Municipal Solid Waste and Sustainable Urban Growth: An Environmental Science Review | Study notes Environmental Science

ENVR 1301, Review Sheet: Module 4 Exam

Review Sheet: Module 4 Exam

Exam Content

The Module 4 Exam will test your understanding of the content presented in Lectures 13-16 and addressed in related

Assignments 10-12 during Weeks 10-12 of the course. To prepare for the exam, please review the definitions and

information in the lecture slides for Lectures 13-16 and the topics addressed in Assignments 10-12. This review sheet

and the “Check for Understanding” questions embedded in the lecture slides serve as study guides.

Exam Format

You will have one 90-minute attempt to complete the Module 4 Exam in Blackboard using Respondus Lockdown

Browser. You will complete the exam independently (WITHOUT consulting others and WITHOUT using the textbook,

lecture slides, notes, or online sources of information). The Module 4 Exam is worth 150 points (15% of the course

grade) and will consist of 25 questions in the form of: multiple choice, matching, and fill-in-the-blank (with a word bank)

questions, as well as one short-answer question.

List of Important Terms

List of Important Figures and Tables

Figures: 17.2, 17.3, 17.5, 17.8, 17.10, Chapter 18 Science Box 2, 18.12, 18.9a

Tables: 17.2, 18.1, 5.1, and 1.7

Lecture 13: Problem of Consumption and Waste

Municipal Solid Waste Characteristics

● Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is composed of materials like paper, food and yard wastes, plastics, metals, glass, etc.

that we dispose of as trash, composting, and recycling. MSW does NOT include hazardous waste or industrial waste.

● High-income countries consume more resources and generate MORE municipal solid waste (per capita) than lower-

income countries.

● As developing countries develop economically and increase their consumption, they will experience an increase in

total municipal solid waste generation in the coming years.

● We generate a lot of waste. In the U.S. in 1960, we produced 2.7 lbs/person/day. In the U.S. in 2010, we produced

4.4 lbs/person/day.

● The total MSW generation in the U.S. increased for several decades in the late 20th century, until ~2005, after

which, the rate leveled-off.

● The U.S. per-capita daily waste generation rate increased between 1960-1990, but has since leveled off and even

slightly decreased in the last couple of decades.

Waste Disposal Methods

Lecture 13

Lecture 14

Lecture 15

Lecture 16

municipal solid waste

leachate

subsidence

sanitary landfill

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

combustion

composting

source reduction

integrated waste management

urbanization

urban sprawl

exurbs

exurb migration

urban blight

Urban Heat-Island Effect

Smart Growth

infilling

redevelopment

brownfield

sustainability

stewardship

intergenerationa

l equity

intragenerational

equity

external costs

environmental

injustice

no new terms

Partial preview of the text

Download Municipal Solid Waste and Sustainable Urban Growth: An Environmental Science Review and more Study notes Environmental Science in PDF only on Docsity!

Review Sheet: Module 4 Exam Exam Content The Module 4 Exam will test your understanding of the content presented in Lectures 13-16 and addressed in related Assignments 10-12 during Weeks 10-12 of the course. To prepare for the exam, please review the definitions and information in the lecture slides for Lectures 13-16 and the topics addressed in Assignments 10-12. This review sheet and the “Check for Understanding” questions embedded in the lecture slides serve as study guides.

Exam Format You will have one 90-minute attempt to complete the Module 4 Exam in Blackboard using Respondus Lockdown Browser. You will complete the exam independently (WITHOUT consulting others and WITHOUT using the textbook, lecture slides, notes, or online sources of information). The Module 4 Exam is worth 150 points (15% of the course grade) and will consist of 25 questions in the form of: multiple choice, matching, and fill-in-the-blank (with a word bank) questions, as well as one short-answer question.

List of Important Terms

List of Important Figures and Tables

Figures: 17.2, 17.3, 17.5, 17.8, 17.10, Chapter 18 Science Box 2, 18.12, 18.9a

Tables: 17.2, 18.1, 5.1, and 1.

