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Chapter 18

Chapter 18. The Disposable Decades - 50s-90s 1. Disposable Life Style - Use once and throw away 2. Convenience became necessity 3. Results – some areas are running out of landfill space B. Scope of the Municipal Solid Waste Problem 1. We produce 220 million tons MSW/year– 5.8 lbs/day

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Chapter 18

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  1. Chapter 18 The Disposable Decades - 50s-90s • 1. Disposable Life Style - Use once and throw away • 2. Convenience became necessity • 3. Results – some areas are running out of landfill space B. Scope of the Municipal Solid Waste Problem • 1. We produce 220 million tons MSW/year– 5.8 lbs/day • Texas? That’s 7.5 lbs/day • 2. Historically we put our MSW in dumps and/or burned it. Wetlands or flood plains sites for dumps. Problems • 3. Composition of MSW - Figure 18.5 • Paper 38%, Yard waste 16%, Rubber, textiles 12%. Metal 8%, Glass 6%, Glass 8%, Plastic 8% Food waste 7% • High standard of living = lots of MSW

  2. Chapter 18 C. Methods of Waste Disposal • Landfilling • A. Cheapest and most convient method - 57% of MSW in U.S. is landfilled – • B. Sanitary landill - clay and plastic lined depression - MSW covered each day with dirt • C. Ground water monitored, methane production monitored - cost up to $400,000 to prepare, no O&M • D. Siting difficult – NIMBY, NIMFYE, BANANA • E. # of landfills in U.S. has decreased but capacity has stayed the same or increased • F. Western Europe and Japan have far fewer landfills - recyling and incineration emphasized

  3. View the article these images came from at http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/ When cover article changes it may be at http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/admin/topdoc/pd/020/02-01/waste.html

  4. Chapter 18 Incineration • A. 16% of MSW in U.S. incinerated - Waste-to energy •  B. Mass burning - MSW fed into furnace and burned at 1,300 degrees C - generates steam and electricity •  C. Incinerators decreases MSW 90% by volume and 75% by weight. Residues are landfilled. •  D. Environmental Issues and incineration • 1. Air pollution- release metals, acid gases, •   2. Toxicity - dioxins and furans •   3. Disposal of ash/residues - metals lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic - hazardous wastes. •   4. Costs of incinerators - $45,000,000 to $350,000,000. •   5. Incineration and source reduction paradox

  5. Chapter 18 Source Reduction • Designing, manufacturing,purchasing or using materials in ways that reduce the amount or toxicity of trash—Reuse also prevents waste  Examples • 1. Reduce packaging • 2. Make companies accept used packaging • 3. Sell concentrates • 4. Source Reduction requires citizens to take action

  6. Chapter 18 Recycling • A. About 28% of MSW is recycled in U.S. • Number likely includes composting • The Big Deal—Count what is collected or what is actually recycled? • 1. Bottle Bill---place deposit on bottles—encourages recycling and decreases litter • 2. 15 states have mandatory recycling laws • 3. Profile of what is recycled

  7. Chapter 18 Benefits of Recycling • 1. Conservation of resources • A. Sunday edition of New York Times takes 62,000 trees • B. Import almost all aluminum—US recycles 60% of aluminum cans • C. Use of recycled glass saves 50% of the energy required to make new glass—33% recycled—innovative recycling—Plano, Tx • Energy savings from avoidance of mining, etc

  8. Chapter 18 Recycling Concerns Technical Concerns • A. Hard to separate all the types of plastics • 1. High Density polyethylene (HDPE) - milk carton • 2. Polystyrene (PS)-egg carton • 3. Polyethlene terephthalate (PET) - soft drink bottles Transportation Concerns - transporting air expensive • Mass vs volume Economic Concerns • 1. Market for recycled materials unstable • 2. Can’t just recycle. Must purchase products made from recycled materials • 3. Must develop incentitives to encourage use of recycled materials

  9. Chapter 18 Composting • Natural process optimized for air/moisture used for reducing volume of organics and producing useful product • Used for yard trimmings, sludge, soiled paper, waste wood, etc • “If it lives it dies, if it dies it rots, if it rots it will compost” • 3000 facilities nationwide • 47% of yard trimmings composted in US • City of Denton example

  10. Chapter 18 Real World in Real Time: New York City-March2002 • Budget deficit has put recycling on chopping block • Savings of $57 million • Recycling of glass, metal and plastic costs $240 per ton—almost double cost of throwing it away • How balance budget that also include police, fire protection and teachers? • Proponents quote the following statistic: the next 1000 yrs of trash will only fill an area 35 sq miles 100 yds deep • Economics vs environment? • Read it yourself: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/recycling020308.html

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