Question 1

Use of microbes and other life forms to remove toxic contaminants from soil and ground water

Accepted Answer

A)  does not seem able to fulfill its early promise. 
B)  works but is less cost-effective than other approaches. 
C)  offers considerable promise for cleaning up contaminated material. 
D)  is the only fully risk-free method of decontamination devised so far. 
A)  does not seem able to fulfill its early promise. 
B)  works but is less cost-effective than other approaches. 
C)  offers considerable promise for cleaning up contaminated material. 
D)  is the only fully risk-free method of decontamination devised so far.

Question 2

If less-developed countries can make money while more-developed countries can rid themselves of waste, why would opponents be against exporting wastes to developing countries?

Accepted Answer

A)  Local people in the developing country probably do not know what is in the waste 
B)  People in the developing country may not have the resources to test for toxic materials in the waste 
C)  The practice can involve corrupt government officials who allow the wastes to be dumped illegally 
D)  The waste that is being exported contains unwanted materials or it would not be exported 
E)  All of these are reasons why opponents are against exporting wastes to developing countries 
A)  Local people in the developing country probably do not know what is in the waste 
B)  People in the developing country may not have the resources to test for toxic materials in the waste 
C)  The practice can involve corrupt government officials who allow the wastes to be dumped illegally 
D)  The waste that is being exported contains unwanted materials or it would not be exported 
E)  All of these are reasons why opponents are against exporting wastes to developing countries

Question 3

A brownfield is

Accepted Answer

A)  The area and property extending 200 meters around a landfill 
B)  A contaminated property that is not used to its full potential because of real or suspected contamination 
C)  A property contaminated by a sewage treatment plant 
D)  A property that was formerly contaminated and is now safe enough to be used for housing developments 
E)  A property within city limits that is used heavily but may be contaminated 
A)  The area and property extending 200 meters around a landfill 
B)  A contaminated property that is not used to its full potential because of real or suspected contamination 
C)  A property contaminated by a sewage treatment plant 
D)  A property that was formerly contaminated and is now safe enough to be used for housing developments 
E)  A property within city limits that is used heavily but may be contaminated

Question 4

According to the Household Disposal Guide, what is the best way to dispose of antifreeze?

Accepted Answer

A)  Dispose of empty in the trash 
B)  Save and bring to a hazardous waste collection site 
C)  Flush with plenty of water in the drain 
D)  Flush with plenty of water in the toilet 
E)  Recycle 
A)  Dispose of empty in the trash 
B)  Save and bring to a hazardous waste collection site 
C)  Flush with plenty of water in the drain 
D)  Flush with plenty of water in the toilet 
E)  Recycle

Question 5

Individual efforts to reduce the volume of the waste stream

Accepted Answer

A)  Have enormous cumulative effects 
B)  Are fairly useful because it demonstrates to corporations that we care 
C)  Have some effects, but we need to target industries to reduce their waste stream instead 
D)  Have little effect, but make people feel better 
E)  Matter very little 
A)  Have enormous cumulative effects 
B)  Are fairly useful because it demonstrates to corporations that we care 
C)  Have some effects, but we need to target industries to reduce their waste stream instead 
D)  Have little effect, but make people feel better 
E)  Matter very little

Question 6

The most preferable approach to municipal waste management, by far, is

Accepted Answer

A)  recycling. 
B)  reduction of production. 
C)  reuse. 
A)  recycling. 
B)  reduction of production. 
C)  reuse.

Question 7

The questions of ____ and _________ are among the biggest problems in cleaning up hazardous waste sites.

Accepted Answer

A)  Liability; degree of purity required 
B)  Appropriate technology; location 
C)  Appropriate technology; liability 
D)  Degree of purity required; appropriate technology 
E)  Location; cost 
A)  Liability; degree of purity required 
B)  Appropriate technology; location 
C)  Appropriate technology; liability 
D)  Degree of purity required; appropriate technology 
E)  Location; cost

Question 8

Organic debris such as yard waste

Accepted Answer

A)  can be composted to produce nutrient-rich soil amendments. 
B)  can be recycled, but only in the home. 
C)  is usually incinerated. 
A)  can be composted to produce nutrient-rich soil amendments. 
B)  can be recycled, but only in the home. 
C)  is usually incinerated.

