Solid and Hazardous Solid and Hazardous WasteWaste

Chapter 17Chapter 17

Love Canal: There is No “Away”Love Canal: There is No “Away”

Previous chemical dumpPrevious chemical dump

Sold to a school boardSold to a school board

Clay cap was disturbedClay cap was disturbed

Leaks detected in 1976Leaks detected in 1976

Lois GibbsLois Gibbs

Abandoned 1980Abandoned 1980

Court casesCourt cases

SuperfundSuperfund

Lessons learnedLessons learnedFig. 17-1, p. 388

Wasting ResourcesWasting Resources

Solid wastesSolid wastes

Municipal solid waste (MSW) (garbage)Municipal solid waste (MSW) (garbage)

Waste disposal, recycling, and combustion in the USWaste disposal, recycling, and combustion in the US

High-waste societyHigh-waste society

Electronic wastes (e-waste)Electronic wastes (e-waste)

Fig. 17-2, p. 390

Municipal1.5%

Sewage sludge1%

Mining and oiland gas

production75%

Industry9.5%

Agriculture13%

Solid Waste in the US Solid Waste in the US

Producing Less WasteProducing Less Waste

Waste management (high-waste approach)Waste management (high-waste approach)

Waste reduction (low-waste approach)Waste reduction (low-waste approach)

Trashcans as “resource containers”Trashcans as “resource containers”

Reversed priorities in dealing with wastesReversed priorities in dealing with wastes

Reuse and recycleReuse and recycle

CompostingComposting

Redesigning manufacturing to produce less wasteRedesigning manufacturing to produce less waste

Fig. 17-3, p. 391

1st Priority 2nd Priority Last Priority

Primary Pollutionand Waste Prevention

Secondary Pollution and Waste Prevention

• Reduce products

• Repair products

• Recycle

• Compost

• Buy reusable and recyclable products

Waste Management

• Treat waste to reduce toxicity

• Incinerate waste

• Bury waste in landfill

• Release waste into environment for dispersal or dilution

Priorities in Dealing with Material Use and Priorities in Dealing with Material Use and Solid Wastes Solid Wastes

Reducing Solid WasteReducing Solid Waste

Sustainability sixSustainability six

• Consume lessConsume less

• Redesign manufacturing processesRedesign manufacturing processes

• Produce less waste and pollutionProduce less waste and pollution

• Repair, reuse, remanufacture, compost, and recycleRepair, reuse, remanufacture, compost, and recycle

• Design products to last longerDesign products to last longer

• Eliminate, reuse, recycle, or reduce packagingEliminate, reuse, recycle, or reduce packaging

Resource productivity revolutionResource productivity revolution

© 2006 Brooks/Cole - Thomson Fig. 17-4, p. 391

What Can You Do?

Solid Waste

• Follow the four R's of resource use: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

• Ask yourself whether you really need a particular item.• Rent, borrow, or barter goods and services when you

can.• Buy things that are reusable, recyclable, or

compostable, and be sure to reuse, recycle, and compost them.

• Do not use throwaway paper and plastic plates, cups, and eating utensils, and other disposable items when reusable or refillable versions are available.

• Use e-mail in place of conventional paper mail.• Read newspapers and magazines online.• Buy products in concentrated form whenever

possible.

What Can You Do? What Can You Do?

Ecoindustrial RevolutionEcoindustrial Revolution

Upcoming ecoindustrial revolutionUpcoming ecoindustrial revolution

Resource exchange websResource exchange webs

Kalundborg, DenmarkKalundborg, Denmark

Cleaning up and reusing brownfieldsCleaning up and reusing brownfields

BiomimicryBiomimicry

3M Pollution Prevention Pays (3P) program3M Pollution Prevention Pays (3P) program

From material-flow to service-flow economyFrom material-flow to service-flow economy

Fig. 17-5,p. 393

Pharmaceutical plant Local farmers

Fish farming

Cement manufacturer

Area homesWallboard factory

Greenhouses

Oil refinery

Sulfuric acidproducer

Sludge

Sludge

Waste heat

Electric Power plan

Industrial Ecosystem in Kalundborg, Denmark Industrial Ecosystem in Kalundborg, Denmark

