Solid Waste Disposal the 3 Rs Big Ideas

Solid Waste Disposal & the 3 R’s

Big Ideas • Problem: We live in a single use, throw-away society that encourages the consumption • There is no “away” – Trash often does not stay put • Trash represents waste: – wasted resources, wasted energy, wasted land, wasted hours, wasted productivity • The best solution is prevention: – Preventing pollution is much safer & cheaper than trying to clean it up

Focus should be: Source Reduction • Source reduction (waste prevention) means consuming and throwing away less • You can: – Purchase durable, long-lasting goods – Seek products and packaging that are as free of toxins as possible – Avoid single use items • Saves resources • Saves money • Reduces pollution

Throw-a-way society • Only Humans produce waste other organisms can’t use • Until a society becomes relatively wealthy – Very little waste – 1900’s most material reused/recycled • junk/scrap dealers • After WWII – Cultural/Social changes – Disposable products became the norm – Planned Obsolescence • Products designed to be replaced • Increases consumption & waste

Material Flow Human Economy: Mostly linear Nature: Closed loop

• Solid waste: any unwanted or discarded material we produce that is not a liquid or gas. – Municipal solid waste (MSW): produced directly from homes & cities. (Mostly paper) 98% – Industrial solid waste: produced indirectly by industries that supply people with goods and services. 2% 50% • Manufacturing 15% • Agriculture 35% • Mining/Drilling/Raw material extraction • Hazardous (toxic) waste: threatens human health or the environment because it is toxic, chemically active, corrosive or flammable. focus on MSW, even though majority is industrial

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Waste collected by municipalities from – households, – small businesses, – institutions such as • schools, • prisons, • municipal buildings • hospitals.

• US leads the world in trash production – The US has 4. 5% of world’s population, but produces 1/3 of the world’s trash. – 4. 5 pounds person per day – 2 times as much as other industrialized nations – 5 – 10 times as much as developing countries • Two reasons to be concerned – ¾ represents unnecessary waste of earth’s finite resources – In producing the products we use and discard, we are creating huge amounts of • Air pollution • Water pollution • Land degradation • Solid and hazardous waste

Wasting Resources • What we throw away in our high waste economy – Enough aluminum to rebuild country’s commercial airline fleet every 3 months – Discarded carpet each year would cover Delaware – 27 million tons of edible food each year – Enough paper to build a wall 11 feet high across the entire country every year • Americans spend more money on: – trash bags than 90 other countries spend on everything they buy. – Lawn care than India collects in Federal taxes – Our military than Australia’s GPD

What Makes Up The Solid Waste Stream? MSW Biggest single category: Paper • 31% - paper • 33%- organic materials (yard waste, food scraps, wood) • 12%- plastic • 18%- durable goods (appliances, tires) 80% – 90% could be recycle, or composted

What Makes Up The Solid Waste Stream? Another way to look at MSW: By Source Biggest source: Containers & packaging

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle • Reduce- waste minimization or prevention – Source reduction • Reuse- reusing something like a disposable cup more than once • Recycle- materials are collected and converted into raw materials and then used to produce new objects

Where does MSW go? Landfills What we should be doing What we actually do (Landfills)

Dump versus a Landfill • Dump – an open site where waste was dumped in a pile. – Problems: attract pests of all kinds, create hazardous leachate, noxious smells – Dumps are illegal in the US • Landfill – an engineered system designed to dispose of waste in manner that protects public health and natural resources – Require extensive engineering systems to protect groundwater, prevent pest infestations and contain dust, odor and blowing trash.

