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WASTE. Chapter 19. Imagine this…. You stop at the drive through at Burger King and order a hamburger, large fries and a soda. Think about the stuff that comes with the food – what is this stuff? What is the fate of this stuff?
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WASTE Chapter 19
Imagine this… • You stop at the drive through at Burger King and order a hamburger, large fries and a soda. • Think about the stuff that comes with the food – what is this stuff? • What is the fate of this stuff? • Does this stuff meet its end when you describe where it goes, or does it have another “life?” • This stuff is called SOLID WASTE
Now,imagine this… • 500 years from now you are on an archaeological dig • You have discovered a garbage site from the 21st century – what do you see?
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Objectives • Name one characteristic that makes a material biodegradable. • Identify two types of solid waste. • Describe how a modern landfill works. • Name two environmental problems caused by landfills.
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Vocabulary • Solid waste • Biodegradable • Municipal solid waste • Landfill • Leachate
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • What is it? Any discarded solid material • Where does it come from? • Where does it immediately go? • Then where?
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Trash • Typically is moved around the following way • Can • Collection service • Landfill • **ONLY STORES TRASH*** • What happens if all of our landfills fill up?
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • What happens in a landfill when it • Rains? • Contains materials like paint thinner? • THESE CHEMICALS ARE LEACHED • They escape!
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Generation of Waste • It’s not just our lunches • 10 billion tons of solid waste are produced in the United States a year
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Generation of Waste • Math practice • If the population of the United States is 313,126,000 people, how many tons of solid waste are produced per person every year?
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Generation of Waste • Math practice • How many tons of solid waste are produced per person every day?
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Generation of Waste • Since the 1960s, the amount of solid waste we generate has DOUBLED
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Space for Waste • We’re running out! • A ship (the Mobro) had 3,200 tons of garbage • In 1987, couldn’t find a place to unload waste TOOK 5 MONTHS OF SAILING!
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Space for Waste • In the end, the Mobro gave up • What did they do? • They BURNED the trash in NY
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Population and Waste • All waste created during the time of the Hunters and Gatherers was less and it was biodegradable
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Population and Waste • The population is increasing • The amount of land per person is decreasing • Bottom line: there is less room to dispose of waste!
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Not all Wastes are Equal • Two main types: • Biodegradable • Break down into natural products over time • Nonbiodegradable • Will not break down over time
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Not all Wastes are Equal • Classify me! B for biodegradable, N for not! • Paper • Plastic Knife • Cardboard • Manure • Metal Ziploc bag Grass clippings Muffin Muffin wrapper CD
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Not all Wastes are Equal • Synthetics—polyester, plastics • Do not break down naturally • Result from combining elements in ways that aren’t found in nature • So they can’t break down • The decomposers don’t know what to do!
Section 19-1: Solid Waste Types of Solid Waste Manufacturing Waste Computers, electronics, mining waste 70% of solid waste • Municipal Solid Waste • Your day-to-day trash • 2% of solid waste
Section 19-1: Solid Waste – municipal waste • What percentage of materials could be easily recycled? • What percentage of materials could be composted? • Removing these percentages, what percent really HAS to go in a landfill?
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Solid waste from Manufacturing, Mining, and Agriculture • Rest of total solid waste • Manufacturing • Scrap metal • Plastics • Paper • Sludge • Ash • We contribute by buying stuff!
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Mining waste • Rock and minerals that are left over • Left in piles • Dumped in oceans or rivers • Used to fill in abandoned mines
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Agricultural waste • 9% of total solid waste • Crop wastes • Manure • Biodegradable • Harmful to soil • Increased use of fertilizers and pesticides
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Solid Waste Management – how do we handle it? • Most of our waste is sent to landfills • Some is burned (incinerated) • Some is recycled (30%) • Only recycled 6.6% in 1970
Plastic Usage • Answer the questions on the following slide
Questions • 1. In which application are plastics used most? • 2. Is there any mathematical relationship between the percentage of plastics used and the length of a product’s life? Explain. • 3. Think about 3 things that are packaged in plastic – write them down. How could these packages be made to have less plastic? In each case, is all of that plastic necessary? Explain.
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Landfill – a permanent waste disposal facility where wastes are put into the ground and covered with layers of soil and/or plastic • More than 50% of municipal and manufacturing solid waste goes here
Section 19-1: Solid Waste – Spend a minute with a partner – write down how you think a landfill operates
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Main functions of a landfill • Contain the waste that is buried inside • Keep waste from causing problems with the environment • Cannot touch our soil or groundwater
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Problems with landfills • Leachate—liquid that has passed through compacted solid waste in a landfill • Can contain chemicals from • Paints • Pesticides • Cleansers • Cans • Batteries • Appliances
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Problems with landfills • Leachate • Monitoring wells and storage tanks are used to measure and store leachate • Can treat safely
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Problems with landfills • Methane • Result of decomposition of organic mater • FLAMMABLE! • Pumped out and used as fuel • If not monitored, can seep out and get into homes • Explosions
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Safeguarding Landfills • RCRA! • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (1976, 1984) • New landfills have to be built with ways to reduce pollution problems
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Safeguarding Landfills • New landfills… • Must be lined with a clay and plastic liner • Must have systems for collecting leachate • Must have pipes to collect and remove methane
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Safeguarding Landfills • These RCRA rules cost more money • Make it difficult to find new landfill sites • Close to city making waste • Far away from residents who don’t want it near them • Legislation also drives up the cost!
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Building More Landfills • Running out of space! • Material is not decomposing as fast as it should…why not???
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Building More Landfills • In 1988, we had 8000 active landfills • In 1999, we only had 1700 • They filled up! • EPA Estimates that the active landfills in 20 states will be filled within 10 years • More Mobro stories?
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Incinerators • We can burn it! • Reduces weight of solid waste by 75% • Waste doesn’t “disappear” - just gets converted • Things get in that shouldn’t – paints, batteries, cleansers • Air pollution • Some materials are worse when burned • Scrubbers to decrease pollutants
Section 19-1: Solid Waste • Objectives • Name one characteristic that makes a material biodegradable. • Identify two types of solid waste. • Describe how a modern landfill works. • Name two environmental problems caused by landfills.
Your Assigment Due Thursday: Current Local Events (15%) • Locate one local landfill • Map its location • Find out how it deals with leachate – collection and treatment • What does it do with its methane? • How deep is its associated water table? • Are there aquifers nearby? • How do they control air, soil and water contamination?
Section 19-2: Reducing Solid Waste • Objectives • Identify three ways you can produce less waste. • Describe how you can use your consumer buying power to reduce solid waste. • List the steps that an item must go through to be recycled. • List two benefits of composting. • Name one advantage and one disadvantage to producing degradable plastic.
Section 19-2: Reducing Solid Waste • Vocab • Source reduction • Recycling • Compost
Section 19-2: Reducing Solid Waste • How do we reduce all of our solid waste? • Make less of it! • Recycle it! • Change the materials we currently use • =Source reduction!
Section 19-2: Reducing Solid Waste • Reducing Solid Waste • Making less waste is key! • Can do it by… • Buying less • Making longer-lasting products
Section 19-2: Reducing Solid Waste • Story of Stuff! • Was optional, now it’s not!
Section 19-2: Reducing Solid Waste • Buying Less • You choose what you buy! • Buy products with less packaging • Buy products that last longer • Buy products that are reusable • Dish towels v. paper towels • Rechargeable batteries v. single use batteries • Send a message to manufacturers!