H.S. 356A:

Modules

E. Solid and Hazardous Wastes

  1. Solid Waste Definitions
  2. Sanitary Landfills
  3. Defining "Hazardous Waste"
  4. Acronyms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Solid Waste Definitions  

 
A. Solid            discarded material (EPA definition)
   waste: 
 
          includes: solids, liquids, contained gases 
 
          excludes: agricultural wastes returned to soil       
                    mining and milling wastes returned to mine                                          
                    domestic sewage, and nuclear materials (!)                         
 
   1. garbage:      relatively decomposable wastes 
                       (kitchen, food wastes)
 
   2. rubbish:      relatively non-decomposable wastes 
                       (paper,cloth, glass, metal)    
 
 
B. phases:    input           process       output       outcome       
                                                                           
              generation -->  transfer -->  disposal --> effects        
                         |             |             |          |      
                      source        resource     remediation    |      
                      reduction     recovery               compensation
   
 
   3. collection:      greatest cost of solid waste management                                                                         
                                                                     
   4. transfer:        temporary holding facilities                  
                          (for collection, storage, some treatment)  
                                                                     
   5. treatment:       to reduce volume, mass, or risk               
                                                                     
      6. incineration: controlled combustion of waste                
                                                                     
         7. RDF:        refuse derived fuel (waste is incinerated)   
                                                                                                   
         8. mass burn:  nothing is sorted                            
                                                                     
         9. controls:   temperature (1400-1800 degrees F.)           
                        turbulence (oxygen) -- grates:               
                           rectangular, vertical circular,           
                           rotary kiln, others                       
                        time (continuous preferred over batch)       
                                                                     
         10.ash:        solid residue that remains after burning     
 
                        (bottom ash = at bottom of incinerator)      
                        (fly ash = smaller airborne particles)       
                                                                     
      11.pyrolysis:    burn wastes with no added oxygen ("roasting") 
 
 
 
	Solid Waste (continued)
 
   
  12. composting:       controlled biodegradation of 
                        plant and animal matter
      
      13. humus:        decomposed plant and animal matter
                        soil conditioner (poor fertilizer)
 
      14. windrows:     long rows of compost
 
      15. procedure:    shred (allows faster decomposition)                   
                        spread in thin layers (2"-6"): 
                           carbon layers:    paper, leaves, sawdust           
                           nitrogen layers:  grass, kitchen scraps, fruit     
                           activator layers: manure (dog droppings, etc.)
                                             soil                             
                                             fertilizer                       
                        sprinkle with water to maintain moistness             
                        ventilate                                             
                                                                 
      16. problems:     AVOID:  meat, grease, bones, and weeds                                               
                        odor: if ammonia smell, add carbon                                                   
                              if rotting smell, add carbon,       
                                                ventilate,        
                                                stop watering     
                        if too slow: add nitrogen, activator      
                                     maintain water and oxygen 
 
   
17. resource            any process where materials are recovered     
    recovery:           rather than discarded                    
    18.  reuse:         use again in same way 
 
    19.  reclamation:   (utilization) use in new ways 
 
    20.  recycling:     use raw material in various ways 
                        (e.g., cullet = ground glass)
 
 
21. source              to re-evaluate and eliminate waste generation
    reduction: 
 
22. tipping fees:       charge to dump garbage at a 
                        disposal site ($/ton)
 
 
 

Assignment: list as many controls as you can for the common cold.

Test your knowledge with a: quiz

Send your questions (or read others)  to:  hypernews
 
For more information,  try:   solid and hazardous wastes
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
               
                                         
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

2. Sanitary Landfills

   
A. Features:
 
   1. protective    clay soils or 
      lining:       synthetic liners (PVC, PE)
   2. layers        8-10 ft. deep (after compaction)                          
      (lifts):      intermediate settling (prefer 1 year)                 
                       before next lift                                   
   3. cover         daily:        6 inches                            
      material:     intermediate: 12 inches                              
                    final cover:  24 inches                               
                                  2-4 % grade (for proper drainage)       
                                  less than 30 degrees on side slopes     
B. Methods: 
 
   4. area:         uses natural slope: valley or ravine methods 
                                        low area method          
                                        ramp method              
   5. trench:       man-made
 
C. Processes:    
 
   6. LFG:          landfill gas                                          
 
      aerobic:      a. lasts several days to several months               
      anaerobic:    b. mostly CO2 formation (acid formers)                
                    c. increased methane formation (methane producers)    
                    d. stabilized (roughly equal % of methane and CO2)    
                                  (lesser levels of NH3 and H2S)          
      rates:        depend on temperature, pH (acid inhibits growth),           
                    moisture, type of wastes                              
      methane:      explosive limit of 5%                                          
                                                                          
