POST-TEST ID ______________
Occupation__________________ If education, subject(s)/grade(s) currently teaching: ________________
Highest degree level attained and area of study: _____________________________________________
WN2 Solid Waste and E-Waste Knowledge Assessment
This questionnaire will be included in a US EPA report in partial fulfillment of funding requirements and may also be used in a professional paper.
Strongly
Agree
Somewhat
Agree
Somewhat
Disagree
Strongly
Disagree
No Opinion
SECTION A. (Mark one answer for each statement)








































9) Toxic or hazardous waste disposal is a pressing issue





10) Other ___________________________________________________





Statements:
1) Groundwater quality is a pressing issue
2) Solid waste disposal is a pressing issue
3) Air pollution is a pressing issue
4) Loss of wetlands is a pressing issue
5) E-waste is a pressing issue
6) Over development (urban sprawl and loss of green space) is a pressing issue
7) Extinction of animal and plant species is a pressing issue
8) Loss of forest lands is a pressing issue
SECTION B. (Mark one answer)
1.
Where does most solid waste generated in the U.S. end up?

Unregulated dumps (e.g. roadsides, open pits)

Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Incinerators

Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs)

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfills

Don’t know
2.
Which of the following is TRUE?

Well-designed and constructed modern day landfills produce no leachate.

Covering a landfill with soil everyday is a leachate minimizing procedure at landfills.

Leachate describes only those solutions that are neither toxic, flammable, nor corrosive.

Groundwater is fully protected from leachate contamination by a system of pipes and liners/barriers within and under a landfill

Don’t know
3.
In terms of weight, nearly 36% of municipal solid waste is made up of …..?

Plastics

Metals

Yard trimmings

Paper

Don’t know
4.
About how much municipal solid waste was generated in the US in 2001, the latest year for which figures are available from the US EPA?

1.43 thousand tons

625.9 thousand tons

229 million tons

6.8 billion tons

Don’t know
5.
According to the US EPA, how much municipal solid waste did the average person in the United States generate per day in 2001?

About 2 pounds

About 4.4 pounds

About 1.3 pounds

About 7.7 pounds

Don’t know
1
6.
To which of the following does E-waste refer?

Items that use electricity to operate and that contain flammable, corrosive, or reactive components but are not toxic

Items that process and display information and possess complex circuitry, circuit boards, or signal processing

Items that process and display information and that contain flammable, corrosive, or reactive components but are not toxic

Items that use electricity to operate but do not display or process information

Don’t know
7.
Where does most of the e-waste generated in the U.S. currently reside?

In closets, basements, and warehouses

In landfills

In ships, trains, and trucks headed overseas

In incinerator fly ash piles

Don’t know
8.
Which of the following heavy metals is associated with e-waste?

Mercury

Thallium

Lead

Cadmium

Don’t know
9.
Which one of the following substances is contained in cathode ray tube (CRT) glass?

Lead

Methane

Nitrous oxide

Dioxins

Don’t know
10.
What toxic substance is harmful to our health when polyvinyl chloride is burned?

Dioxin

Methylmercury

Hexavalent Chromium

Brominated flame-retardants

Don’t know
11.
Where is polyvinyl chloride (PVC) commonly found?

Liquid crystal displays

Printed wiring boards (circuit boards)

Lead solder

Wire insulation

Don’t know
12.
Which of the following is least likely to contain mercury?

Manual thermostats

Flourescent lightbulbs

Refrigerators and freezers

Electric space heaters

Don’t know
13.
Which of the following statements about dilution as an approach to handling toxic wastes is TRUE?

Dilution removes the toxic materials in liquid wastes

Diluting a liquid until it is clear means that the liquid is safe for disposal in local sewers

Dilution lowers the concentration of toxic materials in liquid wastes

All of the above

Don’t know
14.
Which of the following statements about disposal of toxic (hazardous) wastes is TRUE?

There are no guidelines and laws governing household toxic wastes

Even though most industries produce waste on a large scale they are NOT required to dispose of toxic waste in approved
hazardous waste facilities

Municipal solid waste landfills are not permitted to receive hazardous waste

All of the above

Don’t know
15.
Which of the following costs must be considered when accounting for waste disposal?

Private costs

Social costs

Opportunity costs

Externality costs

Don’t know
16.
For a recycling program to be economically successful what conditions are necessary?

A high consumer demand for recycling products

Scarcity of supply

Consumer demand for and supply of recycling products

Pollution and scarce resources

Don’t know
2
SECTION C.
Mark one answer that best describes your level of daily activity.
Level of Activity
Never
Some of
the time
Most
of the time
Always
Doesn’t
Apply















4) Turn off lights and electrical appliances when not in
use





5) Try to cut down on the amount of trash and garbage
you create





6) Use other types of transportation, such as biking,
walking, instead of driving your car















1) Take unwanted electronic items and other items
containing hazardous waste to a Household Hazardous
Waste collection center
2) Recycle things such as newspapers, cans, and
glass
3) Conserve water in your home and yard
7) Participate in a volunteer clean-up day
8) Avoid using chemicals in your yard or garden
9.
In general, how much do you know about environmental issues of solid waste?

A lot

A fair amount

Only a little

Practically nothing

Don’t know
10.
In general, how much do you know about environmental issues of e-waste?

A lot

A fair amount

Only a little

Practically nothing

Don’t know
11.
In general, how much do you know about environmental issues of hazardous waste

A lot

A fair amount

Only a little

Practically nothing

Don’t know
12.
What do you hope to learn during this institute?
3