Question 9

Photodegradable plastics break down

Accepted Answer

A)  When exposed to heat 
B)  By releasing photons 
C)  As they age 
D)  When exposed to pressure 
E)  When exposed to sunlight 
A)  When exposed to heat 
B)  By releasing photons 
C)  As they age 
D)  When exposed to pressure 
E)  When exposed to sunlight

Question 10

The main method for disposing of municipal wastes in the United States is ________, while ________ is the main method in Japan.

Accepted Answer

A)  Incineration; recycling 
B)  Recycling; landfilling 
C)  Landfilling; recycling 
D)  Landfilling; incineration 
E)  Recycling; incineration 
A)  Incineration; recycling 
B)  Recycling; landfilling 
C)  Landfilling; recycling 
D)  Landfilling; incineration 
E)  Recycling; incineration

Question 11

In recent decades, unregulated open dumps have ____________ in developing countries.

Accepted Answer

A)  Nearly disappeared 
B)  Mostly become regulated 
C)  Remained the primary disposal method 
D)  Been replaced by incineration and methane generation 
E)  Been replaced by sanitary landfills 
A)  Nearly disappeared 
B)  Mostly become regulated 
C)  Remained the primary disposal method 
D)  Been replaced by incineration and methane generation 
E)  Been replaced by sanitary landfills

Question 12

Unfortunately, much of excess packaging does not serve to protect the product but is a marketing tool instead.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Household wastes that properly can be flushed down the drain or toilet include all of the following except

Accepted Answer

A)  ammonia. 
B)  disinfectants. 
C)  window cleaner. 
D)  herbicides. 
A)  ammonia. 
B)  disinfectants. 
C)  window cleaner. 
D)  herbicides.

Question 14

Refuse-derived fuel has _______ energy content than raw refuse, but requires energy ________ before burning.

Accepted Answer

A)  A higher; enrichment 
B)  A lower; enrichment 
C)  About the same; enrichment 
D)  A higher; to sort 
E)  A lower; to sort 
A)  A higher; enrichment 
B)  A lower; enrichment 
C)  About the same; enrichment 
D)  A higher; to sort 
E)  A lower; to sort

Question 15

Choosing the site of a landfill depends on

Accepted Answer

A)  Local topography and drainage patterns 
B)  Proximity to aquifer recharge zones 
C)  Neighborhood and community attitudes 
D)  Permeability of underlying rock formations 
E)  All of these 
A)  Local topography and drainage patterns 
B)  Proximity to aquifer recharge zones 
C)  Neighborhood and community attitudes 
D)  Permeability of underlying rock formations 
E)  All of these

Question 16

Composting is a waste disposal method that

Accepted Answer

A)  Is useful only for single households 
B)  Is technologically complex 
C)  Vastly reduces total waste volumes 
D)  Is more environmentally costly than landfilling 
E)  Is not realistic for college students 
A)  Is useful only for single households 
B)  Is technologically complex 
C)  Vastly reduces total waste volumes 
D)  Is more environmentally costly than landfilling 
E)  Is not realistic for college students

Question 17

In the United States, about two-thirds of a ton of waste are generated for each person (including children). Compared to the United States, Japan and Europe generate about half that amount. One of the factors that probably does NOT contribute to this difference is

Accepted Answer

A)  The U.S. collection and dumping processes mix and crush everything together so separation is not possible 
B)  The fact that Japan is an island with limited space 
C)  The high rate of recycling in Japan 
D)  That people in the United States have a higher standard of living than Japan and Europe 
E)  All of these probably contribute to the difference in the waste stream 
A)  The U.S. collection and dumping processes mix and crush everything together so separation is not possible 
B)  The fact that Japan is an island with limited space 
C)  The high rate of recycling in Japan 
D)  That people in the United States have a higher standard of living than Japan and Europe 
E)  All of these probably contribute to the difference in the waste stream

