1 of 31

Solid and Hazardous Waste

2 of 31

After watching the videos, why do you think it’s important we study this topic in this class?

​

​

3 of 31

What aspect of zero waste appeals to you?

  • For the environment
  • Saves money
  • Reduce clutter
  • For my health

​

​

4 of 31

5 of 31

6 of 31

2 TYPES OF SOLID WASTE

  • Solid
          • Municipal
          • Non-municipal
  • Hazardous

​

7 of 31

8 of 31

Municipal Waste

  • From residences, businesses, cities buildings
  • Makes up 1% waste in U.S.
  • Metals, plastics, glass, food scraps, paper, yard waste

​

​

9 of 31

The Solid Waste Problem

4.5 pounds of trash Per Amercian Daily

10 of 31

Non - Municipal Waste

  • From industry, agriculture, mining, oil
  • Makes up 99% waste in U.S.
  • Construction material, wastewater sludge, incineration ash

​

​

11 of 31

Hazardous Waste

  • From both municipal and non-municipal
  • Such as carcinogens, mutagenic, tetragenic

​

​

12 of 31

Options for Disposal

  • Landfills

​

  • Exporting

​

  • Incinerating

13 of 31

14 of 31

Open Dump

  • Common in developing countries, Illegal in developed countries.
  • Drop off trash

Dump in Chimalhuacán , Mexico

Kids working in a dump in Tegucigalpa , Honduras

15 of 31

Problems with Open Dumps

  • Disease!
  • Rodent problems
  • Groundwater pollution
  • Organisms eat trash → sick

16 of 31

Sanitary Landfills

  • Dig a giant hole
  • Line hole with plastic liner
  • Place solid waste in hole
  • Cover each day with 6” soil.

​

​

Only NEWER ones have lining (15%)

​

Possible leakage to groundwater if liner rips.

​

17 of 31

18 of 31

Sanitary Landfills

Dioxins, Hg, pesticides

19 of 31

Secure Landfills

20 of 31

Incineration

  • AKA “Waste-to-Energy”
  • Trash is burned → heat is used to generate electricity

21 of 31

Incinerator Problems

  • CO, particulate matter & heavy metals released
  • Control devices must be installed; scrubbers/electrostatic precipitators, $$$
  • Ash produced → landfills

​

22 of 31

Pacific Trash Gyre-Urban Runoff

23 of 31

Integrated Waste Management

  • Goal is to MINIMIZE waste
    • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

24 of 31

Hierarchy of Waste Disposal

25 of 31

Integrated Waste Management

26 of 31

Reducing Waste

  • Reduce consumption
  • Reduce packaging
  • Trash taxes
  • Photo/biodegradable plastics

27 of 31

Reuse

  • Refillable Bottles
  • Use fabric bags for groceries
  • Reuse car parts, motor oil etc.

5 cents off/ bag

TJ’s: Bring bags back → 25 $ raffle

Corona Factory, Mexico

28 of 31

29 of 31

Recycle

  • Turning discarded materials into new materials.
  • Pros: reduces virgin resource use, frees up landfill space, less deforestation, less habitat loss

30 of 31

  • Cons: Expensive for cities to start, trucks create CO2, more expensive products. Recycling plants create CO2 → Global Warming

31 of 31

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

  • Federal law in U.S. governing the disposal of solid and hazardous wastes.
  • “Cradle to grave” tracking on hazardous materials.