Download Managing Solid Waste: Disposal, Recycling, and Composting - Prof. Neil Johnson and more Study notes Geology in PDF only on Docsity!
Lecture 4-26-11 04/26/
Managing Solid Waste: -how do we get rid of it trash it dumps, landfills, or burning it -use it again literal re-use in a new form (recycling/composting) Where do the wastes come from? Industry and non-recyclable stuff What have we been doing? U.S. likes the landfills But other countries like Denmark (largest recycler) and Austria is (largest composter) and Switzerland does the largest amount of incineration Solid Waste Disposal: Originally just hauled away Dropped in a convenient, semi-remote location Hence the term “dump”
-over time sanitary landfills evolved gradually increasing regulations old dumps and early landfills still around Modern Sanitary Landfills: -driving concept: waste isolation what’s inside in and what’s outside out -construction impermeable seals below and above -operation daily deposits buried with soil creates cellular structure -the Leachate (trash juice) removed and treated monitor groundwater Landfill Problems: -waste isolation prevents decomposition waste will never disappear
-old, sealed landfills are not entirely stable surfaces subside as contents compact (function of time) -operations are costly expense resisted in some (often rural) areas roadside dumping Incineration: -burning minimized volume extensive past use; now mostly hazardous waste high temperature destruction difficult engineering in practice (can disperse heavy metals) Recycling: -using waste as a resource glass, metals, plastics, paper -not a new or radical idea industries have always recycled internally process scraps -what is new is recycling by the public
product end-user recycling sharply increased over the last 30 years End-User Recycling: -a relatively new idea -pre-1960, many end-user products were reusable diapers, soft-drinks and milk bottles -1960s and 1970s, products/packaging became disposable disposable mentality for convenience -past 1970, end-users exhorted, then compelled to recycle glass and paper, then metals, then plastics Recycling Types: Pre-Disposal -end-user sorts waste separate containers for each easier for waste processor inconvenient for end-users permits detail in processing (mistakes limit usability)
-recycled materials can be inferior or only for lower quality usage paper can only be recycled a few time plastics usually go to lower grade uses -extra labor associated with processing can raise prices above those of virgin materials Composting: -organic waste destruction much like a septic tank pile up wastes like vegetable scraps and yard waste produces heat and fertilizer during decomposition -Both small and large scale homes and businesses greenwaste centers in cities Hazardous Waste Disposal: Toxic hazards Lead, mercury, etc. Pesticides, solvents, process chemicals Radioactive materials
-require special precautions to isolate Where is This? Love Canal -built in 1892 to divert water from Lake Erie for hydroelectric power named for its developer, James Love used for recreation until 1940s -purchased by Hooker Chemical used as a chemical dump filled, sealed by clay, fenced off -In 1953, local school board demands property sell to us or we will take it sold for $1.00 and contract stipulates hazard -In 1960s the Hooker company was sold to Occidental Petroleum school board sells excess land to developers memories of dump site were lost -Mid 1970’s – waste begins to surface has begun to enter yards and homes tests reveal dump presence Superfund: Response to Love Canal -officially CERCLA -developed in 1980 creates list of hazardous sites pays for cleanup when no one else can paid by company fees
