiles Old tires

Compost Refabrication Synthetic lumber Sand or gravel Insulation Strengthens recycled

paper Highways

Match

Municipal Recycling

75% MSW recyclable if: Mandatory Easy to do Incentives Political and industrial support

State Recycling Rates

MSW Recycling in the United States

8

Regional Recycling Options

Materials recovery facilities (MRFs) Mixed waste processing Mixed waste and yard trimmings

composting

Public Policy and Waste Management

The regulatory perspective Integrated waste management

The Regulatory Perspective

Solid Waste Disposal Act 1965 Resource Recovery Act 1970 and 1976 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

(RCRA) of 1976 Superfund Act 1980 Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments

1984

Integrated Waste Management

Waste reduction Safe waste disposal Recycling and reuse Pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) trash pickup

End of Chapter 18