Lecture 2 Current Environmental Issues 16012013

8/13/2019 Lecture 2 Current Environmental Issues 16012013

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CE6180:EIA- Lecture 2


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LIST OF THE

ENVIRONMENTAL

PROBLEMS


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Climate Change and Global Warming Increase in the average temperature of the

Earth. 0.74 0.18 C during the last century Expected to rise a further 1.1 to 6.4 C during

the twenty-first century.

2005 was the warmest year.

Movie- "the day after tomorrow",

Documentary- Nobel Laureate Al Gore's "An Inconvenient truth


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The Causes (contd.)

Rapid Industrialization w/o proper increase in tree cover tooffset it

Wars and Terrorism - Explosions generate lot of heat and NOxgases

Traffic jams -mass emission of GGs

Over-reliance on thermal power

Uneconomical and Inefficient use of power

Mass sprayal of pesticides floats up Aerosols and CFCs

Natural causes like Forest Fires, Volcanic eruptions


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The Consequences

Climate change - Runaway climate change is a situation in which the climatesystem passes a tipping point i.e Climate forcing (greenhouse gas amount)reaches a point such that no additional forcing is required for large climatechange and impacts.

By 2100- sea level rise of 9 to 88 cm

Changes in crop yields changes in rainfall and climate pattern will changethe type of crop grown or the duration for which it is grown during aparticular crop season.

Unpredictability due to the above can have disastrous effects on countries

dependent on agriculture like India, Cuba etc. Climate change may also affect the resistance of crops and lead to faster

spread of crop diseases.


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The Consequences

( contd.)

Projection in 2010 14,500 deaths due to climate change and 29,000 in 2050if trends continue.

Extinction and damage of unique terrestrial and Marine species in the Polarcaps, and also in other rain-based ecosystems like the Amazon rainforests.

Marine Industries which thrive on the patterns of ocean currents such asNewfoundland in Canada will be destroyed due to the disappearance andchanges in the varieties of fish and marine life


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The world is getting hotter

Polar Bear - under protection for habitat loss that is linked to global warming

Natural springtime -occurring earlier by 2.3 days per decade

Temperatures are driving the alpine zones farther up toward the summits

China is first in coal consumption and the number two nation in carbon

dioxide emissions behind the United States


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.and hotter

Low lying lands are running high risk of submergence e.g The Netherlands

Tuvalu's ( a pacific island) highest elevation is 4.6 meters but most of it is nomore than a meter above the sea. Tuvaluans face the possibility of beingamong the first climate refugees.

US-only country to not ratify Kyoto. A global warming convention slated for Dec 2009 at Copenhagen.


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Situation in India

India ratified Kyoto on 26th Aug 2002

About 76% of the electricity consumed in India is generated by thermalpower plants

In India emissions unaccounted due to reasonable-scale power theft

N-deal/ IAEA exemptions expected to lower dependence on thermal plantsby 30% by 2025

India's roadways are irregular with frequent jams in metros, IC engines keeprunning and polluting


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Situation in India (contd.)

Inclination for private vehicles adds to emissions

Ongoing sea level rises have submerged several low-lying islands in theSundarbans

Temperature rises on the Tibetan Plateau are causing Himalayan glaciers to

retreat India in 2000 146 rank in list of top greenhouse gas emitters per capita. It has

slipped to 120 in 2005 with a per capita of 1.7t of co2 annually


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Bio-Fuels

It is a renewable energy source based on the carbon cycle petroleum and coal.

The equivalent of 19 million tons of oil is available from biomass by 2020

Food vs. fuel - dilemma regarding the risk of diverting farmland or crops forbiofuels production in detriment of the food supply


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Bio-Fuels (contd.)

Large-scale deforestation of mature trees (which helpremove CO2 through photosynthesis much betterthan does sugar cane or most other biofuel feedstockcrops do) contributes to un-sustainable global warmingatmospheric greenhouse gas levels, loss of habitat, anda reduction of valuable biodiversity.

Increased use of biofuels puts increasing pressure onwater resources in at least two ways: water use for theirrigation of crops used as feedstocks for biodieselproduction; and water use in the production of biofuelsin refineries


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Remedies

Mass afforestation - more or less equal to the forest cover cleared fordevelopment

Phasing out vehicles with faulty or environmentally hostile exhaust systemsand enforcing strict laws in that respect.

Proper planning and Design for free-flow of traffic in crowded highways. Measures for producing bio-gas and bio-fuels from daily wastes, without

bringing in Food v Fuel debate.


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Remedies (contd.)

Tapping and harnessing the wide potential for cleaner sources ofenergy such as Hydel and Wind power.

Following more modern ways of waste disposal instead ofburning e.g composting, recycling etc..

