Solid and Hazardous WasteSolid and Hazardous Waste

G. Tyler Miller’sLiving in the Environment14th Edition

Chapter 24

G. Tyler Miller’sLiving in the Environment14th Edition

Chapter 24

Key ConceptsKey Concepts

Types and amounts of wastes Types and amounts of wastes

Methods to reduce waste Methods to reduce waste

Methods of dealing with wastes Methods of dealing with wastes

Hazardous waste regulation in the US Hazardous waste regulation in the US

US: 11 billion metric tons/yearUS: 11 billion metric tons/year

Producing Less Waste and PollutionProducing Less Waste and Pollution

Waste management (high waste approach)

Waste management (high waste approach)

Burying, burning, shippingBurying, burning, shipping

Waste prevention (low waste approach)

Waste prevention (low waste approach)

Reduce, reuse, recycleReduce, reuse, recycle

Sustainability SixSustainability Six

1.1. Consume less. Consume less.

2.2. Use less materials and Use less materials and energy by redesigning energy by redesigning manufacturing manufacturing processes and products.processes and products.

3.3. Produce less waste and Produce less waste and pollution by redesigning pollution by redesigning manufacturing manufacturing processes.processes.

4.4. Develop products that Develop products that are easily repaired, are easily repaired, reused, reused, remanufactured, remanufactured, composted, or recycled.composted, or recycled.

5.5. Design products with Design products with long lives.long lives.

6.6. Eliminate or reduce Eliminate or reduce unnecessary packaging. unnecessary packaging.

Integrated Waste Management – Japan 1990’s– Japan 1990’s

Solutions: Cleaner ProductionSolutions: Cleaner Production

Ecoindustrial revolution Ecoindustrial revolution Resource exchange webs Resource exchange webs

Biomimicry- (for example, 3M Company’s Pollution Prevention Pays (3P)).

Biomimicry- (for example, 3M Company’s Pollution Prevention Pays (3P)).

Service-flow economy Service-flow economy

Solutions: Selling Services Instead of ThingsSolutions: Selling Services Instead of Things

Service-flow economy Service-flow economy

Uses a minimum amount of material Uses a minimum amount of material

Products last longer Products last longer

Products are easier to maintain, repair, and recycle

Products are easier to maintain, repair, and recycle

Eco-leasing - Xerox Corporation’s document services and Ray Anderson’s INTERFACE company).

Eco-leasing - Xerox Corporation’s document services and Ray Anderson’s INTERFACE company).

See Individuals Matter p. 538See Individuals Matter p. 538

ReuseReuse

Extends resource supplies Extends resource supplies

Saves energy and money Saves energy and money

Reduces pollution Reduces pollution

Create jobs Create jobs

Reusable products Reusable products

RecyclingRecycling Primary (closed-loop) -when new products

of the same type are created from the waste: new newspaper from old newspaper.

Primary (closed-loop) -when new products of the same type are created from the waste: new newspaper from old newspaper.

Preconsumer waste / internal waste is generated from a manufacturing process that is recycled.

Preconsumer waste / internal waste is generated from a manufacturing process that is recycled.

Secondary (open loop) –downcycling converts waste materials into different products.

Secondary (open loop) –downcycling converts waste materials into different products.

Postconsumer waste external waste is generated by consumer use of products.

Postconsumer waste external waste is generated by consumer use of products.

Characteristics of Recyclable MaterialsCharacteristics of Recyclable Materials

Easily isolated from other waste Easily isolated from other waste

Available in large quantities Available in large quantities

Valuable Valuable

Benefits of RecyclingBenefits of RecyclingBenefits of RecyclingBenefits of Recycling

Fig. 24-8 p. 541

Recycling MethodsRecycling Methods

Centralized recycling of mixed waste (Materials-Recovery Facilities, MRFs) *

Centralized recycling of mixed waste (Materials-Recovery Facilities, MRFs) *

Source separation Source separation

Pay-as-you-throw (PAUT) Pay-as-you-throw (PAUT)

Case Studies: Wastepaper and PlasticsCase Studies: Wastepaper and Plastics

49% of wastepaper recycled in US

49% of wastepaper recycled in US

Chlorine-based compound in paper production

Chlorine-based compound in paper production 10% or less of plastic recycled in US 10% or less of plastic recycled in US

Plastics can be very difficult to recycle Plastics can be very difficult to recycle

PaperPaper

PlasticsPlastics

Plastic recycling is not feasible because of Plastic recycling is not feasible because of these problems:these problems:

1.1. Plastics are difficult to isolate in Plastics are difficult to isolate in different materials.different materials.

2.2. Not much individual plastic resin is Not much individual plastic resin is recoverable per product.recoverable per product.

3.3. Recycled resin is much more Recycled resin is much more expensive than virgin plastic resin.expensive than virgin plastic resin.

