Solid Waste Disposal (College Board AP® Environmental Science): Flashcards
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Define solid waste.
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Cards in this collection (40)
Define solid waste.
Solid waste is any discarded material that is not a liquid or gas and is generated in the domestic, industrial, business, and agricultural sectors.
Which US law, passed in 1976, gives the EPA control over both solid and hazardous waste?
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) gives the EPA control over both solid and hazardous waste.
True or False?
Most US solid waste is municipal solid waste from homes and businesses.
False.
Nearly 99% of US solid waste is non-municipal, coming from agriculture, industry, mining, and oil and gas operations.
RCRA establishes a system for tracking and managing hazardous waste from its generation to its final disposal.
RCRA establishes a cradle-to-grave system for tracking and managing hazardous waste from its generation to its final disposal.
What power does CERCLA (Superfund) give the federal government?
CERCLA gives the federal government the power to respond to releases of hazardous substances and clean up sites where waste has been improperly disposed of or managed.
Name two properties that make a waste hazardous.
Hazardous waste is toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic, extremely flammable, corrosive, or explosive.
Define e-waste.
E-waste is discarded electronic devices and equipment, such as computers and smartphones, that can contain hazardous materials like lead and mercury needing specialized handling and disposal.
Why is e-waste a growing concern?
The rapid advancement of technology means older electronics quickly become obsolete and are discarded.
What happens to the methane produced in a modern landfill?
The methane is either flared off or collected and used to generate electricity (the gas to energy process).
Why are modern landfill sites lined?
Modern landfill sites are lined to prevent leachate from running out of the site.
Give two advantages of landfill as a waste disposal method.
Landfill offers centralized waste management, flexibility to handle non-recyclable materials, lower operational costs, and methane gas capture for energy.
Define sanitary municipal landfill.
A sanitary municipal landfill is a controlled and engineered waste disposal site designed to contain contamination and the spread of disease.
In the US, landfills must be located at least 6 m above the .
In the US, landfills must be located at least 6 m above the water table.
What lines a new cell hole in a sanitary landfill?
A new cell hole is lined with two feet of compacted clay, a strong plastic liner, and a nonporous geotextile membrane.
Why is the garbage in a sanitary landfill covered daily with soil?
The daily soil cover (at least 6 inches) reduces odors, bugs, rainwater runoff, waste burning, and scavenging.
True or False?
A landfill cell needs no further monitoring once it has been capped.
False.
The capped cell is covered with topsoil and seeded with plants over a decades-long post-closure monitoring phase.
Why are sanitary landfills divided into cells?
Landfills are divided into cells to increase the rate of decomposition and reduce odors.
Which potent greenhouse gas do landfills produce?
Landfills produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
What contamination risk does landfill leachate pose?
Leachate can contaminate groundwater and soil.
True or False?
Organic waste breaks down quickly in a landfill.
False.
Decomposition in landfills is slow, often taking years, because conditions are anaerobic.
Why is landfilling becoming less acceptable and feasible?
Landfilling faces limited landfill capacity, tighter environmental restrictions, and public opposition.
Which communities are disproportionately affected by landfill noise and smell?
Residents of less affluent urban outskirts are disproportionately affected, harming their health, quality of life, and property values.
What do uncontrolled fires in landfills release?
Uncontrolled landfill fires release harmful dioxins.
Define energy recovery.
Energy recovery is generating electricity from waste, through direct incineration or landfill gas capture.
In direct incineration, heat from burning waste boils water, and the steam drives a that generates electricity.
In direct incineration, heat from burning waste boils water, and the steam drives a turbine that generates electricity.
How is methane collected from a landfill for energy recovery?
Methane from anaerobic decomposition is collected via wells and pipes and then burned to generate electricity.
What waste product remains after incineration reduces the volume of waste?
Incineration reduces the volume of waste sent to landfill, but the remaining ash still needs to be disposed of.
Name two air pollutants released by incineration.
Incineration releases CO, CO₂, dioxins, halogens, particulates, SOₓ, and NOₓ.
True or False?
Incinerator ash is harmless and can go to any landfill.
False.
The ash can be contaminated with toxins that leach into the environment, so it is taken to a specialized landfill.
Give two ways incinerator waste ash can be reused.
Waste ash can be repurposed in roads and concrete or reprocessed to extract recyclable metals and glass.
Why has incineration become less popular in the US?
Incineration has become less popular because of environmental concerns and high running costs.
What does the impermeable liner at the base of a sanitary landfill do?
The clay and plastic liner prevents leachate from contaminating groundwater.
At closure, a final seals in the waste and prevents water infiltration.
At closure, a final cap seals in the waste and prevents water infiltration.
Why are improperly disposed rubber tires a problem?
Used tires become breeding grounds for mosquitoes that can spread disease. They can also catch fire and release pollutants that cause respiratory issues.
Give two issues sanitary landfills still have despite their engineering controls.
Sanitary landfills still have odor, vermin, habitat destruction, and methane production, and problems from improper siting near watercourses or water leaking through the lining.
Define ocean dumping.
Ocean dumping is the dumping of solid waste at sea, which can harm marine ecosystems and biodiversity.
How does swallowing plastic harm marine animals?
Marine species mistake plastic for food, causing intestinal obstructions and malnutrition.
True or False?
Plastics dumped at sea break down quickly and stay out of the food chain.
False.
Plastics degrade slowly into microplastics, which enter the food chain by accumulating in the bodies of marine organisms.
How can accumulated waste harm coral reefs and seagrass beds?
Accumulated waste can smother these habitats, impacting the organisms that rely on them.
What toxin risk do barrels dumped at sea pose?
Degrading barrels can release waste oil and radioactive material into the ocean.
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