Solid and Hazardous Waste. Core Case Study: Love Canal There Is No Away Between 1842-1953, Hooker Chemical sealed multiple chemical wastes into steel

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Core Case Study: Core Case Study: Love Canal — There Is No “Away”Love Canal — There Is No “Away”

Between 1842-1953, Hooker Chemical Between 1842-1953, Hooker Chemical sealed multiple chemical wastes into steel sealed multiple chemical wastes into steel drums and dumped them into an old canal drums and dumped them into an old canal excavation (Love Canal).excavation (Love Canal).

In 1953, the canal was filled and sold to In 1953, the canal was filled and sold to Niagara Falls school board for $1.Niagara Falls school board for $1.

The company inserted a disclaimer denying The company inserted a disclaimer denying liability for the wastes.liability for the wastes.


In 1957, Hooker Chemical warned the school In 1957, Hooker Chemical warned the school not to disturb the site because of the toxic not to disturb the site because of the toxic waste.waste. In 1959 an elementary school, playing fields and In 1959 an elementary school, playing fields and

homes were built disrupting the clay cap covering homes were built disrupting the clay cap covering the wastes.the wastes.

In 1976, residents complained of chemical smells In 1976, residents complained of chemical smells and chemical burns from the site.and chemical burns from the site.


President Jimmy President Jimmy Carter declared Carter declared Love Canal a Love Canal a federal disaster federal disaster area.area. The area was The area was

abandoned in 1980 abandoned in 1980 (left).(left).


It still is a controversy as to how much the It still is a controversy as to how much the chemicals at Love Canal injured or caused chemicals at Love Canal injured or caused disease to the residents.disease to the residents.

Love Canal sparked creation of the Love Canal sparked creation of the Superfund lawSuperfund law, which forced polluters to pay , which forced polluters to pay for cleaning up abandoned toxic waste for cleaning up abandoned toxic waste dumps.dumps.

Types of Solid WasteTypes of Solid Waste

MunicipalMunicipal HazardousHazardous IndustrialIndustrial E-wasteE-waste

WASTING RESOURCESWASTING RESOURCES

Solid wasteSolid waste: any unwanted or discarded : any unwanted or discarded material we produce that is not a liquid or material we produce that is not a liquid or gas.gas. Municipal solid waste (MSW)Municipal solid waste (MSW): : produce directly produce directly

from homes.from homes. Industrial solid wasteIndustrial solid waste: produced indirectly by : produced indirectly by

industries that supply people with goods and industries that supply people with goods and services.services.

Hazardous (toxic) wasteHazardous (toxic) waste: threatens human : threatens human health or the environment because it is toxic, health or the environment because it is toxic, chemically active, corrosive or flammable.chemically active, corrosive or flammable.

LUST – Not what you think!LUST – Not what you think! LLeakingeaking UUndergroundnderground SStoragetorage TTanksanks

Hundreds of thousands of underground storage Hundreds of thousands of underground storage tanks have been installed in industrial nationstanks have been installed in industrial nations

They are used to store many potentially toxic They are used to store many potentially toxic substancessubstances

Over time, steel tanks corrode and begin to leak, Over time, steel tanks corrode and begin to leak, contaminating groundwater used for cooking, contaminating groundwater used for cooking, drinking, and bathingdrinking, and bathing


Solid wastes Solid wastes polluting a river in polluting a river in Jakarta, Indonesia. Jakarta, Indonesia. The man in the The man in the boat is looking for boat is looking for items to salvage or items to salvage or sell.sell.


The United States produces about a third of The United States produces about a third of the world’s solid waste and buries more than the world’s solid waste and buries more than half of it in landfills.half of it in landfills. About 98.5% is industrial solid waste.About 98.5% is industrial solid waste. The remaining 1.5% is MSW.The remaining 1.5% is MSW.

• About 55% of U.S. MSW is dumped into landfills, 30% About 55% of U.S. MSW is dumped into landfills, 30% is recycled or composted, and 15% is burned in is recycled or composted, and 15% is burned in incinerators.incinerators.

