Solid Waste Management PDF

Page 3: Introduction to Solid Waste Definition: Solid waste accumulates at the site of production. Categorization: Based on the economic sector responsible for the waste. Page 4: Types of Solid Waste 1. Mining Waste Generated in three ways: ○ Surface waste mat...

Page 3: Introduction to Solid Waste Definition: Solid waste accumulates at the site of production. Categorization: Based on the economic sector responsible for the waste. Page 4: Types of Solid Waste 1. Mining Waste Generated in three ways: ○ Surface waste material left behind. ○ Milling tailings dumped or stored in ponds. ○ Drainage may contain hazardous materials. 2. Agricultural Waste Includes waste from livestock and crop harvesting. 90% is repurposed as fertilizer. Page 5: Additional Types of Solid Waste 3. Industrial Solid Waste Consists of waste from non-mining industrial processes. Estimated production: 200-600 million metric tons annually. ○ Includes demolition waste, sludge, and combustion ash. 4. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Comprises unwanted materials discarded by people. Annual production: 210 million metric tons. Page 6: Understanding Municipal Solid Waste Items discarded include broken or worn-out products. Temporary-use products (magazines, bottles) generate most of the waste. Page 7: U.S. Municipal Solid Waste Statistics Annual generation: 230 million metric tons MSW. Per capita waste: 2 kg (4.4 lbs) daily; has increased 70% since 1960. Page 8: Municipal Solid Waste Generation Rates Graph depicting total and net generation of MSW per capita over years. Page 9: Waste Generation Based on Living Standards Higher living standards correlate with increased per capita waste.  Metropolitan areas face major solid waste management challenges. Page 10: Waste Generation and Lifestyle Comparison of per capita waste generated by developed and developing countries. Page 11: Changes in Solid Waste (1960-2012) Overview of changes in solid waste composition over the years. Page 12: Composition of U.S. Trash (2011) Breakdown of waste components in the U.S. as of 2011. Page 13: Historical Waste Disposal Methods Traditional method: Dumping solid waste outside city limits, often burned. Continued use in remote areas. Page 14: Modern Waste Disposal Techniques Five key techniques: 1. Landfills 2. Incineration 3. Source reduction 4. Composting 5. Recycling Page 15: Landfills Municipal landfill structure includes impermeable clay layer and membranes. Mechanisms for managing liquid/gas outputs. Pros: Cost-effective; Cons: Environmental concerns due to poor design. Page 16: Landfill Management Visual representation of landfill management practices. Page 17: Reducing Landfills Decrease in the number of landfills in the U.S. over time. Page 18: Incineration Process Incineration: Controlled burning of refuse. Currently, 12% of U.S. municipal solid waste is incinerated. Heat is captured to produce electricity, offsetting disposal costs. Page 19: Effects of Incineration  Reduces waste: 90% by volume and 75% by weight. Risks include air quality issues and concentrated toxic ash. Page 20: Challenges of Incineration Despite regulation, pollutants can still be released. Construction costs for new incinerators range from $50-$400 million. Page 21: EPA Stance on Incineration U.S. EPA is skeptical of new waste-to-energy facilities; prefers recycling. Page 22: Source Reduction Definition: Prevent waste generation at the source. Focus on designing, purchasing, and using materials wisely. Page 23: Practicing Source Reduction Design changes reduce packaging waste significantly (e.g., soft drink bottles). Efficiency enhancements in manufacturing processes. Page 24: Avoiding Waste Generation Recommendations: ○ Reduce hazardous material usage. ○ Reuse items to delay entry to waste stream. Page 25: Economic Incentives for Waste Reduction Businesses benefit economically from minimizing waste, which reduces disposal costs and pollution. Page 26: Composting Utilizes natural decomposition processes for organic waste. Can be implemented on a small scale (backyard composting). Page 27: Yard Waste in Composting Benefits of composting yard waste through visual aids. Page 28: Current Composting Facilities Approximately 3,800 facilities operate in the U.S. Common methods include windrow systems, aerated piles, and enclosed vessels. Page 29: Recycling Overview  Recycling, including composting, accounted for 35% of the solid waste stream diverted in 2011. Page 30: Beverage Container Deposit-Refund Programs Economic incentives to return beverage containers; significant increase in disposal rates. Page 31: Bottle Bills Laws provide high recycling rates in certain U.S. states compared to the national average. Page 32: Mandatory Recycling Laws Laws require waste separation by residents and businesses, leading to higher recycling rates. Page 33: Historical Recycling Rates Graph illustrating percentage of waste recycled from 1960-2012. Specific material recycling rates (2012). Page 34: Curbside Recycling Programs Significant increase in curbside recycling programs serving the U.S. population from 1990 to 2011. Page 35: Innovative Recycling Initiatives Recycle Bank as a success story; incentivizes recycling through points redeemable for goods. Page 36: Recycling Challenges Technical issues with the diversity of recyclable plastics. Page 37: Environmental Impact of Plastics Issues with plastic bags impacting marine life and environment. Page 38: Increasing Plastic Waste Graph depicting the rising plastic proportion in trash over the decades. Page 39: Global Disposal Methods Comparison of municipal solid waste disposal methods in various countries. Page 40: Changes in Waste Disposal Methods Over Time Graph illustrating the shift in waste disposal methods from 1960 to 2012.