Strict imposition of regulations on licenses of Industries toadhere to permissible levels of pollutant discharge, andinstalling devices such as ES precipitators to adhere to it

Most importantly, energy conservation to reduce demand onpower and subsequently Fossil fuel burning.....


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Current Environmental Issues in India

There are many environmental issues in India.

Air pollution,

poor management of waste,growing water scarcity,

falling groundwater tables,

water pollution,

preservation and quality of forests,biodiversity loss,

and land/soil degradation


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discharge of untreated sewage is single

most important cause for pollution of

surface and ground water in India

Indian cities alone generate more than100 million tons of solid waste a year.


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Definition of solid waste

Solid wastes can be broadly defined as those wastes thathave been rejected for further use and which can neither betransported by water into streams nor can readily escape intothe atmosphere.

What are solid wastes?

They include all the discarded solid materials from municipal,

agricultural and industrial activities.

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT


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Classification of Solid wastes

Solid wastes can be classified into the following five categories:

Domestic waste

Municipal waste

Industrial waste

Agricultural waste Special waste


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CLASSIFICATION OF SOLID WASTES

(CONT.,)

Domestic Waste

Wastes from household preparation, cooking and serving of food, waste paper andplastics, clothes, etc.

Municipal Waste

Garbage and rubbish from offices, hotels, markets, etc. and also the street refusesuch as street sweepings, dirt, leaves, etc. The term garbage is generally used toputrescible or biodegradable food wastes. The term rubbish is used to denotenonputrescible or nonbiodegradable solid wastes which include combustiblematerials such as paper, cloth, etc. as well as noncombustible materials such asglass, metals, used metal cans, etc. Apart from these the following types of wastes

are also encountered: ashes, cinders, dead animals, abandoned vehicles, septictank sledges, etc.


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CLASSIFICATION OF SOLID WASTES (CONT.,)

Industrial Waste

Non-process wastes such as office and cafeteria wastes, packing wastes, etc. which arecommon to all industries.

Process wastes which depend upon the type of the products being manufactured such astannery wastes, weaving and dying wastes, rubber wastes, etc. from the respective industrialestablishments.

Agricultural Waste

These wastes result from farms, feed lots and livestock yards. The agricultural wastes includepaddy husk, bagasse from sugarcane, tobacco and corn residues, etc.

Special Waste

These include hazardous wastes from different sources

Radioactive wastes: nuclear power plants, hospitals, etc.

Toxic wastes: heavy metal sludges, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, etc.

Biological products: enzymes, antibiotics, pathological wastes, etc.

Miscellaneous products: inflammable substances, explosives, etc.


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CONSEQUENCES OF SOLID WASTES

Public health threats Environmental issues

Public Health Threats

Public Health threats and outbreak of diseases primarily due to:

Poor sanitation condition Improper Waste handling

Poor Disposal facilities


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ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

AIR POLLUTION Green house effect

Ozone depletion

Acid Rain

WATER POLLUTION

Eutrophication

Due to Heavy Metals

SOIL POLLUTION

Due to Heavy Metals


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SHORT TERM

Aesthetic

Odour

Birds

Fires

LONG TERM

Leachate

Landfill Gas


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These consequences are due to :-

Inadequate infrastructure

Inadequate finance

Lack of clear roles andResponsibilities

Uncontrolled disposal of solid waste(dumped in suburb and cityboundaries)


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CORRELATION OF PERCAPITA INCOME WITH WASTE

GENERATION


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Waste collection in India

Primarily by the city municipality-No gradation of waste product eg bio-degradable, glass

polybags,paper shreds etc

-Dumps these wastes to the city outskirts

-Unskilled labours used to sweep streets and collect ga

Local raddiwala / kabadiwala (Rag pickers)

-Collecting small iron pieces by magnets

-Collecting glass bottles

-Collecting paper for recycling


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SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

LANDFILLINGDumping in low lying areas.

Surface water contamination increases.

COMPOSTING

Helps to recycle the nutrients back to the land

RDF

Refuse derived fuel.

Views waste as a resource.

INCINERATION

Volume reduction step.

ANAEROBIC DIGESTION

For high moisture and organic content.

RECYCLING

Processing of a waste item into usable forms.


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Disposal of the waste

India is ill-equipped for the collection, storage,

treatment and proper disposal of MSW.

The MSW grows in heaps in the poorly

maintained collectoin centers.


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Problems due to solid waste

The poorly maintained landfill sites are prone to ground watercontamination due to leachate production.

Open dumping of garbage facilitates the breeding for disease

vectors.

Open burning: Urban air pollution

Decomposition of organic wastes: release of methane whichcontributes to greenhouse effect.