Actions to reduce our output of solid Actions to reduce our output of solid waste fall into three broad categorieswaste fall into three broad categories

Output approach – deals with ways trash flows out Output approach – deals with ways trash flows out of cities and towns [incineration or landfills]of cities and towns [incineration or landfills]

Input approach (more sustainable) – activities to Input approach (more sustainable) – activities to reduce the amount of materials entering the reduce the amount of materials entering the production-consumption cycle [increase product production-consumption cycle [increase product durability]durability]

Throughput approach – ways to direct materials Throughput approach – ways to direct materials back into the production-consumption system back into the production-consumption system [reuse and recycling fall into this category][reuse and recycling fall into this category]

Solid waste management falls into Solid waste management falls into one of three categoriesone of three categories

Those that deal with waste after it has been Those that deal with waste after it has been producedproduced

Those that divert waste back into the Those that divert waste back into the production-consumption cycleproduction-consumption cycle

Those that prevent waste generation in the Those that prevent waste generation in the first placefirst place

Electronic Waste: A Growing ProblemElectronic Waste: A Growing Problem

E-wasteE-waste consists of consists of toxic and hazardous toxic and hazardous waste such as PVC, waste such as PVC, lead, mercury, and lead, mercury, and cadmium.cadmium.

The U.S. produces The U.S. produces almost half of the almost half of the world's e-waste but world's e-waste but only recycles about only recycles about 10% of it.10% of it.

Integrated Waste Management Integrated Waste Management (variety of strategies for both waste (variety of strategies for both waste reduction and waste management)reduction and waste management)

ReuseReuse Source reductionSource reduction RecyclingRecycling CompostingComposting LandfillLandfill IncinerationIncineration

Reducing Solid WasteReducing Solid Waste Consume lessConsume less

Redesign manufacturing processes and Redesign manufacturing processes and products to use less material and energyproducts to use less material and energy

Redesign manufacturing processes and Redesign manufacturing processes and products to produce less waste and pollutionproducts to produce less waste and pollution

Develop products that are easy to repair, Develop products that are easy to repair, reuse, remanufacture, compost, or recyclereuse, remanufacture, compost, or recycle

Reducing Solid Waste ContinuedReducing Solid Waste Continued

Shift from selling goods to selling or leasing Shift from selling goods to selling or leasing the services they providethe services they provide

Eliminate or reduce unnecessary packagingEliminate or reduce unnecessary packaging

Fee-per-bag waste collection systemFee-per-bag waste collection system

Cradle-to-grave responsibility lawsCradle-to-grave responsibility laws

REUSEREUSE

Reusing products is an important way to Reusing products is an important way to reduce resource use, waste, and pollution in reduce resource use, waste, and pollution in developed countries.developed countries.

Reusing can be hazardous in developing Reusing can be hazardous in developing countries for poor who scavenge in open countries for poor who scavenge in open dumps.dumps. They can be exposed to toxins or infectious They can be exposed to toxins or infectious

diseases.diseases.

How People Reuse MaterialsHow People Reuse Materials

Children looking for Children looking for materials to sell in an materials to sell in an open dump near open dump near Manila in the Manila in the Philippines.Philippines.

Case Study: Using Refillable Case Study: Using Refillable ContainersContainers

Refilling and reusing containers uses fewer Refilling and reusing containers uses fewer resources and less energy, produces less resources and less energy, produces less waste, saves money, and creates jobs.waste, saves money, and creates jobs. In Denmark and Canada’s Prince Edward’s In Denmark and Canada’s Prince Edward’s

Island there is a ban on all beverage containers Island there is a ban on all beverage containers that cannot be reused.that cannot be reused.

In Finland 95% of soft drink and alcoholic In Finland 95% of soft drink and alcoholic beverages are refillable (Germany 75%).beverages are refillable (Germany 75%).

RECYCLINGRECYCLING

Primary (closed loop) recyclingPrimary (closed loop) recycling: materials : materials are turned into new products of the same are turned into new products of the same type.type.

Secondary recyclingSecondary recycling: materials are : materials are converted into different products.converted into different products. Used tires shredded and converted into Used tires shredded and converted into

rubberized road surface.rubberized road surface. Newspapers transformed into cellulose Newspapers transformed into cellulose

insulation.insulation.

