Waste Management Overview - ENH524

Waste Management Overview

• Course: ENH524 - Pollution and Waste Management
• Institution: Toronto Metropolitan University, School of Occupational and Public Health

Midterm Results

• Midterms are viewable after make-up exams (if applicable)
• Currently only the grade is visible
• Once open, only questions answered incorrectly will be shown

Causes of Land Pollution

• Deforestation and soil erosion
• Agricultural activities (fertilizers, pesticides)
• Mining activities
• Landfills/improper waste disposal
• Industrialization
• Nuclear waste
• Sewage treatment

Waste Classification

• Combustible
• Sewage (municipal)
• Solid (municipal)
• Hazardous

Improper Waste Disposal Impacts

• Adverse effects on the environment
• Adverse effects on human health

Health Concerns from Waste

• Infectious diseases from poorly managed waste
• Contamination of drinking water
• Gas migration and leachate discharges from landfills
• Emissions of air pollutants from incinerators
• Contamination of food by waste chemicals

Exposures from Landfills

• Gas production and volatization
• Dust contact
• Surface runoff
• Contaminated soils
• Leaching and infiltration
• Contaminated groundwater
• Residential use
• Drinking and recreational water use
• Contaminated sediments

Hazardous Waste Characteristics

• Threat to human health and environment if improperly managed
• Includes materials from manufacturing/specialized industries
• Biomedical wastes
• Photo-finishing chemicals
• Pesticides
• Asbestos
• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
• Motor oil
• Unused cleaning products
• Discarded batteries ("e-waste")
• Radioactive materials

Hazardous Waste Regulations

• Regulated federally under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (1999)
• Regulates transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and recyclable materials
• In Ontario, governed by the Environmental Protection Act and Regulation 347
• Hazardous waste generators, carriers, and receivers must register with the Hazardous Waste Information Network
• All off-site movement of hazardous waste and liquid industrial waste is tracked using a manifest

E-Waste

• Equipment dependent on electrical currents or electromagnetic fields
• Includes persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and toxins (lead, chromium, cadmium, mercury)
• Potential health consequences:
  • Thyroid function change
  • Gene expression changes
  • DNA damage
  • Decreased lung function
  • Mental health effects
  • Reproductive effects

Example of Waste Management Practices (Toronto)

• Acceptable e-waste items (e.g., electronics, computers)
• Unacceptable e-waste items (e.g., batteries, ink cartridges)
• Methods of disposal: garbage day, drop-off depots, community events, donation

Toxic E-Waste and Developing Countries

• Millions of tonnes of old electronics illegally exported.
• Often dumped in developing countries

Solid Waste Management Approach

• Multi-tiered approach prioritized actions:
  • Waste Reduction
  • Proper Handling and Disposal
  • Source reduction
  • Reuse of materials
  • Recycling of materials
  • Emission controls
  • Proper waste disposal
  • Cleanup of wastes and spills

Recycling and Composting

• Recycling: diverting materials (glass, metal, plastic, paper) from waste, remanufacturing into new products, or using raw material substitutes
• Composting: breaking down organic materials into simpler substances (bacteria, fungi) to create a stable, humus-like product ("compost")

Not In My Backyard (NIMBY)

• Residents' opposition to local development projects, often due to proximity.
• Often linked to environmental justice concerns

Toronto Trash Issues

• Concerns over locating a new landfill in neighboring communities
• Importance of diverting waste

Canada's Waste Problem (Video Links)

• Provided YouTube video links

Landfill vs. Incinerators

• Need for waste diversion before 2029 due to landfill capacity concerns.

Landfills (Traditional and Modern)

• Traditional landfills: open pits, soil cover, poor biodegradation, health risks
• Sanitary landfills: carefully selected sites, leachate and gas control, daily management, declining number of landfills, most common waste disposal method
• Modern landfills: layered design, gas recovery, leachate treatment, monitoring and collection

Incineration

• Controlled combustion of waste
• Initial ignition in a primary chamber, followed by volatile oxidation in a secondary chamber
• Process control requirements:
  • High temperature (750-1200°C)
  • Sufficient heating time (30-90 minutes)
  • Proper mixing/turbulence
• Combustible air (oxygen) needed

Incineration Advantages and Disadvantages

• Advantages: reduced solid waste volume, low greenhouse emissions compared to landfills, energy recovery
• Disadvantages: expensive to build and operate, some toxic chemical emissions, potential for waste production incentives, not suitable for all wastes

Pyrolysis and Plasma Gasification

• Pyrolysis: thermal decomposition in the absence of oxygen. Produces syngas (fuels), char, and ash.
• Gasification: thermal decomposition at high temperatures (480-1650°C) with little oxygen. Converts waste char into syngas, produces non-hazardous glass-like material (slag).
• Benefits include waste diversion, reduced emissions, energy/fuel production, and chemical production

Alberta Plasma Gasification

• Request for plasma gasification technologies to turn garbage into fuel (rural Alberta project)

Durham York Energy Centre

• Waste-to-energy incineration facility (Clarington, ON)
• Processes 140,000 tonnes of household garbage annually

Future of Waste Management

• Data-driven waste management using sensors for optimization.
• Growing trend of reducing food waste due to regulations in some Canadian cities.
• Installing sensors in waste and recycling containers to gather data.

Canada's Zero Plastic Waste Agenda

• Federal, provincial and territorial initiatives to reduce plastic waste
• Phase 1 (2019) actions to improve plastic waste circularity
• Phase 2 (2020) actions to reduce plastic pollution and raise global awareness

Single-Use Plastics

• Environment and Climate Change Canada's prohibitions on the sale of single-use plastics
• Prohibition of plastic checkout bags, cutlery, food serviceware, stir sticks, and straws in Canada
• Companies are given time to adapt to the new regulations.

On-going Legal Issues

• Federal Court of Appeal's stay motion on November 16, 2023 ruling, halting the implementation of the single-use plastics prohibition until an appeal is decided.

Textiles and Clothing

• Issue of green-washing (how much recycled material in clothing items)
• Limited recycling of textile waste
• Recycled polyester often made from plastic bottles

What Happens to Your Textiles (Video links provided)

This quiz covers essential topics in Waste Management as part of the ENH524 course at Toronto Metropolitan University. It explores causes of land pollution, waste classification, and the health impacts of improper waste disposal. Test your understanding of these critical environmental issues.