Sean Edward Paquette
Homework Number 2
February 12, 2014
Problem 2-1:
A large furniture manufacturer produces 100 tons of industrial solid waste per day. This firm has
decided to locate in a small community of 1500 residents. If the wastes from this plant go to the town
landfill, which has an estimated life of 4 years, and if the cost of the operating the landfill to the town
is $10 per ton, how much more will this cost the town. How much sooner will the town need a new
landfill?
It will cost the town an additional $ 3.65 million extra per year. The town will need a new landfill 4 times
sooner than if the large furniture manufacturer didn’t dispose of their waste. After a 4 year period there
will still be an additional 146,000 tons of solid waste.
Problem 2-2:
Estimate, using input analysis, the quantity of paper of different categories that might be obtained
from the building you work or study.
Paper Type:
Quantity:
81/2 x 11 Std 20 Std boxes
81/2 x 14 Std 1 Std box
11 x 14 Std
8 Std boxes
24 x 34
1 roll
36 x 48
3 rolls
Problem 2-3:
A landfill operation uses a tractor to compact the waste. The tractor weights 8 tons and has two
tracks, each 2ft x 10ft. Estimate the maximum compaction attainable in the landfill.
[(2ft x 10ft) / (8 tons)] x 2 = 0.20 tons per square foot
The estimated maximum compaction attainable in the landfill is 30%
Problem 2-4:
Headline from the Chapel Hill News, “There is enough energy in our garbage to replace all the oil we
presently get from Iraq and Iran.” Using your knowledge as a solid waste engineer, write a helpful
letter to the editor.
Dear Editor, I understand and mostly agree with your statement although as an experienced solid waste
engineer there are many concerns and considerations which were not address in your statement. Areas
of concern which need to be addressed are the following: How does one collect and store the large
amounts of waste for efficiency? What technologies would be used to create the energy? How do we
store the new mass amounts and furthermore, how do we distribute the create energy?
Problem 2-5
What is meant by moisture transfer in the refuse management, and why is this important in studies
on refuse composition and materials recovery or energy conversion?
Moisture transfer is also called moisture vapor transmission rate which is a measure of the passage of
water through a substance. Moisture transfer is important in studies on refuse composition and
materials recovery because it identifies the decomposition period on a material. The decomposition
period can provide insight to how large a landfill needs to be or at what point will the decomposition
heat peak to provide maximum energy.
Sean Edward Paquette
Homework Number 2
February 12, 2014
Problem 2-6:
What do you believe is the approximate composition of solid waste produced at your university?
RPI Hartford is an older campus; typically the building is populated with facility and staff through the
week. Most students have class on Thursdays and Saturdays, these day are the most populated for RPI.
Furthermore, RPI is continually updating the building structure. An engineer estimate for the total
composition of solid waste is one 8ft x 20ft dumper per month.
Problem 2-7:
Use examples and definitions to describe what is meant by code and switch in material recovery
operations.
Currently, I am still working through the meaning of code and switch in material recovery operations.
Problem 2-8:
How have the plastics industry responded to the threat of restrictive legislations with regard to
plastics?
The plastic industries are diligently striving for overall plastic use reduction, using newer elements to
increase strength and durability.
Problem 2-9:
The town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, has about 100,000 people. The Smith Center has a volume of
about 180,000 cubic yards. If the town of Chapel Hill used the Smith Center as a refuse disposal site,
how long would it take to fill up?
Assume the average person uses 1 cubic yard per week. (52 weeks x 100,000 people / 180,000) = 28
years
Problem 2-10:
Describe what is meant by as-received, moisture-free, and moisture-and ash free heat value. How are
these calculated?
Currently, I am still working through the meaning of moisture-free and moisture and ash free heat value.
Problem 2-11:
The State of California requires its communities to divert 50% of municipal solid waste from landfills.
Discuss both the objective and the calculations used to attain such high diversion rates. How would
you revise the mandate to achieve what the original intent of the program was to do – to recycle
more refuse? Show your calculations.
The state of California’s requirement to divert 50% of municipal solid water from landfills was
established to attempt to maintain similar environmental and landfill volume to when the requirement
was created. Therefore, the State of California’s goal was to increase the amount of recycled refuse
throughout each community. I would establish a mandate on a household level, with state credits.
Sean Edward Paquette
Homework Number 2
February 12, 2014
Problem 2-12:
Is polystyrene recycled in your community? If it is not recycled, call the community solid waste office
and ask why it is not?
Polystyrene is a strong plastic that can be injected, extruded or blow molded. Styrofoam is a popular
packaging material. Below is a statement from Rocky Hill, CT.
Problem 2-13:
Compare the volume occupied by 100lb of refuse following baling with the same waste as it would be
in the garbage can. Assume the composition shown in the table below. For miscellaneous wastes,
assume a loose density of 300lb/y3 and a baled density of the combined waste, loose and baled?
Sean Edward Paquette
Homework Number 2
February 12, 2014
Problem 2-14:
Using the moisture contents of the waste components give in the table below, calculate the overall
moisture content of the waste having the composition also shown. This calculation can be simplified
by assuming 100lb of waste.
The overall moisture content is calculated: 1 – (Total Dry weight / Total Percent by Weight)
Sean Edward Paquette
Homework Number 2
February 12, 2014
Problem 2-15:
Calculate the moisture content of the waste in Problem 2-14 on both wet and a dry basis. Why the
difference? Which number makes more sense to you and why?
Problem 2-16:
Determine the composition of the waste in Problem 2-14 if yard waste is separately collected. How
would this affect the moisture content?
Removing yard waste reduced the moisture content, which then requires less energy.
Sean Edward Paquette
Homework Number 2
February 12, 2014
Problem 2-17:
Using the energy content (wet basis) of the waste components given in the Table P2-17, calculate the
overall energy content of the waste having the composition shown. This calculation can be simplified
by assuming 100lb of waste.
Problem 2-18:
Determine the composition of the waste in Problem 2-17 if 10% of the wood waste, 50% of the paper,
30% of the metals and 25% of the plastics are recycled. How would this affect the energy content?
Recycling reduces the energy content.
Sean Edward Paquette
Homework Number 2
February 12, 2014
Problem 2-19:
To achieve a 60% volume reduction of a cardboard carton, how much energy would be needed?
Based on Figure 2-13 you will need roughly 10ft-lb energy of the cardboard.
Problem 2-20:
How has municipal solid waste generation and diversion in the United States changed since 2008?
Graphs below are from epa.gov.