RECYCLINGRECYCLING

There is a disagreement over whether to mix There is a disagreement over whether to mix urban wastes and send them to centralized urban wastes and send them to centralized resource recovery plants or to sort resource recovery plants or to sort recyclables for collection and sale to recyclables for collection and sale to manufacturers as raw materials.manufacturers as raw materials. To promote separation of wastes, 4,000 To promote separation of wastes, 4,000

communities in the U.S. have implemented communities in the U.S. have implemented pay-pay-as-you-throwas-you-throw or or fee-per-bagfee-per-bag waste collection waste collection systems.systems.

RECYCLINGRECYCLING

Composting biodegradable organic waste Composting biodegradable organic waste mimics nature by recycling plant nutrients to mimics nature by recycling plant nutrients to the soil.the soil.

Recycling paper has a number of Recycling paper has a number of environmental (reduction in pollution and environmental (reduction in pollution and deforestation, less energy expenditure) and deforestation, less energy expenditure) and economic benefits and is easy to do.economic benefits and is easy to do.

RECYCLINGRECYCLING

Recycling many plastics is chemically and Recycling many plastics is chemically and economically difficult.economically difficult. Many plastics are hard to isolate from other Many plastics are hard to isolate from other

wastes.wastes. Recovering individual plastic resins does not Recovering individual plastic resins does not

yield much material.yield much material. The cost of virgin plastic resins in low than The cost of virgin plastic resins in low than

recycled resins due to low fossil fuel costs.recycled resins due to low fossil fuel costs. There are new technologies that are making There are new technologies that are making

plastics biodegradable.plastics biodegradable.

Recycling aluminumRecycling aluminum

95% more efficient than making aluminum95% more efficient than making aluminum

Make 20 aluminum cans from recycled scrap Make 20 aluminum cans from recycled scrap with the same amount of energy it takes to with the same amount of energy it takes to make one can from raw oremake one can from raw ore

RECYCLINGRECYCLING

Reuse and recycling are hindered by prices Reuse and recycling are hindered by prices of goods that do not reflect their harmful of goods that do not reflect their harmful environmental impacts, too few government environmental impacts, too few government subsidies and tax breaks, and price subsidies and tax breaks, and price fluctuations.fluctuations.

BURNING AND BURYING SOLID BURNING AND BURYING SOLID WASTEWASTE

Globally, MSW is burned in over 1,000 large Globally, MSW is burned in over 1,000 large waste-to-energy incineratorswaste-to-energy incinerators, which boil , which boil water to make steam for heating water, or water to make steam for heating water, or space, or for production of electricity.space, or for production of electricity. Japan and a few European countries incinerate Japan and a few European countries incinerate

most of their MSW.most of their MSW.

Burning Solid WasteBurning Solid Waste

Waste-to-energy incinerator with pollution Waste-to-energy incinerator with pollution controls that burns mixed solid waste.controls that burns mixed solid waste.

Crane

Hazardouswaste landfill

Wastetreatment

Conventionallandfill

Wastepit

Bottomash

Fly ashConveyor

Wateradded Dirty

water

Furnace Wetscrubber

Electrostaticprecipitator

Boiler

Smokestack

Electricity

Steam Turbine

Generator

Burying Solid WasteBurying Solid Waste

Most of the world’s MSW is buried in landfills Most of the world’s MSW is buried in landfills that eventually are expected to leak toxic that eventually are expected to leak toxic liquids into the soil and underlying aquifers.liquids into the soil and underlying aquifers. Open dumpsOpen dumps: are fields or holes in the ground : are fields or holes in the ground

where garbage is deposited and sometimes where garbage is deposited and sometimes covered with soil. Mostly used in developing covered with soil. Mostly used in developing countries.countries.

Sanitary landfillsSanitary landfills: solid wastes are spread out in : solid wastes are spread out in thin layers, compacted and covered daily with a thin layers, compacted and covered daily with a fresh layer of clay or plastic foam.fresh layer of clay or plastic foam.