Constructing a Landfill • http: //polaris. umuc. edu/cvu/envm/02 constr/constr. html • Basics: – Build Landfill: Dig big hole, line it, install leachate collection system – Add trash (daily load is called a cell), cover each day with layers of dirt and clay to minimize smell and rodents – Close Landfill: Install methane collection system, cap the landfill, install storm water runoff system and groundwater monitoring system – Designate for other uses: Park, nature reserve, golf course. • No buildings: ground is unstable and methane can build up in structures

When landfill is full, layers of soil and clay seal in trash Electricity generator building Sanitary Landfill: Methane storage and compressor building Topsoil Sand Leachate treatment system Clay Garbage Methane gas recovery Pipe collect explosive methane gas used as fuel to generate electricity Leachate storage tanks Compacted solid waste Groundwater monitoring well Leachate pipes Garbage Sand Synthetic liner Sand Clay Subsoil Leachate pumped up to storage tanks for safe disposal Groundwater Clay and plastic lining to prevent leaks; pipes collect leachate from bottom of landfill

Federal Landfill Standards set by RCRA • Location restrictions – Away from faults, wetlands, flood plains, or other restricted areas. • Composite liners requirements – Geomembrane (plastic) liner over 2 feet of compacted clay soil lining the bottom and sides • Leachate collection systems – On top of the liner (usually with sand for drainage) and removes leachate from the landfill for treatment and disposal. • Operating practices – Compacting and covering waste frequently with several inches of soil (daily cover) – Benefits: reduce odor, control litter, insects, and rodents and protect public health. • Closure and post-closure care – Include covering landfills and providing long-term care and monitoring of closed landfills. – Methane collection & monitoring – Groundwater monitoring • Requires testing groundwater to determine whether leachate has escaped from the landfill.

Sanitary Landfill

Problems With Landfills • Most MSW is buried in landfills that eventually are expected to leak toxic liquids into the soil and underlying aquifers • Siting issues (“Not In My Backyard!”) • Leachate contamination – adjacent waterways & aquifers – human toxicity • Methane gas release greenhouse gas – From anaerobic decomposition of organic matter – Benefit: collect methane and use it for energy • Incomplete decomposition of waste

Methane Collection System • Collects valuable methane that results from anaerobic decomposition inside the landfill • Safety feature and energy source! • Methane = Natural gas • Can be a form of Waste to Energy

Choosing a Location (“Siting”) a Landfill • Controversial • Political • • Soils with clay Away from water sources Above the water table On the outskirts of populous centers – How far away: balance between transportation costs and proximity causing nuisance and eyesore • NIMBY resistance • Environmental justice

Benefits of Landfills • Can accept large amounts of trash • Most convenient method of disposal • Regulated to make safer – Even though most expected to eventually leak • Accepts most MSW – Including paper, plastic, metal, organic material, etc – Exception: no hazardous waste • Including batteries, paints, solvents, pesticides, etc

Case Study: What Should We Do with Used Tires? • We face a dilemma in deciding what to so with hundreds of millions of discarded tires.

What Should We Do with Used Tires? • They can burn for years producing large amounts of toxic air pollutants. . . Very hard to put out

Tires • Are allowed in landfill if they are shredded otherwise they are recycled.

Where does MSW go? Incineration What we should be doing What we actually do (Landfills)

Incinerators • Burning MSW can be used to generate electricity – Burn trash create heat boil water to make steam turns a turbine electricity! – Called Waste-to-energy • Incinerators must have: – Scrubbers • devices that use a liquid spray to neutralize acidic gases. • Removes SO 2 , acidic gases and particulate matter – Filters or electrostatic precipitators • progressive series of filters remove tiny particles • Removes particulate matter

Incinerator Diagram:

• Volume of solid waste reduced by 90% after incineration • Produces heat that can make steam to generate electricity Incinerators

Incineration • Site selection often controversial – Smelly; ugly; truck traffic • (toxic) ash disposal • siting: NIMBY • Air pollution – Hg & Dioxins • Discourages recycling • Expensive to build • Ash problems: • fly ash (PM) • bottom ash • Can be toxic

Where does MSW go? Reuse/recycle What we should be doing What we actually do (Landfills)

Solving the MSW Problem • The only TRUE solution to our MSW problem is the 3 R’s (in order of preference): – Reduce – Reuse – Recycle

