MORE TRASH TALK MORE TRASH TALK (DID I EVER TELL YOU I REALLY LIKE YO (DID I EVER TELL YOU I REALLY LIKE YO

MAMMA JOKES?)MAMMA JOKES?)

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Trash – what’s the big deal? Write down three things that occur to you while you watch this clip.

Fresh Kills Landfill NYFresh Kills Landfill NYCan be seen from

space!NY landfill 1948-

2001At peak

operation, 29,000 tons daily, 10 million tons/yr.

That’s a major pile of junk!

Landfills in TejasLandfills in TejasAbout 2,000 in US678 in Texas21 operating in

Harris countyAverage Texas

landfill:172 acres28 ft below surface43 ft above surface

That’s a lot of habitat!That’s a lot of habitat!

““Sanitary Landfill”? Sanitary Landfill”? Modern Landfill design: 3 main components

1. Leachate collection 1. Leachate collection AcetoneBenzeneLead & other

heavy metalsChlorides

2. Wait – where did the 2. Wait – where did the methane come from?methane come from?

Aerobic respiration vs. Anaerobic respiration

Formulas?When

decomposers decompose, they’re doing cellular respiration!

Organic materials in a landfill Organic materials in a landfill do not decompose at normal do not decompose at normal ratesrates

Prof. Rathje – The Garbage Project at University of Arizona

Archaeological study of landfills from 1973 to 2005

21 landfills, 2 million + items, 15,000 household

Calendar dated 1976 dug up Calendar dated 1976 dug up in 1988 – how long was it in in 1988 – how long was it in there?there?

Landfill in San Francisco

Did this decompose?

Methane collectionMethane collectionFerris, Texas landfillWaste Management

Inc., the nation's largest garbage hauler and landfill operator, plans to spend roughly $400 million over the next five years building facilities at 60 landfills to convert methane gas to electricity, its most ambitious renewable energy project to date.

Smart companies use Smart companies use methane as a resourcemethane as a resource

One of four engine that burn methane gas from a landfill in Ferris, Texas and turns it into electricity

Environmental impact of methane going into the air?

Is that problem solved here?

3. Clay cap seals landfill3. Clay cap seals landfillReclaimed

landfills can be used as:

ParksGolf coursesSki areasWildlife habitatBUT NOT:

homes, lakes, farmland

What about incineration?What about incineration?Haverhill Resource

Recovery Facility1,650 tons-per-day

of solid waste 40 megawatts of

renewable energy sold wholesale on New England's power grid.

Location: 100 Recovery Way, Haverhill, Massachusetts

Pros? Cons?Pros? Cons?

Once it’s full, then what?Once it’s full, then what?Case Study

prereading – citizens and landfill company representatives – predict their points of view

Case study: As you read:Case study: As you read:Write down 5W’s Left side:

Arguments/considerations FOR the landfill

Right side: Arguments/considerations AGAINST the landfill

Landfill siting Landfill siting considerations:considerations:FOR landfill AGAINST landfill