How Pollutants Can Enter the How Pollutants Can Enter the Environment From Sanitary LandfillsEnvironment From Sanitary Landfills

Atmosphere – methane, ammonia, Atmosphere – methane, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and natural gashydrogen sulfide, and natural gas

Retention in soil – heavy metals – lead, Retention in soil – heavy metals – lead, chromium, and ironchromium, and iron

Groundwater – soluble materials (chloride, Groundwater – soluble materials (chloride, nitrates, and sulfates) pass through wastenitrates, and sulfates) pass through waste

Surface runoff – pick up leachate and Surface runoff – pick up leachate and transport ittransport it

How Pollutants Can Enter the How Pollutants Can Enter the Environment From Sanitary LandfillsEnvironment From Sanitary Landfills

Removal in plants – some plants growing in Removal in plants – some plants growing in the dispersal area can selectively take up the dispersal area can selectively take up heavy metals and other toxins and pass it heavy metals and other toxins and pass it through the food chainthrough the food chain

Plant residue – plants left in the field contain Plant residue – plants left in the field contain toxic substances toxic substances

Stream flow – groundwater or surface runoffStream flow – groundwater or surface runoff Wind – toxic materials transported to other Wind – toxic materials transported to other

areasareas

Modern Sanitary Landfills Contain Multiple Modern Sanitary Landfills Contain Multiple BarriersBarriers

Clay and plastic liners to limit movement of Clay and plastic liners to limit movement of leachateleachate

Surface and subsurface drainage to collect Surface and subsurface drainage to collect leachateleachate

Systems to collect methane gasSystems to collect methane gas Groundwater monitoringGroundwater monitoring

Sand

When landfill is full,layers of soil and clayseal in trash

Methane storageand compressorbuilding

Leachatestoragetank

Leachatemonitoringwell

Groundwatermonitoringwell

Electricitygeneratorbuilding Leachate

treatment system

Methane gasrecovery well

Compactedsolid waste

Leachatepipes

Leachate pumpedup to storage tankfor safe disposal

GroundwaterClay and plastic liningto prevent leaks; pipescollect leachate frombottom of landfill

Topsoil

SandClaySubsoil

Probes todetectmethaneleaks

Garbage

Garbage

Syntheticliner

Sand

Clay

Pipes collect explosive methane as used as fuel to generate electricity

Case Study: What Should We Do with Case Study: What Should We Do with Used Tires?Used Tires?

We face a dilemma We face a dilemma in deciding what to in deciding what to so with hundreds so with hundreds of millions of of millions of discarded tires.discarded tires.

HAZARDOUS WASTEHAZARDOUS WASTE

Hazardous wasteHazardous waste: is any discarded solid or : is any discarded solid or liquid material that is toxic, ignitable, liquid material that is toxic, ignitable, corrosive, or reactive enough to explode or corrosive, or reactive enough to explode or release toxic fumes.release toxic fumes. The two largest classes of hazardous wastes are The two largest classes of hazardous wastes are

organic compounds (e.g. pesticides, PCBs, organic compounds (e.g. pesticides, PCBs, dioxins) and toxic heavy metals (e.g. lead, dioxins) and toxic heavy metals (e.g. lead, mercury, arsenic).mercury, arsenic).

What Harmful Chemicals Are in Your Home?

• Glues and cements

• Dry-cell batteries (mercury and cadmium)

• Rust inhibitor and rust remover

• Brake and transmission fluid

General

Cleaning

• Battery acid

• Wood preservatives

• Stains, varnishes, and lacquers

Automotive

• Gasoline• Used motor oil

Paint

• Latex and oil-based paints• Paint thinners, solvents, and strippers

Gardening

• Pesticides• Weed killers• Ant and rodent

killers

• Antifreeze

• Flea powders

• Disinfectants

• Septic tank cleaners• Spot removers

• Drain, toilet, and window cleaners

• Artist paints and inks

• Solvents

Hazardous Waste Regulations in the Hazardous Waste Regulations in the United StatesUnited States

Two major federal laws regulate the Two major federal laws regulate the management and disposal of hazardous management and disposal of hazardous waste in the U.S.:waste in the U.S.: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

((RCRARCRA))• Cradle-to-the-grave system to keep track waste.Cradle-to-the-grave system to keep track waste.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLACERCLA))• Commonly known as Superfund program.Commonly known as Superfund program.