Surplussulfur

Surplusnatural gas

Surplus natural gas

Waste heat Waste heat

Waste heat

Waste heat

Fly ash

WasteCalciumsulfate

Individuals Matter:Individuals Matter: Ray Anderson Ray Anderson

Fig. 17-A, p. 394

ReuseReuse Reuse as a form of waste reductionReuse as a form of waste reduction

Reuse of e-wasteReuse of e-waste

Toxic metals in e-wasteToxic metals in e-waste

ScavengingScavenging

Refillable containersRefillable containers

Bans on non-reusable beverage containersBans on non-reusable beverage containers

Cloth shopping bagsCloth shopping bags

Charging for plastic and paper shopping bagsCharging for plastic and paper shopping bags

Reusable shipping containersReusable shipping containers

Tool librariesTool libraries

Scavenging in the Philippines Scavenging in the Philippines

Fig. 17-6, p. 395

© 2006 Brooks/Cole - Thomson Fig. 17-7, p. 395

What Can You Do?

Reuse

• Buy beverages in refillable glass containers instead of cans or throwaway bottles.

• Use reusable plastic or metal lunchboxes.

• Carry sandwiches and store food in the refrigerator in reusable containers instead of wrapping them in aluminum foil or plastic wrap.

• Use rechargeable batteries and recycle them when their useful life is over.

• Carry groceries and other items in a reusable basket, a canvas or string bag, or a small cart.

• Use reusable sponges and washable cloth napkins, dishtowels, and handkerchiefs instead of throwaway paper ones.

What Can We Do? What Can We Do?

RecyclingRecycling What can be recycled?What can be recycled?

Primary (closed-loop) recyclingPrimary (closed-loop) recycling

Secondary (downcycling) recyclingSecondary (downcycling) recycling

Preconsumer (internal) wastePreconsumer (internal) waste

Postconsumer (external) wastePostconsumer (external) waste

CompostingComposting

Materials-recovery facility (MRF)Materials-recovery facility (MRF)

Source separationSource separation

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

Problems with recycling plasticsProblems with recycling plastics

Fig. 17-8, p. 397

Reduces air andwater pollution

Saves energy

Reduces mineraldemand

Reduces greenhousegas emissions

Reduces solid wastedisposal

Helps protect biodiversity

Can save moneyfor items such aspaper, metals,and some plasticsImportant part

Does not savelandfill space inareas with ampleland

May lose money foritems such as glassand most plastics

Reduces profitsfrom landfills andincinerators

Source separationis inconvenient forsome people

Tradeoffs of Recycling Tradeoffs of Recycling Trade-Offs

Recycling

Advantages Disadvantages

Factors that Hinder Reuse and Factors that Hinder Reuse and RecyclingRecycling

Faulty accounting systemFaulty accounting system

Uneven economic playing fieldUneven economic playing field

Low landfilling costsLow landfilling costs

Demand and prices for recycled materials Demand and prices for recycled materials fluctuatefluctuate

Encouraging Reuse and Encouraging Reuse and RecyclingRecycling

Level economic playing fieldLevel economic playing field

Government subsidiesGovernment subsidies

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

Government purchases of recycled itemsGovernment purchases of recycled items

Product stewardship policiesProduct stewardship policies

Fig. 17-9, p. 399

Power plant

Steam

Turbine

Generator

Electricity

Crane

Furnace

Boiler

Wetscrubber

Electrostaticprecipitator

Conveyor

Water added Bottom

ash

Conventionallandfill Waste

treatment Hazardous wastelandfill

Dirtywater

Waste pit

Smokestack

Fly ash

Waste-to-Energy Incineration Waste-to-Energy Incineration

© 2006 Brooks/Cole - Thomson Fig. 17-10, p. 399

Trade-Offs

Reduced trashvolume

Less need forlandfills

Low waterpollution

Quick andeasy

Incineration

High cost

Air pollution(especiallytoxic dioxins)

