What is the 'waste hierarchy'?
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - in order of priority.
Why is waste reduction important?
Conserves resources, reduces pollution, and saves energy.
What are the benefits of recycling?
Reduces landfill waste, conserves resources, and lowers pollution.
Why is proper waste management crucial?
Protects human health and the environment from pollution and disease.
What are the environmental impacts of landfills?
Soil and water contamination, methane emissions, and habitat destruction.
What are the environmental impacts of incineration?
Air pollution, ash disposal issues, and potential release of toxins.
How does waste composition vary?
By region, season, and economic factors.
What are the key components of MSW?
Paper, yard waste, plastics, metals, and food.
Why is leachate a concern in landfills?
It can contaminate groundwater and soil.
What are the benefits of composting?
Reduces landfill waste, creates nutrient-rich soil amendment.
What are the steps in landfilling?
Waste is buried in a hole or mound, covered with clay/plastic.
What are the steps in incineration?
Waste is burned at high temperatures, reducing volume and producing ash.
Describe the recycling process.
Collection, sorting, processing, and manufacturing into new products.
What are the steps involved in composting?
Collection of organic waste, decomposition, curing, and use as soil amendment.
Describe the process in a mass burn incinerator.
MSW is burned at high temperatures, reducing waste volume and producing pollutants.
What are the steps in creating a sanitary landfill?
Site selection, liner installation, waste placement, compaction, and cover application.
What are the steps in creating a secure landfill?
Site selection, thick liner installation, waste placement, and monitoring.
What are the steps in waste-to-energy conversion?
Waste is burned, heat is used to generate steam, and steam powers turbines to produce electricity.
Describe the process of methane collection in landfills.
Methane is captured through a system of pipes and used as a fuel source.
What is the process of leachate collection?
Leachate is collected through a system of pipes and treated to prevent water contamination.
Define solid waste.
Discarded materials from human and animal activities that are solid, semi-solid, or contained gaseous materials.
What is hazardous waste?
Waste that is toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic, flammable, corrosive, or explosive.
Define MSW.
Municipal Solid Waste: Waste from homes, businesses, and city buildings.
What is a sanitary landfill?
A landfill with layers of clay, sand, and plastic to prevent contamination, often including methane collection systems.
What is a secure landfill?
Landfill designed for hazardous waste, featuring thicker liners to prevent leaks.
What is incineration?
Burning waste at high temperatures to reduce its volume.
Define composting.
Biological decomposition of organic solid waste.
What is waste-to-energy conversion?
Converting non-recyclable waste materials into usable heat, electricity, or fuel through a variety of processes.
What is non-municipal solid waste?
Waste from industry, agriculture, mining, and oil/gas extraction.
Define teratogenic.
A substance that can cause birth defects.