Lecture 13: Problem of Consumption and Waste Municipal Solid Waste Characteristics ● Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is composed of materials like paper, food and yard wastes, plastics, metals, glass, etc. that we dispose of as trash, composting, and recycling. MSW does NOT include hazardous waste or industrial waste. ● High-income countries consume more resources and generate MORE municipal solid waste (per capita) than lower- income countries. ● As developing countries develop economically and increase their consumption, they will experience an increase in total municipal solid waste generation in the coming years. ● We generate a lot of waste. In the U.S. in 1960, we produced 2.7 lbs/person/day. In the U.S. in 2010, we produced 4.4 lbs/person/day. ● The total MSW generation in the U.S. increased for several decades in the late 20th century, until ~2005, after which, the rate leveled-off. ● The U.S. per-capita daily waste generation rate increased between 1960-1990, but has since leveled off and even slightly decreased in the last couple of decades. Waste Disposal Methods

Lecture 13 Lecture 14 Lecture 15 Lecture 16 municipal solid waste leachate subsidence sanitary landfill Resource Conservation and Recovery Act combustion composting source reduction integrated waste management

urbanization

urban sprawl exurbs exurb migration urban blight Urban Heat-Island Effect Smart Growth infilling redevelopment brownfield

sustainability stewardship intergenerationa l equity intragenerational equity external costs

environmental

injustice

no new terms

In the U.S., around HALF of U.S. municipal solid waste ends up being disposed of in landfills. However, landfills can contribute to many environmental problems, like: ○ Landfills release gasses, debris, and odors which pollute the air. ○ Landfills generate leachates , which can lead to groundwater and surface water contamination, which can then be transferred to soil and plants. ○ Landfills emit biogas (which is mainly methane , a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change). ○ Landfill wastes break down and compact, which causes subsidence of the land’s surface. ○ Landfill waste and odors can attract pests, like birds, which can pose a hazard to air traffic. ○ Modern ‘sanitary’ landfill requirements (set by the Resource Conservation Recovery Act of 1976), help minimize environmental consequences of landfills. For example, modern “sanitary” landfills must be: ■ Located high above the water table to reduce groundwater contamination. ■ Located away from airports to minimize aviation hazards of pests. ■ Covered daily to prevent release of debris from the surface. ■ Lined with plastic and clay to prevent leakage of leachates. ■ Shaped as a pyramid to shed water and minimize its contact with waste. ■ Use a leachate collection system to collect and evaporate leachate. ■ Use monitoring wells to detect groundwater contamination. ● Some advantages of landfills include: ○ Landfills help contain waste and minimize pollution. ○ Renewable electricity can be generated from the landfill methane (biogas). ○ When a landfill closes, the land can be redeveloped as greenspace. ● Some disadvantages of landfills include: ○ Landfills emit biogas (which is mainly methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change). ○ Landfills contribute to the environmental problems of water pollution and air pollution. ○ Landfills encourage consumption (by hiding the huge volumes of waste we produce underground. ○ Landfill siting leads to NIMBY attitudes and environmental injustices. ○ Landfills can promote “outsourcing” wastes to other counties, states, or countries. ○ Closed landfill sites have limited land-uses due to subsidence, leachates, etc.
About 12% of MSW in the U.S. is disposed of by combustion (incineration). Combustion is the process of burning (incinerating) waste at high temperature. At a municipal solid waste combustion facility, 1) waste is shredded to smaller pieces, 2) magnets can remove recyclable metals, 3) remaining shredded trash is burned, and 4) the heat is used to boil water to steam and generate electricity using a turbo-generator. Air pollutants like particulates are reduced by capturing ash with precipitators. The final combustion products and trash residues are isolated for ultimate disposal in a secure landfill that receives hazardous waste materials. Disposing of MSW by combustion has both advantages and disadvantages. ● Some advantages of combustion include: ○ It reduces the volume of trash (by 90%)! ○ It concentrates toxic substances for more controlled disposal. ○ It does NOT require a lifestyle change (people still place trash out for curbside pick-up). ○ It allows for the recovery of some resources for recycling. ○ It can be used to produce electricity from waste. ● Some disadvantages of combustion include: ○ It produces air pollution. ○ Siting new combustion facilities can be difficult (i.e., NIMBY). ○ It also requires secure disposal of concentrated, more toxic/hazardous ash.

Municipal Solid Waste and Sustainable Urban Growth: An Environmental Science Review, Study notes of Environmental Science

Related documents

Partial preview of the text

Download Municipal Solid Waste and Sustainable Urban Growth: An Environmental Science Review and more Study notes Environmental Science in PDF only on Docsity!

