Environmental Science Notes Outline
Unit 11: Waste
Waste
1. What happens to waste that is produced in a natural ecosystem?
2. What is the waste stream?
3. Briefly describe each of these components of the waste stream:
a. Agricultural waste:
b. Mining Waste:
c. Industrial Waste:
d. Municipal Solid Waste:
4. What is biodegradable waste?
5. What is non-degradable waste?
6. List some examples of hazardous wastes commonly found in homes, using the categories below:
a. Cleaning products:
b. Paint products:
c. Gardening Products:
d. Automotive Products:
e. General:
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Environmental Science Notes Outline
Unit 11: Waste
7. What is the largest portion of U.S. municipal solid waste by weight?
8. What is an open dump?
a. Why are open dumps illegal in most developed countries?
9. What is the purpose of the clay and plastic lining at the bottom of sanitary landfills?
10. List some advantages of using sanitary landfills:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
11. List some disadvantages of using sanitary landfills:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
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Environmental Science Notes Outline
Unit 11: Waste
g.
h.
12. Landfills have been the most popular solution for solid waste. Why are they becoming more
expensive?
13. What is incineration?
a. How much does incineration reduce the volume of waste?
b. What are tipping fees? How do they compare to those of landfills?
14. List some advantages of incinerating waste:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
15. List some disadvantages of incinerating waste:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
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Environmental Science Notes Outline
Unit 11: Waste
f.
g.
16. What is refuse-derived fuel?
17. What is mass burn incineration?
a. What are the environmental problems with mass burn?
18. Describe 7 benefits to recycling?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
19. What are 6 potential problems/disadvantages with recycling?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
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Environmental Science Notes Outline
Unit 11: Waste
g.
20. Define composting –
21. What is the cheapest and most effective way of dealing with waste?
22. What is integrated waste management (IWM)?
23. Describe IWM in detail:
24. List the waste management strategies, beginning with the preferred (top).
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Hazardous Waste
25. What are the five criteria used to identify hazardous waste?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
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Environmental Science Notes Outline
Unit 11: Waste
26. Describe what happened in Love Canal, NY:
27. What changes to hazardous waste disposal occurred as a result of the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976?
28. Describe what the CERCLA or “Superfund” law does.
29. What have countries that signed the Basel Convention agreed to do?
30. Give an example of high-level nuclear waste and low-level nuclear waste.
31. What is a half-life?
32. Where are depleted fuel rods stored initially? Where are they placed now (long-term)?
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