#AP Environmental Science: Waste Management Study Guide 📚

Hey there! Let's get you prepped and confident for the AP Environmental Science exam. We're focusing on waste management, a HUGE topic, so let's break it down into manageable, easy-to-remember chunks.

#Introduction to Waste 🌎

Waste is a human concept – in nature, everything gets reused! But we humans generate a LOT of stuff we consider useless. This section will cover the types of waste, their sources, and the impact of improper disposal.

#Waste Generation Facts

• Industries create over 7.6 billion tons of solid waste yearly.
• Over 40 million tons of industrial waste is hazardous.
• Developed nations, especially the US, produce the most waste per person.
• Landfills are becoming less viable due to capacity and regulations.

#Sources of Solid Waste 🏭

Where does all this waste come from? Let's break it down:

• Residential: Household trash (food scraps, paper, plastics)
• Commercial: Business waste (packaging, office paper)
• Industrial: Factory byproducts (chemicals, machinery parts)
• Construction & Demolition: Building debris (wood, bricks)
• Agricultural: Farm waste (crop residue, manure)
• Medical: Hospital waste (sharps, medical equipment)
• Municipal: Public service waste (street sweepings)
• Electronic: Old gadgets (computers, phones)

#Types of Solid Waste 🗑️

Solid waste is categorized into two main types:

#Non-Municipal Solid Waste

• Comes from industry, agriculture, mining, and oil/gas.
• Makes up about 99% of all waste in the US.
• Examples: construction materials, wastewater sludge, ash.

#Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)

• Comes from homes, businesses, and city buildings.
• Makes up only about 1% of total waste.
• Examples: paper (40%), yard waste, plastics, metals, food.
• Composition varies by region and season.

#Hazardous Waste

• Toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic, flammable, corrosive, or explosive.
• Subject to strict regulations.
• Some exclusions: household and small business waste, mining waste.

#Waste Disposal Methods ♻️

How do we get rid of all this waste? There are several ways, each with pros and cons:

#Landfilling

• Most common method.
• Waste is buried in a hole or mound, covered with clay/plastic.
• Sanitary landfills: Layers of clay, sand, plastic to prevent contamination, methane collection systems.
• Secure landfills: For hazardous waste, with thicker liners.

#Ocean Dumping

• Banned in the US due to pollution.

#Incineration

• Burning waste at high temperatures to reduce volume.
• Reduces waste volume significantly, but can release air pollutants.

#Alternative Methods

• Recycling, composting, waste-to-energy conversion.
• Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages.

#Mass Burn Incinerators 🔥

• Burn MSW at high temperatures (over 1000°C).
• Reduce waste volume by up to 85%.
• Produce pollutants (particulate matter, dioxins, heavy metals).
• Ash must be disposed of in landfills.
• About 15% of US MSW is incinerated, but popularity is decreasing.

#Effects of Improper Waste Disposal ⚠️

Improper waste disposal causes serious problems:

• Air, water, and soil pollution.
• Harm to wildlife and ecosystems.
• Disease spread (e.g., mosquitoes breeding in tires).
• Contaminated sites (Superfund sites).
• Accidental spills of hazardous/nuclear materials.

#Examples of Improper Waste Disposal 🌍

• Love Canal, NY: Chemical waste contamination.
• Bhopal, India: Toxic gas leak.
• Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill: Oil pollution.
• Hanford Nuclear Reservation, WA: Nuclear waste contamination.
• Landfills in developing countries: Lack of proper infrastructure.

Understanding the effects of improper waste disposal is crucial. These examples are great for FRQs!

#Final Exam Focus 🎯

• Prioritize: Focus on waste types, disposal methods, and their environmental impacts.
• Connect: Link waste management to other topics like pollution, human health, and sustainability.
• FRQs: Be ready to discuss case studies of improper disposal and propose solutions.
• MCQs: Practice identifying waste sources and the pros/cons of different disposal methods.
• Time Management: Don't spend too long on one question. If you're stuck, move on and come back.
• Common Pitfalls: Don't confuse terms (sanitary vs. secure landfills), and pay attention to the specific wording of the question.
• Strategies: Use mnemonics, and try to relate new concepts to familiar ideas.

#Practice Questions

Practice Question