Produces ahighly toxic ash

Encourageswaste production

DiscouragesRecycling and wastereduction

Advantages Disadvantages

Tradeoffs of Incineration Tradeoffs of Incineration

Burying WastesBurying Wastes

Open dumpsOpen dumps

Sanitary landfillsSanitary landfills

LeachatesLeachates

Landfill gases (chiefly methane and Landfill gases (chiefly methane and carbon dioxide)carbon dioxide)

Topsoil

Sand

Clay

Garbage

Garbage

Sand

Syntheticliner

Sand

Clay

Subsoil

When landfill is full,layers of soil and clayseal in trash

Methane storageand compressorbuilding

Electricitygeneratorbuilding

Leachatetreatment system

Methane gasrecovery

Pipe collect explosivemethane gas used as fuel to generate electricity

Compactedsolid waste

Leachatestorage tank

Leachatemonitoringwell

Groundwatermonitoringwell

Leachate pipes Leachate pumped upto storage tanks forsafe disposal

Clay and plastic liningto prevent leaks; pipescollect leachate frombottom of landfill

Probes to detect methane leaks

Groundwater

Sanitary Landfill Sanitary Landfill

Fig. 17-11, p. 400

© 2006 Brooks/Cole - Thomson

Advantages

No open burning

Little odor

Low groundwater pollution ifsited properly

Can be built quickly

Low operating costs

Can handle large amounts of waste

Filled land can be used for otherpurposes

No shortage of landfill space inmany areas

Disadvantages

Noise and traffic

Dust

Air pollution from toxic gases and volatile organiccompounds

Releases greenhouse gases (methane and CO2) unless they are collected

Groundwater contamination

Slow decomposition of wastes

Discourages recycling waste reduction

Eventually leaks andcan contaminategroundwater

Sanitary Landfills

Trade-Offs

Fig. 17-12, p. 401

Tradeoffs of Sanitary Landfills Tradeoffs of Sanitary Landfills

Characteristics of Hazardous Characteristics of Hazardous WastesWastes

ToxicToxic

IgnitableIgnitable

CorrosiveCorrosive

ReactiveReactive

U.S. Federal Regulations on U.S. Federal Regulations on Hazardous WastesHazardous Wastes

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund)Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund)

National Priorities Lists (NPL)National Priorities Lists (NPL)

Polluter-pays principlePolluter-pays principle

Taxpayers-pay programTaxpayers-pay program

BrownfieldsBrownfields

© 2006 Brooks/Cole - Thomson Fig. 17-13, p. 402

What Harmful Chemicals Are In Your Home?

Cleaning • Disinfectants• Drain, toilet, and window cleaners • Spot removers• Septic tank cleaners

Paint

• Latex and oil-based paints• Paint thinners, solvents, and strippers • Stains, varnishes, and lacquers• Wood preservatives• Artist paints and inks

General

• Dry-cell batteries (mercury and cadmium)• Glues and cements

Gardening

• Pesticides• Weed killers• Ant and rodent killers• Flea powders

Automotive

• Gasoline• Used motor oil • Antifreeze• Battery acid• Solvents• Brake and transmission fluid• Rust inhibitor and rust remover

Harmful Chemicals in Your Home Harmful Chemicals in Your Home

Fig. 17-14, p. 403

Produce Less Waste

Manipulateprocesses

to eliminateor reduce

production

Recycle andreuse

Convert to Less Hazardous or Nonhazardous Substances

Landtreatment

Incineration Thermaltreatment

Chemical,physical, and

biologicaltreatment

Ocean andatmosphericassimilation

Put in Perpetual Storage

Landfill Undergroundinjection

Wastepiles

Surfaceimpoundments

Saltformations

Arid regionunsaturated

zone

Stepped Art

Hazardous Hazardous WasteWaste

Dangers of Hazardous Dangers of Hazardous ChemicalsChemicals

Terrorist attacks on chemical plantsTerrorist attacks on chemical plants

Bhopal accidentBhopal accident

Detoxifying Hazardous Detoxifying Hazardous WastesWastes

BioremediationBioremediation

PhytoremediationPhytoremediation

IncinerationIncineration

Deep-well disposalDeep-well disposal

Surface impoundmentsSurface impoundments

Secure landfillsSecure landfills

Aboveground buildingsAboveground buildings

Prevention is better than disposal or cleanupPrevention is better than disposal or cleanup

Inorganic metal contaminantsOrganic contaminantsRadioactive contaminants

Brake fernPoplar tree

Indian mustard

Oilspill

Groundwater

Soil

Pollutedgroundwaterin

Pollutedleachate

Decontaminatedwater out

Landfill

Willow tree

Phytoextraction Roots of plants can absorb toxic metals such as lead, arsenic, and others and store them in their leaves. Plants can then be recycled or harvested and incinerated.

