Environmental Science

This is our independent variable: presence of a liner

These items will be studied in relation to our IV:paper, sun chip bag, chip bag, leaf, plastic bag, synthetic and natural fibers,

biodegradable plastic

What will our dependent variable be?Rate of decompositionContamination of the surrounding areaAmount of leachate (and what’s in it)

Solid WasteDef: Any discarded material that is not gas

What letter matches?____ Hazardous Waste____ Municipal Solid Waste____ Manufacturing Waste____ Mining Waste____ Agricultural Waste____ Other

Def: Any discarded material that is not gas

What letter matches?___D_ Hazardous Waste___E_ Municipal Solid Waste___A_ Manufacturing Waste___B_ Mining Waste___C_ Agricultural Waste___F_ Other

Biodegradable WasteDef: material that can be broken down by

decomposers (Fungus & Bacteria)

Which of the following is not biodegradable?a. Newspapersb. Plasticc. Cottond. Foode. Leather

Non-biodegradable WasteDef: Materials that cannot be degraded by living

things within a human lifetimeWhich one does not belong?a. Nylonb.Cardboardc. Plasticd.Fleecee. Polyester

Total MSW Generation 2005 (before recycling)

Can you match the identities?

__ Food scraps__ Paper & Paperboard__ Glass__ Yard Trimmings__ Metals

B (11.9) Food scrapsC (34.2) Paper & PaperboardD (5.2) GlassA (13.1) Yard

TrimmingsE (7.6) Metals

How is waste processed on Earth?____ Recovered, Recycled or Composted____ Landfills____ Incinerated

B (28%) Recovered, Recycled or Composted

A (57%) Landfills

C (15%) Incinerated

Methane Gas Recovery tooMethane Gas Recovery too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7EEC3ctQro3:00

Reducing environmental impact

• Groundwater Monitoring• Bioreactor landfills – promote aerobic bacteria

growth

Incinerators = burning trashhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdD1NjDsBUc&feature=related4:16

+ / - for Waste-to-Energy Plants

ADVANTAGES• Reduces trash volume• Used for electricity

DISADVANTAGES• Air Pollution• Greenhouse Gases• Ash = more toxic than

garbage; must go to haz waste landfill

Options of Hazardous Waste

• Reduce• Reuse• Convert• Incinerate• Land Disposal• Export

What is the best answer?

• Contains toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic compounds• Catch fire easily• Explosive or release toxic fumes• Capable of corroding metal containers

Name 3 household hazardous wastes

• Motor Oil Computers• Mobile phones Paints• Pesticides Cleaners• Fertilizers Batteries

Hazardous Waste Legislation

• 1976 - RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act):

– Requires producers of hazardous wastes to keep records

– Also require liner in landfills– PRODUCERS OF HAZARDOUS WASTE ARE

RESPONSIBLE FOR SAFE DISPOSAL

Hazardous Waste Legislation

• 1980 - CRCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act):

– Gives the EPA the right to sue companies for cleanup costs

– Establishes a fund to clean up abandoned waste sites = SUPERFUND

Superfund

http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/pa.htmClickable PA map

Recycling• Primary recycling – makes the same product– Examples

• Secondary recycling – makes a new product– Examples

Steps of Recycling

• Single stream vs. source separation

• Recycling facility• Clean and shred or

crush• Reuse to make new

productshttp://recyclebank.com

http://www2.montcopa.org/montco/cwp/view,a,3,q,74299.asp

MRFs materials recovery facility

• Separates trash from materials that can be recycled

• Recycles or burns remaining combustible waste

• Problems:– Expensive– Energy to separate trash– Must have large input of garbage– Toxic pollutants

http://www.recyclebank.com/recycling

Source separation• Separate trash from recyclables at home or

business

• Advantages:– Little pollution– Moderate operating costs and more jobs– Less energy

• Problems:– Rely on people to correctly separate– Hard to compete with MRFs

Scrap Recap

• 2 things you learned about the items

• Of the 3 R’s which is most important? Use specific examples from the carousel to support your answer.

Extra Slides