Hazardous Waste Regulations in the Hazardous Waste Regulations in the United StatesUnited States

The Superfund law was designed to have The Superfund law was designed to have polluters pay for cleaning up abandoned polluters pay for cleaning up abandoned hazardous waste sites.hazardous waste sites. Only 70% of the cleanup costs have come from Only 70% of the cleanup costs have come from

the polluters, the rest comes from a trust fund the polluters, the rest comes from a trust fund financed until 1995 by taxes on chemical raw financed until 1995 by taxes on chemical raw materials and oil.materials and oil.

Conversion to Less Hazardous Conversion to Less Hazardous SubstancesSubstances

Physical MethodsPhysical Methods: using charcoal or resins : using charcoal or resins to separate out harmful chemicals.to separate out harmful chemicals.

Chemical MethodsChemical Methods: using chemical : using chemical reactions that can convert hazardous reactions that can convert hazardous chemicals to less harmful or harmless chemicals to less harmful or harmless chemicals.chemicals.


Biological MethodsBiological Methods: : BioremediationBioremediation: bacteria or enzymes help : bacteria or enzymes help

destroy toxic and hazardous waste or convert destroy toxic and hazardous waste or convert them to more benign substances.them to more benign substances.

PhytoremediationPhytoremediation: involves using natural or : involves using natural or genetically engineered plants to absorb, filter and genetically engineered plants to absorb, filter and remove contaminants from polluted soil and remove contaminants from polluted soil and water.water.

PhytostabilizationPlants such as willow trees and poplars can absorb chemicals and keep them from reaching groundwater or nearby surface water.

RhizofiltrationRoots of plants such as sunflowers with dangling roots on ponds or in green-houses can absorb pollutants such as radioactive strontium-90 and cesium-137 and various organic chemicals.

PhytoextractionRoots 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.

PhytodegradationPlants such as poplarscan absorb toxic organic chemicals and break them down into less harmful compounds which they store or release slowly into the air.

Inorganicmetal contaminants

Organiccontaminants

Radioactivecontaminants

Brake fernPoplar treeIndian mustardWillow treeSunflower

Oilspill

Landfill

GroundwaterSoil

PollutedleachateDecontaminated

water out

Pollutedgroundwater in

GroundwaterSoil

Inexpensive

Low energy use

Easy to establish

Trade-Offs

Phytoremediation

Advantages Disadvantages

Some plants can become toxic to animals

Some toxic organic chemicals may evaporate from plant leaves

Produces little air pollution compared to incineration

Can reduce material dumped into landfills

Slow (can take several growing seasons)

Effective only at depth plant roots can reach


IncinerationIncineration: : heating many types of heating many types of hazardous waste to high temperatures – up hazardous waste to high temperatures – up to 2000 to 2000 °C°C – in an incinerator can break them – in an incinerator can break them down and convert them to less harmful or down and convert them to less harmful or harmless chemicalsharmless chemicals

Plasma torch: Plasma torch: incinerate at high incinerate at high temperatures by passing electrical current temperatures by passing electrical current through a gas to generate an electric arcthrough a gas to generate an electric arc

Long-Term Storage of Hazardous Long-Term Storage of Hazardous WasteWaste

Hazardous waste can be disposed of on or Hazardous waste can be disposed of on or underneath the earth’s surface, but without underneath the earth’s surface, but without proper design and care this can pollute the proper design and care this can pollute the air and water.air and water. Deep-well disposalDeep-well disposal: liquid hazardous wastes : liquid hazardous wastes

are pumped under pressure into dry porous rock are pumped under pressure into dry porous rock far beneath aquifers.far beneath aquifers.

Surface impoundmentsSurface impoundments: excavated depressions : excavated depressions such as ponds, pits, or lagoons into which liners such as ponds, pits, or lagoons into which liners are placed and liquid hazardous wastes are are placed and liquid hazardous wastes are stored.stored.