(1) Reduce • Source reduction – MOST EFFECTIVE!!! – Design & manufacture products in ways that decrease the volume of solid waste created • Redesign packaging • Companies moving to Zero-Waste Manufacturing – Subaru » Reuses materials, reclaims solvents & paints, recycle materials, remaining 1% is burned for energy – Technological development can constantly decrease the size and weight of a product – Reduce consumption

(2) Reuse • Extends resource supplies and requires less energy than mining raw materials & manufacturing • Increases residence time before disposal • Examples – Refillable beverage containers – Reusable grocery bags • Many cities have banned plastic bags • Dallas stores must charge 5¢ per bag – – Repair Repurpose: newspaper for animal bedding Ebay, flea markets, garage sales Borrow books from library

(2) Reuse • Developed Countries – Reusing products is an important way to reduce resource use, waste, and pollution • Developing Countries – Reusing can be hazardous for poor who scavenge in open dumps. – They can be exposed to toxins or infectious diseases.

(3) Recycling • Conservation of resources by converting material into new product.

Recycling is increasing in US Other Developed Countries:

2 Categories Closed-loop • Becomes the same item • Needs no/few new inputs old carpet → new carpet Open-loop • Becomes a different item • Needs additional inputs plastic bottle → fleece jacket

(3) Recycle • Recycle these: – Glass bottles, newspapers, steel cans, plastic bottles, cardboard, office paper • Every ton of recycled paper saves: – – 17 trees 7000 gallons of water 4100 kwatt-hrs of energy 3 cubic yards of landfill space

(3) Recycle • Recycling Paper – US recycles 50% – Denmark recycles 97% • Recycling Glass – US recycles 25% – Costs less than new glass – Can be used to make glassphalt

(3) Recycle Ø 50% of aluminum recycled in US Ø World avg = 70% Ø Recycled aluminum uses 90% fewer resources

• Plastic Recycling some plastics is chemically and economically difficult to recycle. Plastics are often recycled into other forms of plastic and those plastics are often not recyclable. Many plastics can be hard to isolate from other wastes. Recovering individual plastic resins doesn’t yield much material. The cost of virgin plastic resins is lower than recycled resins due to low subsidized fossil fuel costs. Plastics must be sorted according to their resin identification code which indicates the type of material they were made from. One idea - new technologies that are making plastics biodegradable Yogurt containers, straws, and bottle caps Shampoo and fast food service items Soft drink bottles Milk bottles and butter tubs Grocery & bread bags Other various plastics Styrofoam

Characteristics of Recyclable Materials Ø *Easily isolated from other waste Ø *Available in large quantities Ø *Valuable – there is a market

Benefits of Recycling Reduces global warming Make fuel supplies last longer Reduces acid deposition Reduces urban air pollution Reduces energy demand Saves energy Reduces solid waste disposal Recycling Reduces mineral demand Reduces water pollution Protects species Reduces habitat destruction

Two Ways to Recycle • Source separation – Consumers separate their trash into different bins – Pros: cheaper, can be less energy intensive, lower startup costs – Cons: not everyone does it, relies on consumers – Concern: May waste resources if it requires two separate trucks to visit each house, better to have single truck with dual collection capabilities • (MRF) Materials Recovery Facilities – Single Stream – Machines and workers separate trash at a facility – Pros: can increase the amount of recycled materials, provides high paying jobs – Cons: expensive to build and operate, can produce air pollution, only economically feasible when scrap prices are high – Concerns: removes responsibility and awareness from the consumer

Recycling – trying to achieve Zero-Waste • San Francisco – goal to minimize the amount of waste that ends up in a landfill – http: //vimeo. com/channels/recologize/41177616 • • Instructions for 3 trash cans: https: //vimeo. com/channels/recologize/59446126 • • • Alternative source: IBM & Recology on video library page http: //www. sunsetscavenger. com

Nike: Reuse-A-Sneaker • Criticized in 1990’s for: • Poor unsafe working conditions • Inadequate wages • Toxic solvents, adhesives, and rubber manufacturing – VOC’s • Worker health issues/ hazardous waste Imposed a Cradle to Grave Analysis • “Nike Considered” program: evaluate environmental impact & sustainability at each step in process • Friendlier adhesives/rubber • Organic & recycled materiald • Reuse-A-Shoe • Nike Grind – to make playground & other athletic surfaces