Phytodegradation Plants can absorb toxic organic chemicals and break them down into less harmful compounds which are stored or released into the air.

Phytostabilization Plants can absorb chemicals and keep them from reaching groundwater or nearby surface water.

Rhizofiltration Roots of plants with dangling roots can absorb pollutants such as radioactive strontium-90 and cesium-137 and various organic chemicals.

Sunflower

Fig. 17-15, p. 404

Phytoremediation Phytoremediation

Groundwater

Soil

© 2006 Brooks/Cole - Thomson Fig. 17-16, p. 405

Trade-Offs

Phytoremediation

Advantages Disadvantages

Easy to establish

Inexpensive

Can reduce material dumped into land fills

Produces little air pollution compared to incineration

Low energy use

Slow (can take several growing seasons)

Effective only at depth plant roots can reach

Some toxic organic chemicals may evaporate from plant leaves

Some plants can become toxic to animals

Tradeoffs of Phytoremediation Tradeoffs of Phytoremediation

© 2006 Brooks/Cole - Thomson Fig. 17-17, p. 405

Advantages

Safe method ifsites are chosencarefully

Wastes can beretrieved ifproblemsdevelop

Easy to do

Low cost

Disadvantages

Leaks or spills atsurface

Leaks fromcorrosion of wellcasing

Existing fracturesor earthquakescan allow wastesto escape intogroundwater

Encourageswaste production

Trade-Offs

Deep Underground Wells

Tradeoffs of Deep Underground Tradeoffs of Deep Underground Wells Wells

Fig. 17-18, p. 405

Trade-Offs

Surface Impoundments

Advantages Disadvantages

Low construction costs

Low operating costs

Can be built quickly

Wastes can beeasily retrievedif necessary

Can store wastesindefinitely withsecure doubleliners

Groundwatercontaminationfrom leaking liners(or no lining)

Air pollution fromvolatile organiccompounds

Overflow fromflooding

Disruption andleakage fromearthquakes

Promotes wasteproduction

Tradeoffs of Surface Impoundments Tradeoffs of Surface Impoundments

Fig. 17-19, p. 406

Bulk wasteImperviousclay

Earth

Water table

Groundwater

Clay cap

Gas ventTopsoil

EarthSand

Plastic cover

Impervious clay cap

Leakdetectionsystem

Reactive wastesin drums

Double leachatecollection system

Plastic double liner Groundwater

monitoringwell

Secure Hazardous Waste Landfill Secure Hazardous Waste Landfill

© 2006 Brooks/Cole - Thomson Fig. 17-20, p. 406

What Can You Do?

Hazardous Waste

• Use pesticides in the smallest amount possible.

• Use less harmful substances instead of commercial chemicals for most household cleaners. For example, use liquid ammonia to clean appliances and windows; vinegar to polish metals, clean surfaces, and remove stains and mildew; baking soda to clean household utensils, deodorize, and remove stains; borax to remove stains and mildew.

• Do not dispose of pesticides, paints, solvents, oil, antifreeze, or other products containing hazardous chemicals by flushing them down the toilet, pouring them down the drain, burying them, throwing them into the garbage, or dumping them down storm drains.

What Can You Do? What Can You Do?

