Solid waste

Question 1

4 main categories of waste

Answer 1

• domestic
• agricultural
• industrial
• mining

Question 2

Properties of solid waste that determine pollutant properties and may determine storage and disposal

Answer 2

• degradability - how rapidly waste breaks down
• flammability - how flammable it is
• toxicity - how toxic the waste is to humans, environment etc
• radioactivity

Question 3

How does affluence affect waste generation

Answer 3

• increased affluence - increase waste generation
  Because:
• can afford more products
• buy things they don’t really need
• may buy too much of things

Question 4

3 ways manufactures and the retail industry increases sales and in turn waste

Answer 4

• inbuilt obsolescence
• single-use items
• unnecessary wrapping

Question 5

Factors affecting solid waste disposal methods

Answer 5

• population density
• amount of waste produced
• land availability
• legislation and regulations
• household income and affluence

Question 6

Overview of landfill tax system

Answer 6

• late 1990s
• tax put on landfills - ^ expenses
• increase tax year on year
• now on tax per tonne - £100 per tonne

Question 7

What is a spoil heap

Answer 7

• pile of material that is of low value, that has low toxicity and left on the landscape

Question 8

Points to consider when managing and planning remediation of a spoil heap

Answer 8

• stability
• drainage
• lack of nutrients
• pH
• contamination
• heavy metals

Question 9

Improvement to stability

Answer 9

• plant vegetation - root building
• compact it

Question 10

Improvement to drainage

Answer 10

• ^ drainage if cause damage
• decrease mass = decrease risk

Question 11

Improvement to lack of nutrients

Answer 11

• add top soil
• apply organic waste sewage

Question 12

Improvements to pH

Answer 12

• add crushed limestone or lime

Question 13

Improvements to contamination

Answer 13

• phytomining

Question 14

Improvement to heavy metals

Answer 14

• reduce pH - add limestone
• reduce mobility
• soil cover and vegetation

Question 15

Description of landfill

Answer 15

• choose a site
• prepare the area - putting down a protective layer - stop leaking
• add waste
• watch for problems - check for leaks
• close it up when full

Question 16

Advantages of landfill

Answer 16

• waste management
• controlled disposal
• energy generation

Question 17

Disadvantages of landfill

Answer 17

• environmental pollution
• land use
• loss of habitats

Question 18

Description of incineration

Answer 18

• collect waste
• sort waste
• shred and burn waste
• control emissions
• dispose ash

Question 19

Advantages of incineration

Answer 19

• reduce landfill use
• less land requirement
• controlled emissions

Question 20

Disadvantages of incineration

Answer 20

• air pollution
• high costs
• public opposition
• greenhouse gas emissions

Question 21

Description of encapsulation and vitrification

Answer 21

• heavy metals have low radioactive waste
• mixed in cement - poured in container
• buried into ground or landfills
• grind waste and mix it with molten glass
• poured into container

Question 22

Features of a good landfill site

Answer 22

• traffic management
• collection of methane
• regular covering with soil to reduce pest problems

Question 23

Features of a good incinerator

Answer 23

• recyclable waste
• waste with high water content removed
• atmospheric pollution is controlled

Question 24

Sources of cyanide

Answer 24

• paper
• plastics
• textiles

Question 25

Dangers of cyanide

Answer 25

- inhaled or ingested - very toxic

Question 26

Treatment of cyanide

Answer 26

- incineration - break bonds in cyanide compounds - produce oxides of carbon

Question 27

Sources of asbestos

Answer 27

- insulation materials - roofing - textiles

Question 28

Dangers of asbestos

Answer 28

- fibers escape - when inhaled can cause respiratory issues - cancer causing

Question 29

Treatments of asbestos

Answer 29

- building a barrier around it - reduces exposure - double bagged - wear protective equipment

Question 30

Advantages of recycling

Answer 30

- waste reduction - creates jobs - reduces pollution - protects biodiversity

Question 31

Disadvantages of recycling

Answer 31

- contamination by food or other substances - transportation impact - limited awareness - difficult to separate

Question 32

How is virgins aluminum obtained

Answer 32

- mine bauxite - crush it - bayed process - mix it with NaOH - clarification - undissolved impurities removed - precipitation - aluminum hydroxide precipitate out - calcination - AH filtered, washed + heated - electrolytic reduction - casting

Question 33

What are the benefits if aluminum recycling

Answer 33

- cost effective - low enviro impacts - creates jobs

Question 34

What are the challenges when recycling aluminum

Answer 34

- limited awareness - contamination