Waste Flashcards
Is overall waste production increasing globally? How about on a per capita basis?
Yes. On a per capita basis, waste production varies depending on factors such as income levels, lifestyle choices, and waste management practices. In many developed countries, per capita waste generation is high due to higher levels of consumption, disposable goods, and packaging materials. In developing countries, per capita waste generation may be lower, however, rapid urbanization and industrialization can lead to an increase
On average, how much waste is produced per person in the USA per day?
Approximately 4.9 pounds
Where does most of our waste end up?
Landfills
What types of waste management categories are increasing throughout time?
Recycling and composting
What materials make up the majority of materials in our landfills? In our recycling stream?
In terms of landfills, it consists of organic waste such as food scraps, yard waste, and paper products. Plastics, metals, and glass also make up a significant portion. In terms of the recycling stream, materials such as paper, cardboard, plastics, metals, and class are commonly recycled
What is the Precautionary Principle?
In the absence of scientific certainty, if an action or policy has potential to cause farm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken to prevent or minimize such harm
What was the main outcome of the Stockholm Convention? How did it relate to the Precautionary Principle
It aimed to control and eventually eliminate harmful chemicals called persistent organic pollutants (POPs). It required countries to take steps to reduce the production and use of these chemicals and to monitor their impact on the environment. This agreement was guided by the Precautionary Principle.
What different waste management options exist?
Reduce, reuse, recycle, compost, waste-to-energy, landfilling, waste-to-materials
What are some potential limitations of landfills?
They produce significant amounts of methane as organic waste decomposes anaerobically in the absence of oxygen. They can also generate leachate, a toxic liquid that forms as rainwater percolates through the waste and picks up contaminants. They can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are hazardous air pollutants
Why may landfills not be a viable solution in the future?
Climate change may exacerbate the environmental impacts of landfills, such as increased risks of flooding, erosion, and leachate contamination. Depletion of available land for landfilling, scarcity of suitable landfill sites, and competition for land use from over development activities may constrain the availability and expansion of landfill capacity.
Reduce
Refers to the minimizing the amount of waste generated int he first place
Reuse
Involves finding alternative uses for items instead of discarding them after a single use
Recycle
Involves collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be discarded into new products
Repurpose
Involves finding creative ways to use items for new purposes or functions
Refuse
Refers to actively choosing not to purchase or accept items that are unnecessary, wasteful, or harmful to the environment
What resource recovery and reduction measures exist? (aluminum, paper,
cardboard, glass, steel, tires, plastics)
Aluminum
- highly recyclable and can be melted down and reused indefinitely without losing its quality
- Encouraging the use of aluminum products with minimal packaging or promoting reusable aluminum containers can help reduce waste generation
Paper and cardboard
- Widely recyclable materials
- Implementing paperless initiatives such as digital communication and electronic billing can help reduce paper consumption and waste
Glass
- 100% recyclable and can be recycled indefinitely without losing quality
- Promoting reusable glass containers and bottles or implementing refillable beverage programs can help reduce single-use glass packaging waste
Steel
- Highly recyclable and can be melted down and reused in the production of new steel products
- Encouraging the use of steel products with minimal packaging or promoting reusable steel containers can help reduce waste generation
Tires
- Can be recycled into various products such as crumb rubber for use in playgrounds, athletic fields, and asphalt paving
- Implementing tire stewardship programs for tire take-back initiatives can incentivize tire manufacturers to collect and recycle end-of-life tires responsibly
Plastics
- Certain types of plastics such as PET and HDPE are widely recyclable
- Promoting alternatives to single-use plastics, such as reusable bags, containers, and utensils, or encouraging plastic-free initiatives can help reduce plastic waste generation