Figures: 17.2, 17.3, 17.5, 17.8, 17.10, Chapter 18 Science Box 2, 18.12, 18.9a

urbanization

environmental

injustice

Consequences of Urban Sprawl

● Several problems can result from urbanization.

○ Rapid and unplanned urban growth can lead to the problem of urban sprawl. Urban Sprawl is

characterized by urban areas that:

■ have a city perimeter that expands into rural areas

■ are connected by many multi-lane highways

■ have development that is occurring with little or no long-term planning

■ have growth that is only limited by the availability of land.

○ Urban sprawl originated in the U.S. in the 1950’s. After WWII, the U.S. experienced a “Baby Boom”

that led to a population increase. Private car ownership also increased. Many people were in pursuit

of the “American Dream” (a single-family home out in the suburbs).

○ Highways from the city center out to the suburbs were built to enable a suburban lifestyle. This led to

a Cycle of Sprawl (see diagram), where:

■ More cars led to more gas tax, which funded more highways, enabling more to move to suburbs,

which then contributes more to the gas tax highway funds and more roads are built to even

farther communities in the “exurbs”.

● Some of the social consequences of sprawl include: an increase in vehicle ownership and miles traveled

(commute distances), an increase in risk of traffic fatalities, a decrease in use of mass transit, no

improvement in traffic congestion or commute times, an increase in costs to taxpayers to expand

municipal services, an increase in incidences of obesity and high blood pressure.

● Urban “Sprawl Scores” are given to cities based on a number of factors like:

○ Density of residential and commercial development.

○ Mix of stores, homes, and workplaces.

○ Accessibility of street networks.

○ Strength of activity centers / downtown.

● By some measures, the most sprawling metropolitan area in the U.S. is Riverside/San-Bernardino, CA (near

Los Angeles).

● Urban sprawl also leads to the problem of exurb migration , which can cause:

○ a decrease in property values (and tax base) in the city center and a decrease in city services (i.e.,

infrastructure maintenance, policing).

○ a decrease in business / high-paying jobs in the city center.

○ economic and ethnic segregation.

○ urban blight.

● Urban sprawl results in environmental problems as well as social problems. Urban Sprawl can lead to

environmental consequences like:

○ a decrease in areas of continuous, complex habitat, which contributes to biodiversity loss.

○ unsustainable uses of energy, water, and land resources.

○ a decrease in infiltration of precipitation and an increase in surface water run-off, flooding, and water

pollution (due to increased impervious cover).

○ an increase in air and water pollution, which degrades air and water quality.

○ an increase in emissions of greenhouse gasses, which contributes to climate change.

○ an increase in urban-area temperatures due to the Urban Heat-Island Effect, which magnifies the

consequences of climate change.

Sustainable Cities

● Sustainable cities will find innovative ways to meet food, water, and energy needs, manage wastes, and

provide people with a variety of work, housing, and transportation options, WHILE balancing

environmental, economic, and social concerns.

● Sustainable urban growth implements Smart Growth principles that balance social, environmental, and

economic concerns. Some characteristics of smart growth include:

1) Livable Communities

o Provides a variety of housing options and affordability.

o Designs compact, high-density communities.

o Uses zoning policies to allow for and encourage mixed land-uses.

o Promotes safe and healthy communities with a variety of services and cultural, recreational, and

employment opportunities.

2) Sustainable Land-use

o Preserves open, green space.

o Sets boundaries on urban expansion.

o New development occurs by infilling between and/or re-developing existing space. Brownfields

are a specific type of redevelopment, where sites with previous environmental impact are re-

developed for a new use (after clean-up and remediation of the site).

3) Promotes Transportation Mobility

o Provides a variety of transportation options, mass transit, and multiple, connected routes (see

diagram at top-right).

● It is important for cities to not only provide a variety of transportation options (including mass

transit), but also to encourage the efficient use of mass transit. Assuming peak ridership, bus

and commuter rail and light rail mass transit options are the most energy efficient modes of

urban transportation.

o Encourages pedestrian and bicycle transit.

4) Minimizes Impact on Natural Resources and Environment

o Preserves open, green space.

o Conserves water and energy resources.