Why is recycling not the whole answer to our waste problem

Composting – Recycling Nutrients • Composting is the controlled decomposition of organic matter, such as food and yard wastes, into humus, a soillike material

Composting: Recycling Nutrients • Organic Matter: – Food scraps – Yard waste – Agricultural manure – Sewage Sludge • Can also include – Wood – Paper (usually better to recycle, unless soiled)

Composting - Pros • Reduces volume in landfills – Organic matter in landfills decompose anaerobically → produce methane • Produces humus – Fertilizer – Enhances soil texture – Retains moisture • Anyone can do it – Large or small scale • Can be sold or distributed to community

Composting - Cons • Takes time and space • Can be inconvenient – Need to monitor • C: N ratio 30: 1 for best microbial action • Add moisture • Aerate/Agitate to add O 2 • If not properly maintained – Can smell bad – Attract flies, rats, etc

City Compost Pile: Large scale Composting

Hazardous Materials & Integrated Waste Management

• Hazardous waste: is any discarded solid or liquid material that is toxic, ignitable, corrosive, or reactive enough to explode or release toxic fumes. • The two largest classes of hazardous wastes are – toxic heavy metals (lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, chromium). – synthetic organic compounds or Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) (e. g. pesticides, PCBs, dioxins, DDT)

Hazardous Waste in the Environment • Hazardous Wastes in the environment are harmful when absorbed in high concentrations. Heavy metals POPs • Can easily leach into groundwater. • Chemicals and toxins can be released at safe levels but may react or combine with other chemicals, from synergism, to create dangerous mixtures. • They can be taken up by organisms via food or water or simply absorbed from the surroundings. – Will bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the food chain • Are Persistent – Stay in environment a long time Spraying apples with insecticide, Japan

Hazardous Waste & Health • • Heavy metals - Neurotoxins • Damage Brain & nerve function • Metal retardation • Hyperactivity, Shortened attention span, Behavior disorder • Kidney & Skeleton damage • Death POP – – Disrupt systems • Endocrine – Gender benders – Thyroid disorders • Reproductive – Birth defects – Reduced fertility • Immune – Cancer – Death

Hazardous Waste • Harmful to humans/ecosystems • The majority is byproduct of industrial processes – 36 million ton/year • Households generate 1. 5 million ton/year • Only 5% recycled • Expensive & difficult to treat & dispose of • No truly good way of disposal - 2 options: – 1) source reduction: don’t create it in the 1 st place – 2) Use a less toxic alternative

Sources - Hazardous Waste • • Cleaning machinery Manufacturing processes Mining and drilling Agriculture Dry cleaners Auto service stations Households: over cleaners, batteries Fuels, solvents, lubricants, pesticides

What Harmful Chemicals Are in Your Home? Cleaning Gardening • Disinfectants • Drain, toilet, and window cleaners • Spot removers • Septic tank cleaners • Pesticides • Weed killers • Ant and rodent killers Paint • Latex and oil-based paints • Paint thinners, solvents, and strippers • Stains, varnishes, and lacquers • Wood preservatives • Artist paints and inks General • Dry-cell batteries (mercury and cadmium) • Glues and cements • Flea powders Automotive • Gasoline • Used motor oil • Antifreeze • Battery acid • Solvents • Brake and transmission fluid • Rust inhibitor and rust remover Fig. 22 -15, p. 534

Household Hazardous Waste • Common household items such as – paints, cleaners, oils, batteries and pesticides • Look for Labels – danger, warning, caution, toxic, corrosive, flammable or poison • Disposal – Deliver to your local HHW collection facility for proper disposal – Better: Share these materials with neighbors to reduce waste