Question 18

Landfills differ from open dumps in that

Accepted Answer

A)  Landfills are smaller 
B)  Dumps are cleaner and smell less 
C)  Landfilled waste is compacted and covered 
D)  Landfills are cheaper to operate 
E)  Landfills and dumps are the same thing 
A)  Landfills are smaller 
B)  Dumps are cleaner and smell less 
C)  Landfilled waste is compacted and covered 
D)  Landfills are cheaper to operate 
E)  Landfills and dumps are the same thing

Question 19

The largest share of U.S. waste is

Accepted Answer

A)  agriculture. 
B)  industrial. 
C)  mining. 
D)  municipal. 
A)  agriculture. 
B)  industrial. 
C)  mining. 
D)  municipal.

Question 20

Brownfields are

Accepted Answer

A)  properties contaminated with hazardous materials that are abandoned or not being fully used. 
B)  areas in which herbicides have accumulated in the soil such that normal plant growth is inhibited. 
C)  urban lands slated to become waste processing facilities. 
D)  lands that, because of geologic features, are best suited to host industries associated with handling hazardous materials. 
A)  properties contaminated with hazardous materials that are abandoned or not being fully used. 
B)  areas in which herbicides have accumulated in the soil such that normal plant growth is inhibited. 
C)  urban lands slated to become waste processing facilities. 
D)  lands that, because of geologic features, are best suited to host industries associated with handling hazardous materials.

Exam 21: Solid, Toxic, and Hazardous Waste

Use of microbes and other life forms to remove toxic contaminants from soil and ground water

If less-developed countries can make money while more-developed countries can rid themselves of waste, why would opponents be against exporting wastes to developing countries?

A brownfield is

According to the Household Disposal Guide, what is the best way to dispose of antifreeze?

Individual efforts to reduce the volume of the waste stream

The most preferable approach to municipal waste management, by far, is

The questions of ____ and _________ are among the biggest problems in cleaning up hazardous waste sites.

Organic debris such as yard waste

Photodegradable plastics break down

The main method for disposing of municipal wastes in the United States is ________, while ________ is the main method in Japan.

In recent decades, unregulated open dumps have ____________ in developing countries.

Unfortunately, much of excess packaging does not serve to protect the product but is a marketing tool instead.

Household wastes that properly can be flushed down the drain or toilet include all of the following except

Refuse-derived fuel has _______ energy content than raw refuse, but requires energy ________ before burning.

Choosing the site of a landfill depends on

Composting is a waste disposal method that

In the United States, about two-thirds of a ton of waste are generated for each person (including children). Compared to the United States, Japan and Europe generate about half that amount. One of the factors that probably does NOT contribute to this difference is

Landfills differ from open dumps in that

The largest share of U.S. waste is

Brownfields are

Understanding Our Environment

Principles of Science and Systems

Matter, Energy, and Life

Evolution, Biological Communities, and Species Interactions

Biomes: Global Patterns of Life

Population Biology

Human Populations

Environmental Health and Toxicology

Food and Hunger

Farming: Conventional and Sustainable Practices

Biodiversity: Preserving Species

Biodiversity: Preserving Landscapes

Restoration Ecology

Geology and Earth Resources

Climate Change

Air Pollution

Water Use and Management

Water Pollution

Conventional Energy

Sustainable Energy

Urbanization and Sustainable Cities

Ecological Economics

Environmental Policy, Law, and Planning

What Then Shall We Do

Filters

The questions of and _____ are among the biggest problems in cleaning up hazardous waste sites.

The main method for disposing of municipal wastes in the United States is , while is the main method in Japan.

Refuse-derived fuel has _ energy content than raw refuse, but requires energy __ before burning.