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Environmental Geography

Lecture 14Hazardous Waste

Lecture 14: Hazardous Waste

I. Types and Sources of Waste

II. Solid Waste

III. Hazardous Waste

IV. Radioactive Waste

V. Regulation in the United States

VI. What can you do?

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I. Types of Waste

• Sewage: Refuse liquids or waste matter carried off by sewers

• Solid Waste: Assorted discarded materials described as trash, garbage, refuse, and litter from urban and rural land uses.

• Hazardous Waste: A toxic substance that is at risk of exposure or harm to living organisms.

Sewage Solid Waste Hazardous Waste

II. Solid Waste

Landfills Open dumping

What happens to solid waste?

•US produces about 700 million tons of solid waste annually•150 – 200 million tons are municipal solid waste

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II. Solid Waste

Figure 14.1

II. Solid Waste

•With only 5% of the global population, the US is the leader in waste output

•Canada and Australia produce less waste (because of smaller populations)

•Most European countries produce considerably less•The UK, Sweden and Japan produce half as much waste person as the

US.•Countries such as India produce only a small fraction of the per capita

waste of the United States

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III. Hazardous Waste

•Hazardous waste: Toxic materials (DDT, solvents, and lead) are exposed or in some way causing harm.

•Most hazardous waste comes from three sources: chemical manufacturing, primary metal manufacturing, and petroleum refining

6 Classes of Hazardous Waste

1. Heavy metals (e.g. lead, zinc, and arsenic)2. Synthetic organic compounds (e.g. PCB, DDT, and dioxin)3. Petroleum products (e.g. grease, oil, and gasoline4. Acids (e.g. hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid)5. Biological substances (e.g. bacteria and plant toxins)6. Radioactive materials (e.g. nuclear fuel rods and nuclear medical materials

III. Hazardous Waste

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III. Hazardous Waste

III. Hazardous Waste

How did we used to get rid of hazardous waste?

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III. Hazardous Waste

How do we get rid of hazardous waste today?Export

III. Hazardous Waste

How do we get rid of hazardous waste today?Disposal •Secure Landfill

•Surface Impoundment

•Deep – well injection

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III. Hazardous Waste

How do we get rid of hazardous waste today?Disposal •Ocean dumping

IV. Radioactive Waste

Types of Radioactive Waste:•Low Level: Generated by medical facilities, industry, and research

laboratories. Disposal is usually accomplished by burial.

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IV. Radioactive Waste

Types of Radioactive Waste:•High Level: Created from nuclear power plants. Waste is either

reprocessed or stored for radioactive decay.

IV. Radioactive Waste

Types of Radioactive Waste:•High Level: Created from nuclear power plants. Waste is either

reprocessed or stored for radioactive decay.

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V. Regulations

•Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (1976) (RCRA)•The U.S. Superfund Program•Polluter-Pay Laws•Nuclear Waste Policy Act (1982)

http://www.epa.gov/superfund/

VI. What can you do?

•Reduce the amount and toxicity of trash you discard. •Reuse containers and products; repair what is broken or give it to

someone who can repair it. •Recycle as much as possible, which includes buying products with

recycled content.