Hazardous Waste Regulations (US) • Two major federal laws regulate the management and disposal of hazardous waste in the U. S. : – RCRA - Resource Conservation and Recovery Act • Tracks waste progress • Cradle-to-the-grave system to keep track of waste. • Regulates landfills – CERCLA - Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act • Commonly known as Superfund program. • Clean up abandoned waste sites

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) • Regulates hazardous waste from “cradle to grave” – EPA regulates the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste • Regulates disposal of solid waste in landfills – sets standards • Regulates handling of household hazardous waste • Regulates storage of materials in underground storage tanks (i. e. gas tanks) • Works to minimize the generation of hazardous waste

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) (Superfund Act) • Clean up abandoned hazardous waste sites. • Most severe sites on NPL – National Priorities List – NJ has 9, 000 contaminated sites, but only 114 have final NPL status • Cleanup is very expensive, so who pays? – If a responsible party is located and financially able, they are required to pay for the cleanup. – If no party can be found, the government pays to clean up the site • Superfund was funded by a tax on oil and chemical companies until 1995, now it is funded by the general tax fund • Passed in 1980 In response to the Love Canal incident

2014 – 1, 332 sites NJ – 114 CA – 97 PA – 95 NY – 85 TX – 50 Superfund Sites

Love Canal, NY - There Is No “Away” • Between 1842 -1953, Hooker Chemical sealed multiple chemical wastes into steel drums and dumped them into an old canal excavation (Love Canal). • In 1953, the canal was filled and sold to Niagara Falls school board • In 1957, Hooker Chemical warned the school not to disturb the site because of the toxic waste. • In 1959 an elementary school, playing fields and homes were built disrupting the clay cap covering the wastes. • In 1976, residents complained of chemical smells and chemical burns from the site, increased rates of illness, birth defects

Love Canal • President Jimmy Carter declared Love Canal a federal disaster area. – The area was abandoned in 1980 • In 1983, Love Canal became the 1 st superfund site – Took 20 years & 400 million to clean up • It still is a controversy as to how much the chemicals at Love Canal injured or caused disease to the residents. – difficult to link long-term health effects – https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=OEdt 6 f_f. AFo

• How many other Love Canals are there around the world • Chemical time bombs • Leaking chemical storage tanks and drums • Pesticides dumps • Piles of mining wastes

Brownfield • Abandoned industrial and commercial sites contaminated with hazardous wastes – Less contaminated than superfund sites – Factories, junkyards, older landfills, gas stations – Handled locally: state/city/county • Problems – Lots of sites: 450, 000 in US – No uniform Federal Standards • Clean up is managed by city/state gov • Varies widely by region – No legal liability enforcement • Can’t compel polluter to clean up • Success – Can revitalize/rehabilitate for public good – Parks, athletic fields, nature preserves, etc

Brownfields • Pros to remediation: – Can be done as part of urban redevelopment projects – Allows urban areas to return to profitable uses: parks, athletic field, preserves – Remove threat from hazardous wastes for both human and nature • Cons: – – – Expensive Older sites may be difficult to clean to new standards. Have to dispose of contaminated material Have to disturb soil and habitat Could contaminate another area

HAZARDOUS WASTES • Management of the Waste we are Producing – (1) source reduction – (2) conversion to less hazardous materials – (3) long-term storage

Disposal of Hazardous Waste • Best - reduce – Stop production of products that contain hazardous wastes – find substitutes / alternative substances – Recycle and/or reuse • Better - mitigate – Convert into less hazardous substances by incineration, biological treatment or thermal treatment • Worst - store – Haz. Waste landfill, surface impoundments, underground injection wells,

DEALING WITH HAZARDOUS WASTE • We can produce less hazardous waste and recycle, reuse, detoxify, burn, and bury what we continue to produce.

