Landfills and Waste Management Terms

Landfill and Waste Management Concepts

• Landfill: Excavated area for permanent disposal of waste.
• Incinerator: RCRA solid waste method that reduces trash volume and generates electricity.
• Biodegradable: Materials like food and paper that can be broken down by decomposers such as fungi and bacteria.
• Non-Biodegradable: Materials incapable of being degraded by living organisms, such as plastic and metal.

Composting and Waste Characteristics

• Compost: Organic, crumbly material resulting from the decomposition of plants or animals, used to enhance soil.
• Leachate: Contaminated liquid produced when water passes through and dissolves chemicals in landfill waste.
• Methane Gas Recovery: Process where methane gas produced in landfills can seep into the environment, potentially causing hazards.
• Hazardous Waste: Waste materials (solid, liquid, gas) containing toxic substances that pose risks to health or the environment.

Examples and Implications of Waste

• Biodegradable Examples: Cardboard and leather decompose naturally over time.
• Non-Biodegradable Examples: Plastic and metal persist in the environment, leading to pollution.
• 3 R's: Recycling, reducing, and reusing are key strategies for waste management.

Environmental Concerns Related to Landfills

• Methane and Leachate Issues: Leachate can contaminate groundwater, while methane is a greenhouse gas that poses fire hazards when it seeps through soil.

Impact of Incineration

• Disadvantages of Incinerators: They can break down large objects into dust-sized particles, which might release harmful emissions.
• Advantages of Incinerators: Reduce the volume of solid waste, making waste management more efficient.

Creation and Components of Compost

• Compost Creation: Involves the breakdown of organic food waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer for soil enhancement.

Identifying Hazardous Materials

• Definition of Hazardous Material: Materials deemed hazardous if they are flammable or contain harmful chemicals capable of leaching.
• Examples of Hazardous Waste: Includes household items like Windex, bleach, batteries, detergents, and hairspray.

Infrastructure for Waste Management

• Methane Collection Pipe: Device used for extracting methane gas from landfills to mitigate environmental risks.
• Leachate Collection Pipe: System designed to transport leachate away from landfills, thus protecting groundwater.

Aquifers and Landfill Construction

• Aquifer: Underground permeable rock formations that allow the flow of water, crucial for groundwater sources.
• Landfill Liner: A protective plastic layer placed over clay in landfills to prevent leachate from contaminating groundwater.

Types of Solid Waste

• Municipal Solid Waste: Commonly referred to as garbage or trash, generated from residential, commercial, and public sources.