Lecture 5 - 2024 Waste Management PDF

Waste Management ENH524-Pollution and Waste Management School of Occupational and Public Health Toronto Metropolitan University  Midterm Results I will open your midterms for viewing but not until after make-ups (if needed) have been completed! For now all you...

Waste Management ENH524-Pollution and Waste Management School of Occupational and Public Health Toronto Metropolitan University  Midterm Results I will open your midterms for viewing but not until after make-ups (if needed) have been completed! For now all you can see is your grade Once open, you will ONLY see questions you got wrong.  Causes of Land Pollution Deforestation and soil erosion Agricultural activities (fertilizers, pesticides) Mining activities Landfills/improper waste disposal Industrialization Nuclear waste Sewage treatment  Waste Management The industrialization and modernization of society has resulted in significant waste production and need for waste management Waste can be classified as: – Combustible – Sewage – Solid (municipal) – Hazardous Improper disposal of wastes can have adverse effects on the environment and 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 that escape into the environment Exposures from Landfill Source: South West Public Health Observatory, 2002  Hazardous Waste Includes wastes that may pose a threat to human health or the environment if improperly stored, transported, treated or disposed of: – Materials from manufacturing / specialized industries – Biomedical wastes – Photo-finishing chemicals – Waste pesticides – Asbestos – Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) – Motor oil – Unused cleaning products from homes – Discarded batteries and “e-waste” – Radioactive materials  Hazardous Waste Is regulated federally under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, and regulations – Regulates transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and hazardous recyclable materials In Ontario, hazardous waste is governed by the Environmental Protection Act and Regulation 347 – Hazardous waste generators, carriers, and receivers must register with Hazardous Waste Information Network – All off-site movement of hazardous waste and liquid industrial waste is tracked using a manifest  E-Waste Refers to equipment which is dependent on electrical currents or electromagnetic fields to function Can include exposure to: – Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and various other toxins (e.g. lead, chromium, cadmium, mercury) Exposure can cause: – Change in thyroid function – Changes in gene expression – DNA damage – Decreased lung function – Mental health effects – Reproductive effects  Example: Toronto Electronic items can be put out on garbage day, brought to a Drop-off Depot or Community Environment Day, or donated Acceptable e-waste items: Unacceptable e-waste items:  Dark side of E-waste recycling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vufLW4 xOsS4  Solid Waste Management Should be accomplished through a multi-tiered approach: Source Waste reduction Reduction Reuse of materials Recycling of materials Proper Emission controls Handling and Proper waste disposal Disposal Cleanup of wastes and spills  Recycling and Composting Recycling: Process where materials such as glass, metal, plastic or paper are diverted from the waste stream and remanufactured into new products or used as raw material substitutes Composting: Process in which organic material is broken down into simpler substances by microorganisms (e.g. bacteria, fungi) Product is stable, humus-like product called “compost” Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY) Characterization of opposition by residents to a proposed development in their local area. It often carries the connotation that such residents are only opposing the development because it is close to them, and that they would tolerate or support it if it were built farther away (Wikipedia). Environmental justice: The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies. Class Discussion: Can NIMBY be considered within the context of environmental justice? Video: http://globalnews.ca/news/2551110/mayor-of-ingersoll-doesnt-want-torontos-toxic- trash-in-his-towns-backyard/  Canada’s Waste Problem https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM8BM XCWwv4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvFBrGU dyaI http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/03/12/landfill_or_incinerator_whats_the_future_o f_torontos_trash.html  Landfills Solid waste was previously dumped into open pits and covered with soil Led to improper biodegradation, with environmental and health risks Waste is now disposed of in sanitary landfills – Require careful site selection and preparation – Must prevent leachate and control gases (e.g. methane) – Appropriate daily management and operation Landfill numbers are decreasing, from increases in recycling and decommissioning of older, smaller sites – Is still most common method of waste disposal in Canada  Old-Style Landfill