Safe method ifsites are chosencarefully

Trade-Offs

Deep Underground Wells

Advantages Disadvantages

Encourageswaste production

Existing fracturesor earthquakescan allow wastesto escape intogroundwater

Leaks fromcorrosion of wellcasing

Leaks or spills atsurface

Low cost

Easy to do

Wastes can beretrieved ifproblemsdevelop

Long-Term Storage of Hazardous Long-Term Storage of Hazardous WasteWaste

Long-Term Retrievable StorageLong-Term Retrievable Storage: Some : Some highly toxic materials cannot be detoxified or highly toxic materials cannot be detoxified or destroyed. Metal drums are used to stored destroyed. Metal drums are used to stored them in areas that can be inspected and them in areas that can be inspected and retrieved.retrieved.

Secure LandfillsSecure Landfills: Sometimes hazardous : Sometimes hazardous waste are put into drums and buried in waste are put into drums and buried in carefully designed and monitored sites.carefully designed and monitored sites.

Secure Hazardous Waste LandfillSecure Hazardous Waste Landfill

In the U.S. there In the U.S. there are only 23 are only 23 commercial commercial hazardous waste hazardous waste landfills.landfills.

Bulkwaste

Gasvent

Topsoil

EarthPlastic cover

Claycap

Double leachatecollection system

Plasticdoubleliner

Imperviousclay cap

Leakdetectionsystem

Reactivewastesin drums

Groundwatermonitoringwell

Groundwater

Watertable

Earth

Imperviousclay

Sand

Case Study: LeadCase Study: Lead

Lead is especially Lead is especially harmful to children harmful to children and is still used in and is still used in leaded gasoline and leaded gasoline and household paints in household paints in about 100 countries.about 100 countries.

Phase out leaded gasoline worldwide

Solutions

Prevention

Lead Poisoning

Control

Wash fresh fruits and vegetables

Test existing candles for lead

Test for lead in existing ceramicware used to serve food

Remove lead from TV sets and computer monitors before incineration or land disposal

Remove leaded paint and lead dust from older houses and apartments

Replace lead pipes and plumbing fixtures containing lead solder

Ban candles with lead cores

Ban lead glazing for ceramicware used to serve food

Ban use of lead in computer and TV monitors

Ban use of lead solder

Test blood for lead by age 1

Phase out waste incineration

Sharply reduce lead emissions from old and new incinerators

BIOMAGNIFICATION IN FOOD CHAIN

SEDIMENT

PRECIPITATIONPRECIPITATION WINDSWINDS

AIR

WATER

Inorganic mercury and acids

(Hg2+)

Inorganic mercury and acids (Hg2+)

Organicmercury (CH3Hg+)

Inorganicmercury (Hg2+)

Hg2+ and acids

Runoff of Hg2+ and acids

Large fish

Small fish

ZooplanktonPhytoplankton

Hg and SO2Hg2+ and acids

Human sources

Incinerator

Coal-burning plant

Elemental mercury

vapor (Hg)

Photo-chemical

OxidationElemental

mercury liquid (Hg)

Deposition

De

po

sit

ion

Bacteria

Bacteria and acids

Settles out

Settles out Settles

outV

ap

oriza

tion

De

po

sit

ion

De

po

sitio

n

Global Outlook: International Action to Global Outlook: International Action to Reduce Hazardous WasteReduce Hazardous Waste

An international treaty calls for phasing out An international treaty calls for phasing out the use of harmful persistent organic the use of harmful persistent organic pollutants (POPs).pollutants (POPs). POPs are insoluble in water and soluble in fat.POPs are insoluble in water and soluble in fat. Nearly every person on earth has detectable Nearly every person on earth has detectable

levels of POPs in their blood.levels of POPs in their blood. The U.S has not ratified this treaty.The U.S has not ratified this treaty.

Making the Transition to a Low-Waste Making the Transition to a Low-Waste Society: A New VisionSociety: A New Vision

Everything is connected.Everything is connected. There is no “away” for the wastes we There is no “away” for the wastes we

produce.produce. Dilution is not always the solution to pollution.Dilution is not always the solution to pollution. The best and cheapest way to deal with The best and cheapest way to deal with

wastes are reduction and pollution wastes are reduction and pollution prevention.prevention.

Documents

Solid and Hazardous Waste. Core Case Study: Love Canal There Is No Away Between 1842-1953, Hooker Chemical sealed multiple chemical wastes into steel