Islamic Studies Quiz

Solid Waste Management

• Industrialization and agricultural development have led to the emergence of non-biodegradable solid waste
• This was not a problem before as waste was largely biodegradable
• Solid waste disposal has become a major effort and expense worldwide

Sources and Characteristics of Solid Waste

• Identifying sources, quantities, and physical/chemical properties of solid waste is crucial for proper management

• Solid waste is a major concern requiring attention from scientists, engineers, decision-makers, and the public

• Approximately 13% of total solid waste comes from residential, commercial, and small industrial sources

• Solid waste consists of a heterogeneous mix of paper, cardboard, trash residues, glass, rubber, textiles, food waste, and plastics

Industrial Solid Waste

• In industrialized countries, mining/processing waste can account for over 75% of total solid waste

• This includes rocks, soil, and tailings from mining, extraction, and processing of various economic metals

• In humid climates, acid drainage and leaching of toxic elements from mining waste can contaminate water and soil sources

• Agricultural waste, including crop residues, livestock manure, and poultry litter, can also be an environmental issue

• In some countries like the US, agricultural waste can exceed 12% of total solid waste

• These wastes often contain valuable nutrients and can be recycled back into the natural cycle

Agricultural Waste

• Overuse of chemical fertilizers and concentrated animal/poultry farming have turned agricultural waste into an environmental problem

• Soil erosion and loss of organic matter can negatively impact the environment, especially through contamination of water bodies

• Some industrialized countries address agricultural waste by collection and anaerobic digestion to extract methane gas

Industrial Hazardous Waste

• Industrial waste differs by industry and production methods, excluding industrial hazardous waste

• Industrial solid waste includes paper, cardboard, wood, glass, plastics, organic and metallic materials, and other waste

• Disposal is typically through direct incineration or transfer to special or municipal waste landfills

• Some countries impose high fines on recyclable solid waste to encourage reuse and recycling, like for wood

• Solid waste was previously viewed as unusable material to be disposed of through burial, incineration, composting, or even export

• Waste is now seen as a natural resource in the wrong place

Advances in Solid Waste Management

• With advances in disposal technology, controlling any amount within public safety limits is now possible

• Due to scarcity of natural resources and rising extraction/transport costs, countries are encouraging more solid waste reuse and recycling

• This process is called "industrial recycling" in industrialized countries

Landfill Disposal

• Sanitary landfill is one of the main solid waste management methods

• Site selection involves detailed geological studies followed by appropriate engineering design and environmental monitoring

• The basic principle is to minimize waste volume through special compaction and daily soil cover to prevent permeability and leachate

• Landfill sites are chosen in dry areas with low precipitation and high evaporation, away from settlements, and downwind of prevailing winds

• Engineered liners and leachate collection/treatment systems are used to prevent groundwater contamination

• Some modern landfills also collect and utilize the methane gas generated from organic waste decomposition

Composting

• Composting helps reduce the organic fraction of solid waste by up to 75%

• Aerobic bacteria and microorganisms break down organic matter into a stable, soil-like material called compost

• Compost is a clean, lightweight material similar to soil, rich in organic matter, that can improve soil biological, chemical, and physical properties

• Potential toxicity of compost requires thorough thermal treatment before use

Hazardous Waste Management

• Hazardous wastes are generally toxic, corrosive, flammable, or radioactive, posing threats to the environment and human health

• In the past, improper handling and storage of hazardous waste led to severe environmental problems

• Hazardous waste comes from industrial, household, and agricultural activities, with the chemical industry as the major source

• Most hazardous wastes are either rapidly degradable (oils, fats, phenols, ammonia) or persistent (toxic chemicals, dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls)

• Household hazardous waste includes batteries, paints, pesticides, and solvents

• Industrialized countries have systems to separately collect and treat hazardous waste

Deep Well Disposal

• The Swaqa facility, located 60 km east of Amman in the Eastern Desert, is designed for hazardous waste disposal

• It uses advanced systems for leachate collection and disposal, impermeable plastic liners, and increased monitoring wells

• Deep wells (up to 700 m) are drilled into highly permeable and confined geological formations, isolated by impermeable layers

• This method is used for highly toxic waste where there are concerns about potential leakage into shallow aquifers

• However, there are issues with potential migration of hazardous contaminants through fissures or inactive faults, requiring monitoring wells

Ocean Dumping

• Oceans covering 70% of the Earth's surface play a vital role in biogeochemical cycles and are a major source of food and raw materials

• Some countries dump hazardous solid waste in the oceans, negatively impacting marine life through the transfer of toxins through food chains

• Industrialized countries are now studying deep ocean floor disposal as part of the geological cycle