Leachate Source: Brusseau et al., 2006 Modern Sanitary Landfill  Landfills Video Tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA608GJ- EzM&nohtml5=False  Incineration Refers to the the controlled combustion of a waste – Ignition and preliminary combustion take place in a primary chamber – Volatile products from the primary chamber are oxidized to completion in a secondary chamber Process depends on control of: – Temperature to oxidize contaminants (750-1200°C) – Time of heating (30-90 min for solid waste) – Turbulence, or mixing, of waste materials to allow for proper oxidization Combustible air (oxygen) is also needed Incineration  Incineration Advantages Disadvantages Can reduce solid wastes Expensive to build and to 5-10% of their original operate volume, and 25% of their Emits small amounts of original weight toxic chemicals and produces ash residues Generates less Cannot be used with greenhouse gases than wastes that have high landfills concentrations of water Energy can be recovered and non-combustible solids (waste-to-energy) Incentivizes waste production instead of reuse and recycling  Pyrolysis and Plasma Gasification Pyrolysis = thermal decomposition of waste in the absence of oxygen (at 200-760°C) – Transforms waste into “syngas”, small quantities of liquid, carbon char and ash – Syngas = made of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and other hydrocarbons; used as fuel source and to produce other chemicals Gasification = thermal decomposition (at 480-1650°C) of waste with very little air or oxygen – Carbon char that would remain from pyrolysis is converted to additional syngas – Also produces slag = non-hazardous glass-like material Benefits include waste diversion, less emissions than alternatives, and production of energy, fuel, and chemicals  Durham York Energy Centre Waste-to-energy incineration facility opened in Clarington, ON, in 2015 and can process 140,000 tonnes of household garbage annually Digital Tour: https://www.youvisit.com/tour/covanta/ https://www.durhamyorkwaste.ca  Future of Waste Management Data is revolutionizing waste management. Thanks to sensors and other new data sources, companies can access more information than ever about their waste and recycling activities. Another emerging trend is that companies are increasingly focusing on monitoring and reducing food waste. Many businesses are taking action because a growing number of Canadian cities prohibit businesses from putting food waste in the garbage.  Future of Waste Management Businesses are increasingly installing sensors in waste and recycling containers to get better data on their waste management, optimize service levels and reduce their carbon footprint. Sensors can remotely tell you how full bins are and when they were picked up.  Canada’s Zero Plastic Waste Agenda https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate- change/services/managing-reducing-waste/reduce-plastic- waste/canada-action.html The federal, provincial and territorial governments adopted a Canada-wide Action Plan on Zero Plastic Waste to implement the Strategy. The Plan, developed in two phases, sets out tangible actions and clear timelines to better prevent, reduce, reuse, recover, capture and clean up plastic waste and pollution in Canada. Phase 1 of the Action Plan (2019) identifies actions to improve the circularity of plastics in the economy and make the systems change needed to reduce plastic waste. Phase 2 of the Action Plan (2020) outlines actions to reduce plastic pollution, raise awareness, strengthen science and take global action.  Single-Use Plastics Environment and Climate Change Canada's Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations will prohibit the sale of plastic checkout bags, cutlery, food service ware, stir sticks and straws in Canada after December 20. Companies were given a period to adapt to these changes, with the announcement made in June 2022 An effort to achieve zero plastic waste by 2030 Only a limited number of products fall under the ban and some of the prohibitions don't kick in until 2025.  On-going Legal Issues On January 25, 2024, the Federal Court of Appeal granted a stay motion. The stay motion prevents the court ruling of November 16, 2023, from taking effect while the Government's appeal of the ruling, filed on December 8, 2023, is ongoing. The Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations remain in force. https://www.blg.com/en/insights/2024/02/a-second-chance- for-canadas-single-use-plastic-regulations  Textiles and Clothing Green-washing is an issue – how much of the material in your clothing item is actually recycled? “Experts say less than one per cent of the world's fashion waste is currently recycled in the truest sense of the word and almost all of the recycled polyester fashion brands use is made from old plastic bottles.”  What happens to your Textiles? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elU32X Nj8PM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAm0Pd 5frh4 (not shown in class – watch on your own!)