Lead (Pb)Lead (Pb)

NeurotoxinNeurotoxin

Especially harmful to childrenEspecially harmful to children

Banned in US gasoline (1976 with phase out by 1986)Banned in US gasoline (1976 with phase out by 1986)

Banned lead-based paints (1970-1978)Banned lead-based paints (1970-1978)

Still unsafe levels in the blood of many childrenStill unsafe levels in the blood of many children

Lead in paint of old buildingsLead in paint of old buildings

Plumbing may contain leadPlumbing may contain lead

Still a threat to many children in developing countriesStill a threat to many children in developing countries

© 2006 Brooks/Cole - Thomson Fig. 17-21, p. 407

Solutions

Lead Poisoning

Prevention Control

Wash fresh fruits and vegetables

Sharply reduce lead emissions from old and new incinerators

Replace lead pipes and plumbing fixtures containing lead solder

Remove leaded paint and lead dust from older houses and apartments

Remove lead from TV sets and computer monitors before incineration or land disposal

Test for lead in existingceramicware used to serve food

Test existing candles for lead

Phase out leadedgasoline worldwide

Phase out wasteincineration

Test blood for lead by age 1

Ban lead solder inplumbing pipes, fixtures,and food cans

Ban lead glazing for ceramicware used toserve food

Ban candles withlead cores

Lead Poisoning Lead Poisoning

Mercury (Hg)Mercury (Hg) Released into the atmosphere from burning coal, waste Released into the atmosphere from burning coal, waste

incineration, ore smelting, volcanoes, and vaporization of incineration, ore smelting, volcanoes, and vaporization of ocean waterocean water

Converts into toxic inorganic HgConverts into toxic inorganic Hg2+2+ forms and forms and methylmercury (CHmethylmercury (CH33HgHg++))

Bioaccumulates in fishBioaccumulates in fish

Attacks nervous systems and brains of childrenAttacks nervous systems and brains of children

Fish advisoriesFish advisories

AIR

WINDS PRECIPITATION WINDS PRECIPITATION

WATER

SEDIMENT

BIOMAGNIFICATIONIN FOOD CHAIN

Human sources Elementalmercury

vapor(Hg)

Inorganicmercury

and acids(Hg2+)

Inorganic mercuryand acids

(Hg2+)

Large fish

Small fish

Phytoplankton ZooplanktonElementalmercury

liquid (Hg) Inorganicmercury

(Hg2+)

Organicmercury(CH3Hg+)

De

po

sit

ion

Va

po

rizatio

n

De

po

sit

ion

Dep

ositio

n

Settles out

Bacteria

Bacteria and acids

Settles out

Oxidation

Incinerator Coal-burning plant

Photo-chemical oxidation

Hg2+ and acids Hg2+ and acids

Settles out

Runoff of Hg2+ and acids

Fig. 17-22, p. 408

Mercury CycleMercury Cycle

Hg and SO2

© 2006 Brooks/Cole - Thomson

Solutions

Mercury Pollution

Prevention Control

Sharply reduce mercury emissions from coal burning plants and incinerators

Tax each unit of mercury emitted by coal-burning plants and incinerators

Collect and recycle mercury containing electric switches, relays, and dry-cell batteries

Require labels on all products containing mercury

Phase out waste incineration

Remove mercury from coal before it is burned

Convert coal to liquid or gaseous fuel

Switch from coal to natural gas and renewable energy resources such as wind, solar cells, and hydrogen

Phase out use of mercury in all products unless they are recycled

Fig. 17-23, p. 409

Mercury Poisoning Mercury Poisoning

Achieving a Low-Waste SocietyAchieving a Low-Waste Society Grass-roots actionGrass-roots action

Environmental justiceEnvironmental justice

““Not In My Backyard” (NIMBYism)Not In My Backyard” (NIMBYism)

““Not On Planet Earth” (NOPE)Not On Planet Earth” (NOPE)

International treatiesInternational treaties

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

““Dirty Dozen”Dirty Dozen”

Precautionary principlePrecautionary principle

Transition to a Low-Waste SocietyTransition to a Low-Waste Society

Recognizing that everything is connectedRecognizing that everything is connected

There is no “away”There is no “away”

Dilution is not always the solution to pollution Dilution is not always the solution to pollution (bioaccumulation)(bioaccumulation)

Produce less pollution, recycle, and reuseProduce less pollution, recycle, and reuse

Eco-businessEco-business

Eco-labelingEco-labeling