Solid Waste Management

Solid Waste Management

Environmental Science

Unit 10

​Watch the following video to review to topics related to solid waste management.

​types of waste

​Glass, metal, paper, faeces, plastic, food waste, toxic (hazardous) waste, e-waste

Landfills

• Landfills are well-engineered and managed facilities for the disposal of solid waste.

• They are located, designed, operated and monitored to ensure compliance with federal regulations.

• Landfills will eventually meet capacity and close. Once closed, they no
  longer accept trash
  and must be monitored for 30 years.

Leachate:

• The liquid that drains or 'leaches' from a landfill.

• It varies in composition regarding the age of the landfill and the type of waste that it contains.

• It usually contains both dissolved and suspended material.

Biodegradeable waste

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non biodegradable waste

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Multiple Select

The collection, transport, processing, recycling or disposal of waste materials.

• Reuse

• Recycle

• Hazardous

• Waste Mangement

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is one of the most common and abundant materials found in municipal waste

• paper

• plastic

• metal

• glass

Multiple Choice

Which of the following are problems associated with landfills?

• source reduction and composting

• surface improvement and leachate

• leachate and methane production

• all of the above

Multiple Choice

What is a leachate?

• gaseous substance

• liquid water

• liquid with dissolved chemicals from trash

• semi-solid

Multiple Choice

Why is leachate dangerous?

• It has toxic fumes

• It can leak into our water supply

• It can't be processed

Multiple Select

Wastes that can be broken down (decomposed) by microorganisms.

• Solid

• Biodegradable

• Non-biodegradable

• Hazardous

Drag and Drop

Select all the biodegradable materials you find in this list.

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egg shells

food leftovers

bones

cardboard

leaves

fabric

plastic bottles

metals

glass

magazine paper

Multiple Select

Any discarded item that cannot be broken down by living organisms.

• Hazardous

• Non-hazardous

• Non-biodegradable

• Biodegradable

Drag and Drop

Select all the non-biodegradable materials you find in this list.

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fabric

glass

plastic bottles

metals

magazine paper

banana peels

yard waste

food leftovers

egg shells

cardboard

Multiple Choice

Why are non-biodegradable plastics a problem in the environment?

• They do not decompose or break down naturally and cause landfill overflow

• They leak toxic chemicals

• They are filling up lakes and ponds

• They contain poisons for wildlife

Multiple Choice

What is the collection of materials that can be broken down and reprocessed to make new items?

• composting

• incineration

• leachate

• recycling 

Multiple Select

Choose all the benefits of a responsible recycling policy ...

• Uses less space in landfills

• Less need for extracting new mineral components or raw materials

• Less chance of environmental pollution

• More new devices can be manufactured

Hazardous materials

E-waste

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Hazardous waste

Anything with the terms flammable, poison, warning, corrosive, explosive, danger, pesticide, caustic, or acid. (Look on label for symbols).

Examples:

• Latex or oil-based paint and items containing
  mercury, such as fluorescent lights and thermostats are also considered hazardous waste.

• There are specific drop off locations for these wastes and they should never be placed in with the regular trash.

Hazardous waste

Improper disposal of these waste materials can:

• Pollute the environment

• Pose a threat to human health.

Household hazardous waste can cause:

• Physical injury to sanitation workers

• contaminate septic tanks or wastewater treatment systems if poured down drains or toilets.

• They can also present hazards to children and pets if left around the house. Never allow hazardous waste to enter into a storm drain.

Electronic Waste (E-waste)

In the U.S. it is estimated that about 3 million tons of e-waste are generated each year.

• This waste includes about 27 million units
  of televisions, 205 million units of computer
  products, and 140 million units of cell phones.

• Less than 15 - 20% of the e-waste is
  recycled or refurbished;

• e-waste constitutes less than 4% of
  total solid waste in the U.S

• However, with growth in technological advancements many electronic products are
  becoming obsolete quickly, thus increasing the
  production of e-waste at a very rapid rate.

Multiple Choice

In what category of waste do paint, household cleaners, medical waste, and solvents belong?

• hazardous

• compost

• municipal solid

• industrial

Multiple Choice

Define hazardous waste.

• trash that can be recycled

• electronics that produce toxic emissions to the air and soil

• waste that has substantial or potential threats to public health or the environment

Multiple Choice

What is e-waste?

• Discarded electronic appliances

• Discarded fruits and vegetables

• Old papers and magazines

• Recycled metals and aluminiums

Multiple Select

Why e-waste are dangerous?

• They release harmful gases

• Poison aquatic life

• Release toxic chemicals that damage the soil.

• Become a kind of fertilizer to soil

Multiple Select

What is the best way to dispose e-waste? (Choose all that apply)

• Use bin only for e-waste

• Send to e-waste recycling centre

• Put e-waste with domestic trash

• Dispose e-waste in metal bin

Multiple Choice

E-waste can be recycled to extract ____.

• gold and rare earth's valuable metals

• carbon compounds

• organic solids

• plastics

Multiple Choice

Where is the most e-waste generated from?

• USA

• Russia

• India

• China