1. Describe the components and structure of a sanitary landfill by explaining
what each component does and why it is important to the operation of a
landfill.
A sanitary landfill consists of several key components: a liner that prevents
contaminants from entering the soil and groundwater; a leachate system that
collects harmful liquids; waste compaction and covering to reduce odors and pests;
a gas system that collects methane to minimize pollution; and a capping layer that
prevents rainwater intrusion. Together, these components serve to protect the
environment.
2. Name and describe the three steps of recycling.
These three steps are collection, processing, and remanufacturing. Collection
involves gathering recyclable materials from household waste. Processing entails
sorting and cleaning the materials—for instance, separating them into paper,
plastic, and metal. Remanufacturing involves transforming these materials into
new products, thereby reducing waste and conserving resources.
3. Recall The Story Of Stuff (from Module 4). Describe how consumerism
contributes to solid waste.
As stated in The Story of Stuff, consumerism leads to an increase in solid waste, as
people purchase goods far beyond their actual needs. Many products are designed
to be discarded after only a brief period of use, thereby establishing a
"produce—consume—discard" cycle. This results in rising waste volumes and
worsening pollution.
4. Name 2 materials usually discarded as solid waste that are valuable and easily
recyclable and describe how they are recovered and reused.
The first type of resource is aluminum; once collected and melted down, it can be
remade into new cans. This process allows for significant resource conservation.
The second type consists of paper products; the paper is collected, cleaned, and
processed into pulp, which is then used to manufacture new paper goods. This
helps reduce both the need to cut down trees and the volume of waste.
5. Describe two different and specific ways you could reduce the use of plastic in
your everyday life.
The first method is to use your own shopping bag when going shopping; the
second is to use your own cup when going out, thereby reducing plastic waste.
6. A) Name 4 different toxic substances and give one fun fact about each.
B) Describe the process of biomagnification (bioamplification) relative to
trophic levels (remember module 2?).
Mercury: It can damage the brain and is often found in fish. Lead: It affects the
nervous system, especially in children. DDT: It is a pesticide that caused bird
eggshells to become thin. BPA: It is found in plastics and may affect hormones.
As mentioned in previous chapters, biomagnification refers to the process by which
the concentration of toxic substances increases within a food chain as one moves up
the trophic levels. Small organisms absorb toxins, and larger organisms consume
many of these smaller ones, causing the toxins to accumulate and persist within their
bodies. Consequently, top-tier predators at the apex of the food chain harbor the
highest concentrations of toxins.
7. A) Why is it so difficult to reduce the use of plastics in your everyday life?
Use at least two examples.
Plastic is ubiquitous in daily life. A vast amount of food packaging is made of
plastic—a material chosen largely due to its low cost—and many household goods
are also packaged in it.
B) Describe the "Pacific Gyre" and describe how it is related to global plastics
pollution.
The Pacific Gyre is a massive ocean current system within the Pacific Ocean that
accumulates floating plastic debris, forming the "Pacific Garbage Patch." This
demonstrates that seawater, too, is heavily contaminated with plastic waste.
8. A) Name the four main types of hazardous wastes.
The four main types of hazardous wastes are ignitable, corrosive, reactive, and toxic.
B) Describe how heavy metals are hazardous to human health by giving 2 specific
examples.
Heavy metals are harmful because they can damage the body and build up over time.
C) Describe what E-waste is and how it may be recycled.
E-waste means discarded electronic devices such as phones, computers, and TVs.
9. A) What are biological resources?
Biological resources are natural resources that come from living organisms, such
as plants, animals, and microorganisms.
B) Explain the value of biological resources in terms of biodiversity and
ecosystem services (remember about ecosystem services?).
Biological resources are important because they support biodiversity and
ecosystem services.
C) Describe two threats to biodiversity by explicitly explaining what that threat
does to degrade that biological resource.
One threat is deforestation, which destroys habitats and reduces biodiversity.
Animals lose their homes and may die or move away.Another threat is pollution,
which contaminates water and soil. This harms organisms and can reduce species
populations.