   7. Leachate:     from waste itself, or water entering landfill         
                    high in organics, heavy metals                        
                                                                          
D. Daily concerns: 
 
   8. records:      type and amount of waste received                
                       (measure by weight, because volume changes),     
                    # and type of personnel, equipment               
                    monitoring leachate and gas production 
   9. procedures:   standby equipment                                         
                    exposed waste area is minimized                           
                    work with prevailing wind                                 
                    portable fencing (prevent wind blown waste)               
                    compact to 12-18 inch layers (4-5 passes of tractor)  
                                                                
E. Long-term concerns:     
 
   10. space:       land area needed                  
   11. access:      fences, signs
   12. time:        20-40 years operation             
 
 
 
 

Assignment: list as many controls as you can for the common cold.

Test your knowledge with a: quiz

Send your questions (or read others)  to:  hypernews
 
For more information,  try:   solid and hazardous wastes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

3. Defining "Hazardous Waste"  

 
I. Under different federal laws:
 
     production                environment                  waste
                                                             
                      |--> hazardous air pollutants -->|
                      |    [Clean Air Act (CAA)]       |
                      |                                |
     toxic ---------->|--> toxic pollutants ---------->|--> hazardous 
     substances       |    [Clean Water Act (CWA)]     |    wastes 
     (TSCA)           |                                |    (RCRA)   
                      |--> hazardous substances ------>|    
                      |    (CWA, RCRA, CERCLA)         |   
                      |                                |
                      |--> hazardous materials ------->|
                           (HMTA)
 
 
II. Under RCRA 
 
    A. "D-Wastes":      exhibit at least one of 
                        four characteristics: 
 
       1. ignitibility: flash point < 140 deg. F.
 
       2. corrosivity:  pH < 2, > 12.5,   or
                        corrode steel at > 1/4 inch per year
       3. reactivity:   explosiveness and toxic by-products 
                        from chemical reactions
       4. toxicity:     standard extraction procedure (EPA)
 
 
    B. any of four lists (created by EPA, and 
       taking precedence over the above characteristics):
 
       5. F-list:       from generic processes
                        e.g., degreasing, solvents, electroplating
 
       6. K-list:       by type of industry:
                        e.g., iron and steel, petroleum refining 
                             pesticides, explosives 
           
       7. U-list:       "toxic wastes" (numerous qualifications)
 
       8. P-list:       "acutely hazardous"
                            presents substantial hazard 
                            whether improperly managed or not.            
      
    C. Mixtures of solid waste with waste listed above 
 
    D. Waste from the treatment, storage, or disposal (TSD) 
       of wastes listed above
 
 
  
Assignment: list as many controls as you can for the common cold.

Test your knowledge with a: quiz

Send your questions (or read others)  to:  hypernews
 
For more information,  try:   solid and hazardous wastes
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

4. Acronyms  

 
A. General Considerations 
 
   1. DOT:       Department of Transportation                                    
 
   2. HMTA:      Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (DOT)                    
 
   3. HCS:       Hazard Communication Standard (OSHA)                            
 
   4. CHEMTREC:  CHEMical TRansportation Emergency Center (CMA)              
                 (1-800-424-9300)      
 
   5. CMA:       Chemical Manufacturers Association                               
 
B. RCRA and HSWA                                 
 
   6. SQG:       small quantity generators (below legally 
                 prescribed quantities, generators are subject 
                 to less stringent RCRA requirements)    
 
   7. HSWA:      Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments 
                 of 1984 (to RCRA)          
 
C. CERCLA                                                                      
 
   8. RQ:        Reportable Quantity (under CERCLA, releases above 
                 this level must be reported to the national response 
                 center, a toll free hotline at 1-800-424-8802).                    
 
   9. NCP:       National Contingency Plan                                
 
   10. CERCLIS:  Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation,         
                 and Liability Information System (an inventory,             
                 often a prelude to being placed on NPL)                     
 
   11. HRS:      Hazard Ranking System                                    
 
   12. NPL:      National Priorities List (based on HRS)                  
 
D. SARA
 
   13. ATSDR:    Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry        
 
   14. EPCRA:    Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act 
                 (title 3 of SARA)                                  
 
   15. TPQ:      Threshold Planning Quantity (under SARA, 
                 releases above this level must be reported 
                 to the State Emergency Response Commission).
 
   16. TRI:      Toxic Release Inventory                            
 
 

Assignment: list as many controls as you can for the common cold.

Test your knowledge with a: quiz

Send your questions (or read others)  to:  hypernews
 
For more information,  try:   solid and hazardous wastes
 
 
 
   
 
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