Some success with plastics –building materials

Paper Recycling

Burning WastesBurning Wastes

Mass burn incineration Mass burn incineration

Air pollution Air pollution

Waste to energy Waste to energy

Japan’s Incineration programJapan’s Incineration program

Burying WastesBurying Wastes

Open dumps Open dumps

Sanitary landfills Leachate collectionMonitoring wellsEmit greenhouse gases (CO2 and methane) that can be collected

Sanitary landfills Leachate collectionMonitoring wellsEmit greenhouse gases (CO2 and methane) that can be collected

Waste-to-EnergyWaste-to-Energy

Burying WastesBurying WastesFresh kills: before and after

Hazardous Wastes: Types Hazardous Wastes: Types

Contains at least one toxic compound

Contains at least one toxic compound

Catches fire easily Catches fire easily

Reactive or explosive Reactive or explosive

Corrodes metal containers Corrodes metal containers

NotNot Hazardous Wastes under Hazardous Wastes under Resource Conservation and Recovery Resource Conservation and Recovery ActAct ( (RCRA)RCRA)

Radioactive wastes Radioactive wastes Household wastes Household wastes

Mining wastes Mining wastes Oil and gas drilling wastes Oil and gas drilling wastes

Liquids containing organic hydrocarbons

Liquids containing organic hydrocarbons

Cement kiln dust Cement kiln dust

<100 kg (220 lb) per month <100 kg (220 lb) per month

Detoxifying and Removing Wastes

Detoxifying and Removing Wastes

Bioremediation * Bioremediation *

Phytoremediation Phytoremediation

Plasma incineration *

Plasma incineration *

Physical methods Physical methods

Chemical methods

Chemical methods

Deep-well DisposalDeep-well Disposal

Hazardous Waste LandfillHazardous Waste LandfillSurface Impoundments:Surface Impoundments:

Examples:Examples:

Love CanalLove Canal

Times BeachTimes Beach

Netherlands’ Successful Hazardous Netherlands’ Successful Hazardous Waste Program & Hazardous Waste Waste Program & Hazardous Waste ReductionReduction

Clean up vs. PreventionClean up vs. Prevention

Case Studies: LeadCase Studies: Lead

Lead poisoning major problem in children

Lead poisoning major problem in children

Primary Sources of LeadPrimary Sources of Lead

Leaded gasoline (phased out by 1986)

Leaded gasoline (phased out by 1986)

Lead paint (banned in 1970) Lead paint (banned in 1970)

Lead in plumbing Lead in plumbing

Progress is being made in reducing lead

Progress is being made in reducing lead

Case Studies: MercuryCase Studies: Mercury

Vaporized elemental Mercury

Vaporized elemental Mercury

Fish contaminated with methylmercuryMinamata Bay

Fish contaminated with methylmercuryMinamata Bay

Natural inputs Natural inputs

Emission control Emission control

Prevention of contamination

Prevention of contamination

Minamata BayMinamata Bay

Bioaccumulation and BiomagnificationBioaccumulation and Biomagnification

Case Studies: DioxinsCase Studies: Dioxins

Waste incineration Waste incineration

Fireplaces Fireplaces

Coal-fired power plants Coal-fired power plants

Paper production Paper production

Sources of DioxinsSources of Dioxins

Sewage sludge Sewage sludge

Examples:

Love Canal

Times Beach

Hazardous Waste Regulation in the United StatesHazardous Waste Regulation in the United States

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulates about 5% of the U.S. hazardous waste. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulates about 5% of the U.S. hazardous waste.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA - Superfund) was passed in 1980.

1. The law identifies hazardous waste sites.2. The law provides for cleanup of these sites on a priority basis.3. The worst sites go on a National Priorities List (NPL) and are scheduled

for total cleanup.4. There are, also, laws that provide for cleaning up brownfields and

abandoned sites contaminated with hazardous wastes like factories, gas stations, junkyards, etc.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA - Superfund) was passed in 1980.

1. The law identifies hazardous waste sites.2. The law provides for cleanup of these sites on a priority basis.3. The worst sites go on a National Priorities List (NPL) and are scheduled

for total cleanup.4. There are, also, laws that provide for cleaning up brownfields and

abandoned sites contaminated with hazardous wastes like factories, gas stations, junkyards, etc.

National Priority List National Priority List

Polluter-pays principle Polluter-pays principle

Solutions: Achieving a Low-Waste SocietySolutions: Achieving a Low-Waste Society

Local grassroots action The NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) philosophy has been replaced by most of

citizens with the NOPE principle—Not On Planet Earth or ‘not in anyone’s backyard.’

There are four principles for transitioning to a low-waste society.1. Everything is connected.2. There is no place to send wastes “away.”3. Diluting waste is not the solution to pollution.4. The best solution is to prevent waste and pollution and, then,

reuse/recycle the materials that we use.5. It is necessary to detoxify the U.S. economy.

Local grassroots action The NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) philosophy has been replaced by most of

citizens with the NOPE principle—Not On Planet Earth or ‘not in anyone’s backyard.’

There are four principles for transitioning to a low-waste society.1. Everything is connected.2. There is no place to send wastes “away.”3. Diluting waste is not the solution to pollution.4. The best solution is to prevent waste and pollution and, then,

reuse/recycle the materials that we use.5. It is necessary to detoxify the U.S. economy.

International ban on 12 persistent organic pollutants (the dirty dozen)In 2000, a global treaty to control twelve persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

was developed. To be made effective, fifty countries must ratify the treaty. (1)POPs are toxic chemicals stored in the fatty tissue of humans and other organisms. (2)Twelve chemicals, the dirty dozen, need to be phased out, detoxified, and/or isolated.

International ban on 12 persistent organic pollutants (the dirty dozen)In 2000, a global treaty to control twelve persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

was developed. To be made effective, fifty countries must ratify the treaty. (1)POPs are toxic chemicals stored in the fatty tissue of humans and other organisms. (2)Twelve chemicals, the dirty dozen, need to be phased out, detoxified, and/or isolated.

Precautionary PrinciplePrecautionary Principle