Conversion to Less Hazardous Substances • Physical Methods: using charcoal or resins to separate out harmful chemicals. • Chemical Methods: using chemical reactions that can convert hazardous chemicals to less harmful or harmless chemicals, usually by incineration. • Biological Methods: – Bioremediation: bacteria or enzymes help destroy toxic and hazardous waste or convert them to more benign substances. – Phytoremediation: involves using natural or genetically engineered plants to absorb, filter and remove contaminants from polluted soil and water. – Mycoremediation : fungi mycelium absorbs contaminants from soil

Biological: Detoxifying Wastes Ø -Bioremediation Ø Uses organisms to break down wastes Ø Bacteria & microbes Ø -Phytoremediation uses plants to remove wastes from soil Ø -Mycoremediation uses fungi mycelium Ø Very good at absorbing heavy metal

Radioactive contaminants Sunflower Decontaminated water out Phyto-stabilization Indian mustard Landfill Rhizo-filtration Roots of plants such as sunflowers with dangling roots on ponds or in greenhouses can absorb pollutants such as radioactive strontium -90 and cesium-137 and various organic chemicals. Poplar tree Willow tree Polluted groundwater in Soil Groundwater Inorganic metal contaminants Organic contaminants Plants such as willow trees and poplars can absorb chemicals and keep them from reaching groundwater or nearby surface water. Polluted leachate Brake fern Oil spill Phyto-degradation Plants such as poplars can absorb toxic organic chemicals and break them down into less harmful compounds which they store or release slowly into the air. Soil Groundwater Phyto-extraction Roots of plants such as Indian mustard and brake ferns can absorb toxic metals such as lead, arsenic, and others and store them in their leaves. Plants can then be recycled or harvested and incinerated.

Trade-Offs Phytoremediation Advantages Disadvantages Easy to establish Inexpensive Slow (can take several growing seasons) Can reduce material dumped into landfills Effective only at depth plant roots can reach Produces little air pollution compared to incineration Low energy use Some toxic organic chemicals may evaporate from plant leaves Some plants can become toxic to animals Fig. 22 -18, p. 538

Conversion to Less Hazardous Substances • Incineration: heating many types of hazardous waste to high temperatures – up to 2000 °C – in an incinerator can break them down and convert them to less harmful or harmless chemicals. • Plasma Torch: passing electrical current through gas to generate an electric arc and very high temperatures can create plasma. – The plasma process can be carried out in a torch which can decompose liquid or solid hazardous organic material.

Trade-Offs Plasma Arc Advantages Small Disadvantages High cost Produces CO 2 and CO Mobile. Easy to move to different sites Produces no toxic ash Can release particulates and chlorine gas Can vaporize and release toxic metals and radioactive elements Fig. 22 -19, p. 538

Long-Term Storage: Hazardous Waste • Hazardous waste can be disposed of on or underneath the earth’s surface, but without proper design and care this can pollute the air and water. – Deep-well disposal: liquid hazardous wastes are pumped under pressure into dry porous rock far beneath aquifers. – Surface impoundments: excavated depressions such as ponds, pits, or lagoons into which liners are placed and liquid hazardous wastes are stored.

Trade-Offs Deep Underground Wells Advantages Disadvantages Safe method if sites are chosen carefully Leaks or spills at surface Wastes can be retrieved if problems develop Leaks from corrosion of well casing Easy to do Existing fractures or earthquakes can allow wastes to escape into groundwater Low cost Encourages waste production Fig. 22 -20, p. 539

Trade-Offs Surface Impoundments Advantages Low construction costs Low operating costs Can be built quickly Wastes can be retrieved if necessary Can store wastes indefinitely with secure double liners Disadvantages Groundwater contamination from leaking liners (or no lining) Air pollution from volatile organic compounds Overflow from flooding Disruption and leakage from earthquakes Promotes waste production Fig. 22 -21, p. 539

Long-Term Storage of Hazardous Waste • Long-Term Retrievable Storage: Some highly toxic materials cannot be detoxified or destroyed. Metal drums are used to stored them in areas that can be inspected and retrieved. • Secure Landfills: Sometimes hazardous waste are put into drums and buried in carefully designed and monitored sites.

Secure Hazardous Waste Landfill • In the U. S. there are only 21 commercial hazardous waste landfills.

