40 Questions
What was banned in 2018 due to health risks?
Shipping of e-waste to China
What percentage of the original waste volume remains as residual ash and unburnable residues after incineration?
10 to 20%
What is one concern about incinerators?
Uncertainty about availability of waste
Why do some communities buy garbage from their neighbors?
To meet contractual obligations to waste-to-energy facilities
What is a benefit of incineration?
Reducing landfilling costs
What is a use of the heat derived from incinerated refuse?
All of the above
What is a challenge faced by incinerators?
Competition with recyclers
What is a characteristic of municipal incinerators?
They are designed to burn thousands of tons of waste per day
What is the most crucial factor for incinerators to operate effectively?
Proper waste sorting by municipalities
What is the primary purpose of recycling?
To reprocess discarded materials into new products
What is the main concern with dumping waste in oceans?
Contribution to air, water, and soil pollution
What challenge do low-value materials pose to recycling?
They are heavy and expensive to transport
Which material is normally the easiest and most valuable to recycle?
Aluminum
Why did developed countries like the US previously dump waste into the ocean?
Limited land for waste disposal
What is the primary function of a modern sanitary landfill?
To compact and cover trash
What is a major obstacle to recycling plastics?
Contamination
What is the purpose of the impermeable clay and/or plastic lining in landfills?
To prevent leakage to groundwater and streams
What can be produced from recycled PET bottles?
Carpet, fleece clothing, plastic strapping, and nonfood packaging
Why is new plastic made from oil often cheaper than recycled plastic?
Collecting and transporting used plastic is expensive
What is the purpose of the drainage system in landfills?
To catch drainage and monitor chemical leaks
What is the primary advantage of recycling aluminum?
It is lightweight and high-value
What is the purpose of the collection pond in landfills?
To store leachate for chemical testing
Why is it important to reduce smells and litter in landfills?
To reduce pest attraction
What is the typical design of a modern landfill?
A layer of clay, then plastic
What is a common method used by European cities to dispose of organic waste?
Methane bio-gas plants
What is the primary advantage of reusing materials over recycling or composting?
Saves cost and energy of remaking them into something else
What is the average number of round-trips a reusable glass container can make before it needs to be recycled?
15
Why do national companies favor recycling over reuse?
Because they don't want the responsibility of collecting and reusing containers
In which type of economies is reusing manufactured goods an established tradition?
Less affluent nations
What is the primary reason industries are reducing their waste production?
Because it saves money
What has been the trend in waste production in recent decades?
It has greatly increased
What has contributed to the increase in waste production in recent decades?
Increase in consumer goods and global economies
What is the main goal of integrated hazardous waste management?
To minimize waste production and promote sustainability
What is a benefit of reusing and recycling hazardous waste?
It reduces the production of new hazardous waste
What is a grassroots movement approach to waste management?
Bottom-up citizen movements
What is a way to promote reuse and recycling according to the text?
Increasing government subsidies and tax breaks for reusing and recycling
What is a challenge faced by communities regarding waste management?
Environmental injustice and NIMBYism
What is a step in integrated hazardous waste management?
Producing less hazardous waste
What is an effect of incineration according to the text?
Conversion of hazardous waste to non-hazardous substances
What is a grassroots movement strategy?
Organizing community protests against waste facilities
Study Notes
Disposal of Waste
- E-waste is transported to villages in China, where workers, including children, retrieve valuable metals, posing health risks; shipping e-waste to China was banned in 2018, but illegal smuggling continues.
Incineration
- Many cities have built waste incinerators to burn municipal waste, reducing waste volume by 80-90%.
- Incinerators produce energy, using heat to heat buildings or generate steam and electricity.
- Residual ash and unburnable residues are sent to landfills, representing 10-20% of the original volume.
- The cost-effectiveness of garbage incinerators is debated, with high initial construction costs (between $100-300 million USD).
- Incinerators compete with recyclers over paper and plastics, which are high-energy fuels.
- Cities have contracts guaranteeing a certain amount of waste daily, and some communities buy garbage from neighbors to meet contractual obligations.
Ocean Dumping
- Oceans are not large enough to absorb waste without harm, and even remote beaches are littered with non-degradable trash.
- Developed countries like the US used to dump waste into the ocean until federal legislation prohibited it.
- Plastic debris is a growing problem in the world's oceans.
Landfills
- Modern sanitary landfills are designed to contain waste, with operators compacting trash and covering it daily with a layer of dirt to reduce smells and litter and discourage insects and rats.
- Landfills require an impermeable clay and/or plastic lining to prevent leakage to groundwater and streams.
- Drainage systems are installed to catch leachate and carry it to collection ponds for chemical testing.
Recycling
- Opponents of incineration argue that we should invest more in recycling than in building expensive incinerators.
- Recycling is the reprocessing of discarded materials into new products.
- Materials can be recycled for their original purpose or made into entirely new products.
- Aluminum is one of the easiest and most valuable materials to recycle due to its high value, lightweight, and multiple uses.
Reuse
- Reusing materials in their present form saves energy and cost, and is more efficient than recycling or composting.
- Reusing glass and plastic containers is more efficient than producing new ones.
- Reusable glass containers make an average of 15 round-trips between factory and customer before being recycled.
Reduce
- Industries can save money by reducing waste, and companies are finding ways to use less material in their products.
- However, waste production has increased in recent decades due to consumerism and economic growth.
Management of Hazardous Waste
- Integrated Hazardous Waste Management aims to produce less hazardous waste, reuse or recycle it, convert it to less hazardous materials, and safely store what's left.
Transition to a Sustainable Low-Waste Society
- Organizing grassroots movements can prevent the construction of incinerators, landfills, and treatment plants.
- Encouraging reuse and recycling through government subsidies and tax breaks can reduce waste production.
- Environmental justice movements can raise awareness and pressure governments and businesses to act on environmental issues.
Learn about the different methods of waste disposal, including the impact of e-waste smuggling and the health risks associated with it.
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