18 Questions
What year did the first urban sanitary act get passed in the UK to tackle the issue of solid waste?
1888
Which toxic elements may be found in leachates from mining waste, contributing to water pollution?
Arsenic and Copper
What is the best approach to reduce waste generation according to the text?
Limiting the consumption of raw materials
Which event marked the onset of a surge in solid waste disposal problems?
The Industrial Revolution
In what year did North America pass its first urban sanitary law dealing with waste management?
1899
What was the main purpose of the urban sanitary acts passed in the UK and North America in the late 19th century?
To regulate waste disposal practices
What is the approximate daily amount of trash generated in New York City, as mentioned in the text?
12,000 tons
Which of the following is not a source of solid waste, based on the text?
Agricultural
What percentage of the world's greenhouse gases are produced during the manufacturing process of products that eventually end up as landfill waste?
44%
What significant event in history was triggered by littering food and solid waste in medieval times?
The Bubonic Plague epidemic
How many human diseases have been linked to improper waste management according to the text?
22
When did society come to realize the need for solid waste management to control diseases spread by vectors like rodents and flies?
In the 19th century
What is the most effective strategy to mitigate waste disposal problems?
Source Reduction
Why is landfilling the least preferred method for waste management?
It leads to increased toxicity of waste
Which organization in Canada provides a policy framework and basic funding for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management?
Canadian Council of the Ministers of the Environment (CCME)
Which legislation mandates which substances and components can and cannot be used in products in Canada?
Canadian Environmental Protection Act (1999)
What does Waste Transformation involve?
Physical, chemical, and biological alteration of waste to reduce landfill use
What is the shared responsibility for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management in Canada?
Federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal governments
Study Notes
New York City's Waste Management
- New York City spends $2 billion annually on municipal solid waste (MSW) management
- $300 million of this is spent on transporting trash to out-of-state landfills, equivalent to 12,000 tons of trash per day or 62 Boeing 747s
Global Impact of Waste Generation
- 44% of the world's greenhouse gases are generated from manufacturing products that eventually end up in landfills
- Solid waste includes non-hazardous refuse from domestic, industrial, commercial, or institutional sources
History of Solid Waste Management
- In primitive societies, waste disposal was not a problem due to small populations
- Waste disposal became a problem when humans started congregating in villages, cities, and tribes
- Littering in medieval times led to the breeding of rats and the bubonic plague epidemic in the 14th century
- In the 19th century, society realized that solid waste needs management to control rodents and flies as vectors for diseases
- Improper solid waste management can result in pollution of air and water
Waste Generation in a Technological Society
- The Industrial Revolution marked the beginning of solid waste disposal problems
- The first urban sanitary act was passed in the UK in 1888, and in the US in 1899
- Waste is generated in every process step that turns raw materials into a product
- The best way to decrease waste is to limit the consumption of raw materials and increase the rate of recovery and reuse of waste materials
Waste Management Strategies
- Source Reduction: reducing the amount or toxicity of waste generated
- Recycling: separation of materials for reuse, reprocessing, and remanufacturing
- Waste Transformation: physical, chemical, and biological alteration of waste to reduce landfill use
- Landfilling: the most common and least preferred method for waste management
Integrated Solid Waste Management
- Integrated Solid Waste Management involves selecting and applying suitable techniques, technologies, and management programs to achieve specific waste management objectives
Legislative Background of Municipal Solid Waste Management in Canada
- MSW management in Canada is a shared responsibility between federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal governments
- The federal government provides policy framework and basic funding through the Canadian Council of the Ministers of the Environment (CCME)
- CCME was established in 1964 and comprises environment ministers from federal, provincial, and territorial governments
- Relevant federal legislations include the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (1999), Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act (1992), and Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (2012)
- Waste management in Canada is primarily regulated at the provincial level
Learn about the environmental pollution caused by improper solid waste management, including contamination of air and water sources. Explore the historical perspective of waste generation issues since the Industrial Revolution.
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