Landfill Reading Check

What is solid waste?

• Any discarded solid material

• Any solid material

• Any liquid material

• Any gaseous material

What makes some waste biodegradable?

• It can be broken down by biological processes.

• It can be broken down by fire.

• It's ability to compost itself.

• Plant and animal matter.

Which of the following are the four main types of solid waste?

• Paper, Yard waste, Glass, and Wood

• Municipal, Manufacturing, Mining, and Agricultural

• Paper, Food Waste, Yard waste, and Other

• Plastics, Paper, Metals, Glass

Plastic is __________________, because microorganisms have not yet evolved ways to break down the molecular structures of most plastics.

• nonbiodegradable

• biodegradable

• made of oil

• made of natural gas

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-3

Analyze Figure 3. Which statement below best describes the line graph.

• Total waste generation in the United States has more than doubled in the past 40 years. The waste generation per person has not doubled, but still has increased.

• Total waste generation in the world has more than doubled in the past 40 years. The waste generation per person has not doubled, but still has increased.

• Total waste generation in the United States has more than doubled in the past 40 years. The waste generation per person has also doubled, but both are decreasing.

• None of the choices describes this figure.

Analyze figure 5. Which type of solid waste is the largest percent by weight?

• Paper

• Plastic

• Yard Waste

• Food waste

What is the difference in recycling amounts from 1970 to present day?

• We recycle less solid waste.

• We recycle the same amount of solid waste.

• We recycle roughly 25% more today.

• We recycle roughly 90% more today.

How can leachate in a landfill affect drinking water in nearby wells?

• Leachate forms when when water seeps down through a landfill and collects dissolved chemicals from decomposing garbage.

• If a landfill is not monitored and functioning improperly the leachate can flow into groundwater.

• Leachate may contain chemicals from paints, pesticides, cleaners, cans, batteries, and appliances.

• Methane reacts with leachate causing explosions.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What law was passed in 1976 and updated in 1984 that required landfills to have an impermeable liner and ways to collect methane and leachate?

• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

• Endangered Species Act

• Solid Waste Disposal Act

• Environmental Protection Agency

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-2

Which of the following is a drawback to incineration?

• Release pollutant gases.

• Reduce the weight of waste by 75%

• Reduce the volume of waste that needs to be stored in the land fill.

• All of the choices are drawbacks.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-3