waste
material outputs generated or unused by a system that are either unconsumed or not useful
planned obsolescence
design of a product so that it will need to be replaced within a few years; characteristic of U.S. products post WWII industrialization
municipal solid waste (MSW)
refuse collected from residential areas, institutions, and small businesses; generation correlates with season, socioeconomic status, geographic location, and country
waste stream
flow of solid waste that is recycled, incinerated, placed in a landfill, or otherwise disposed of after the product loses value
sources of MSW (United States)
containers and packaging 31%, food and yard waste 26%, nondurable goods 25%, durable goods 18%
composition of MSW (United States)
potentially compostable 64%: paper 31%, food scraps/yard waste 26%, plastics 12%, metals 8%, wood 7&
e-waste
consumer electronics that can contribute lead, mercury, cadmium, and carcinogenic organic compounds if not properly recycled; most exported to developing countries for treatment
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (3 Rs)
phrase propagating diversion of materials from the waste stream, with techniques in order from greatest to least benefit to the environment
waste minimization, waste prevention
reducing inputs of materials into a system to reduce outputs and, consequently, the amount of solid waste produced
source reduction
reduces use or replaces materials destined to become MSW in design and manufacturing of products; implemented on individual and corporate levels; can increase efficiency and lower costs (less resources used)
reuse
decreases rate of waste disposal through increasing residence time of a product in the system; ideally, no additional energy is used, but practically this may require cleaning, repairing, transporting, etc.
recycling
process by which materials destined to become MSW are collected and converted into raw materials that are then used to produce new objects
closed-loop recycling
recycling of a product into the same product as before; theoretically indefinite
open-loop recycling
a product is recycled into another product; saves material from entering landfills but does not reduce demand for the raw material
compost
organic matter that has decomposed under controlled conditions to produce an organic-rich material that enhances soil structure, cation exchange capacity, and fertility; should be turned/agitated, aerated, and layered to achieve best C:N ratio and prevent
leachate
water that leaches through solid waste and removes various chemical compounds with which it comes into contact; can harm bodies of water, aquifers, drinking water, and habitation; potentially created through MSW in landfills
sanitary landfills
engineered ground facilities designed to hold MSW with as little contamination of the surrounding environment as possible; features include clay liner, leachate collection system, cap, and methane extraction system
tipping fee
costs to deliver waste to a landfill or incinerator which recovers initial expenses of construction; creates economic incentive to reduce amount of waste disposed of
siting
designation of a location for a landfill/incinerator; must be away from human population/water sources in soils rich in clay but close enough for transportation; controversial because of NIMBY and issues of environmental injustice
incineration
the process of burning waste materials such as paper, plastic, food and yard waste (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen) to reduce their volume and mass and sometimes to generate electricity or heat
ash
residual nonorganic material that does not combust during incineration; if non-toxic, can be disposed of at landfill or used for road construction and cement
bottom ash
residue collected underneath the furnace in the ash bunker
fly ash
residue collected beyond the furnace, for example, in the baghouse filter
waste-to-energy
heat generated by incineration is used for electricity or indoor heating rather than being released into the atmosphere
hazardous waste
liquid, solid, gaseous, or sludge waste materials harmful to humans or ecosystems; usually by-product of industrial processes like textile/computer production and machinery cleaning (also generated by small businesses); according to EPA, over 20,000 gener
RCRA (U. S. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act)
1976: Cradle-to-grave tracking minimizes hazardous waste production and ensures proper disposal. 1984: Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA) phases out disposal and increases authority to punish violators.
Superfund Act (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act [CERCLA])
1980/1986: the revenue from an imposed tax on chemical and petroleum industries funds cleanup of over 1200 hazardous waste sites on the National Priorities List (NPL); also, federal government is authorized to respond to release of substances hazardous to
brownfields
contaminated industrial or commercial sites that require environmental cleanup before redevelopment/expansion; restoration funded by 1995 EPA Program
life-cycle analysis (cradle-to-grave analysis)
systems tools analyzing materials used and released throughout a product's lifetime, from extraction to manufacture to use to disposal; can determine some extent of environmental impact and its trade-offs, as well as assess many economic and enery conside
Integrated Waste Management
employs several waste reduction, management, and disposal strategies in order to reduce environmental impacts of MSW; emphasizes source reduction and can include any combination of recycling/composting/landfills/incineration to be cost effective, efficien
Recycla (Chile)
e-waste recycling facility which is domestic (less transportation energy use/pollution), safe for workers (face/respiratory protection), separates toxic and reuseable metals, holds the contracted manufacurer responsible for proper disposal, advertises env