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How solid waste affected us in recent years

Cloudburst in Mumbai (2005) clogged the sewage line due tolarge no. of plastic bags

Blast in the Bhusan Steel factory at Noida, caused due to

imported scrap from Iran

Reduction in the number of migratory birds due toconsumption of contaminated foods

Stray animals dying on streets and farmland due toconsumption of plastic bags, which blocks the food movementin their stomach


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TERI projections of waste generation in India


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The most polluted Indian city-Mumbai

Compositi on of Municipal soli d waste in Mumbai

15%0.75%

0.80%

0.40%

35%

37.50%

10.55%

Paper and cardboardPlastics

Metals (ferrous)

Glass

Sand & fine earth

Compostable matter

Others


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Improving India


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SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN

AMERICA The Solid Waste Association of North America, (SWANA) has been the

leading professional association in the solid waste management field.SWANA's mission is "to advance the practice of environmentally andeconomically sound management of municipal solid waste."

There are 7 technical divisions which moniter the activities of SWANA:

Collection & Transfer-

Communication, Education & Marketing-

Landfill Gas-

Landfill Management-

Special waste management-

Planning & Management- Waste Reduction, Recycling & Composting-


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SWM IN THAILAND

Most of the solid waste in Thailand was openly dumped in the

past.

This caused several environmental problems which led to the

revision of the Environmental laws there.

Now the scenario has changed and a better way of disposal and

recycling are being done.

Recent trend of changes

1. Application of inappropriate technologies like open dumping

2. Many environmental problems

3. The Environmental act was revised and enacted in 1992

4. A national MSW Management plan was developed in 1997

5. Solid waste management has improved considerably


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REMEDIES

The solid waste management hierarchy concept can be viewed

as a straightforward set of management plans for solid waste. It

has been adopted by many Western Governments, including

Australia, as a means of achieving sustainability.

The Solid Waste Management HierarchyMost preferred

1. Avoid

2. Reduce

3. Reuse

4. Recycle

5. Recover

Least preferred

1. Treat

2. Dispose


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REMEDIES (cont)

Recycling not a solution to all problems!

For many items recycling technologies are unavailable or

unsafe

In some cases, cost of recycling is too high. Solution: More Profit With Zero Waste

1. Exchanging output that are considered waste

2. Waste of one could be input or raw material for others

3. Evolving a closed system- matter & energy circulate within


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REMEDIES (Cont..)

An approach to design a sustainable waste management

system and operating guide lines are outlined below:

1. Quantity and characteristics

2. Collection and Transportation of waste

3. Disposal of waste

4. Recycling of waste

5. Financial structure and

6. Community participation.


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CONCLUSION

SWM is a vital, ongoing and large public service system which

needs to be efficiently provided to maintain aesthetic and

public health standards.

Municipal agencies will have to plan and execute the system

keeping in view the increasing urban population.

Systematic effort in the improvement of various factors like

financial provisions, appropriate technologies, operation

management, human resource development etc is required

for an integrated SWM system. Public co-operation is essential for successful operation of

such a system.


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ECO TIPS

SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE STYLE.

SWITCH FROM DISPOSABLE TO REUSABLE PRODUCTS.

WASH AND REUSE PLASTIC BAGS

REDUCE THE USAGE OF PLASTIC TO THE MAXIMUM POSSIBLE EXTENT

USE PAPER ECONOMICALLY.USE RECLYCED PAPER AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE.

PURCHASE RECHARGABLE BATTERIES

INCULCATE A HABIT OF SWITCHING OFF THE LIGHTS WHEN LEAVING THEROOM.WHENEVER POSSIBLE,KEEP LIGHTS OFF DURING DAY TIME

ECONOMIZE THE USAGE OF WATER

ENCOURAGE TREE PLANTING


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REDUCE THE WASTAGE OF ELECTRICITY,FUEL AND FOOD.

SUPPORT FAMILY PLANNING TO LIMIT HUMAN POPULATION

ELECT LEADERS WHO WORK FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

ENCOURAGE THE USAGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY AND RENEWABLE

SORCES OF ENERGY HIGHLIGHT THE BENEFITS OF CYCLING AND WALKING TO HELP IN

CREATING A GREENER ENVIRONMENT.

CE6180:EIA- Lecture 2


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ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT


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Sustainable development means meeting the needs of today (food, shelter,

employment, etc.) without compromising the ability of future generations

from also meeting those same needs.

ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS


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What do you mean by a environmental system?

Environmental system is a collection of component arranged and inter

connected in such a way that when a changes occurs with respect toon component the effect of the change is felt by the other component

as well.

The components may be subsystems; physical, chemical and biological

or combination of all three.

Air

Surface water

Soil and groundwater

Noise

Biological Cultural

Visual impacts

Socioeconomic


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Environmental


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Environmental

systems

developed by the Norwegian

Agency for Development

Cooperation


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Documents

Lecture 2 Current Environmental Issues 16012013