Above Ground Hazardous Waste Disposal Fig. 21. 17, p. 540 Waste transporter Elevator shaft Hazardous waste Support column Inspector

International Waste Management =Toxic colonialism – Developed countries sometimes send their waste to developing countries • Less expensive than following laws within own country • Developing countries have few environmental regulations • An Environmental Justice issue

Life Cycle Analysis & Integrated Waste Management

Life-Cycle Analysis (Cradle to Grave) • Important tool to make good decisions • Maps the materials/energy/pollution used and released throughout the lifetime of the product – – – Mining raw material Manufacturing Shipping Use Disposal • Impacts quantified – Environmental – Economic – Social • Limitations – A lot must be estimated

Life Cycle Analysis

Life Cycle Analysis

Integrated Waste Management • A method that seeks to develop as many options as possible, to reduce environmental harm and cost. – Reduce, recycle, composting, landfills, and incineration are some ways IWM is utilized. • Move from linear to circular material flow

Integrated Waste Management • Holistic approach (“from all angles”) • W. Mc. Donough’s book Cradle to Cradle – New approach to manufacturing – Develop products that can eventually be disassembled when useful life is over – Recycled easily: with little material put in waste stream – Ex: Volkswagen • Cars designed to be easily taken apart for repair/recycling – Ex: carpeting

Optimized Management of MSW Waste Stream:

Integrated Waste Management Goal to reduce waste

E-Waste is Particularly Problematic!

E-waste • Electronic waste including televisions, cell phones, computers, DVD players and other electronic devices – Hazardous waste! • Contains POPS: PVCs (polyvinylchloride), PBBs (polybrominated flame retardants), • Heavy metals: lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, etc – If disposed in landfill, these hazardous chemicals are released in air, water and soil – E-waste must be collected so the hazardous materials can be removed and recycled: US recycles 20% Switzerland recycles 80% – US produces half world’s e-waste

How to dispose of E-Waste • What we are currently doing: • The Electronic Waste Recycling Act mandates and funds a program to ensure the collection and proper disposal of ewaste • Most of the US’s e-waste is shipped to developing countries (China, India, Pakistan) to be recycled. • Less than 20% of e-waste is actually collected for recycling

How to dispose of E-Waste • What we SHOULD be doing: – Manufacture products that do not contain toxic materials – Design products that have interchangeable parts so that broken parts can be repaired and then re-used (http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=o. DAw 7 v. W 7 H 0 c ) – Require companies to take back products at the end of the life cycle so that the company has to consider how manage the waste in their design process. – Charge consumers a recycling fee when they purchase the product and require the trade-in of the old product when a new one is purchased

Achieving a Low-Waste Society • In the U. S. , citizens have kept large numbers of incinerators, landfills, and hazardous waste treatment plants from being built in their local areas. (NIMBY) • Environmental justice means that everyone is entitled to protection from environmental hazards without discrimination. – NIABY – Not In Anyone’s Backyard – NOPE – Not On Planet Earth – http: //www. pbslearningmedia. org/ – asset/envh 10_vid_envdallas/

Global Outlook: International Action to Reduce Hazardous Waste • An international treaty, The Stockholm Convention 2001, calls for phasing out the use of harmful persistent organic pollutants (POPs), the dirty dozen. – POPs are insoluble in water and soluble in fat. – Nearly every person on earth has detectable levels of POPs in their blood. – The U. S has not ratified this treaty. – Dirty dozen: DDT, dioxin, PCB’s (polychlorinated biphenyls), HCB (hexachlorobenzene)

Solutions: mimic nature 1. Consume less 2. Redesign manufacturing processes and products to: use less material and energy create less pollution and waste 3. Develop products that are easy to repair, reuse, recycle, or compost “cradle to cradle” 4. Eliminate or reduce packaging material 5. Charge fee-per-bag for trash collection, but free recycle collection 6. Establish cradle to grave responsibility laws

Making the Transition to a Low. Waste Society: A New Vision • • Everything is connected. There is no “away” for the wastes we produce. Dilution is not always the solution to pollution. The best and cheapest way to deal with wastes are reduction and pollution prevention.