Deck 16: Solid and Hazardous Waste

Question 1

___________ are the most common disposal site for solid waste.

Answer 1

Sanitary landfills

Question 2

Due to high moisture content or toxicity it is best to remove all of the following materials from solid waste before incineration occurs except

A)batteries.
B)food wastes.
C)fluorescent lights.
D)refrigerators.
E)plastics.

Answer 2

plastics.

Question 3

Fly ash is the ash left at the bottom of the incinerator when combustion is completed.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

The bulk of solid waste generated in the U.S. is

A)nonmunicipal solid waste.
B)municipal solid waste.
C)food waste.
D)green waste.
E)recycled plastic bottles.

Question 5

Which of the following is incorrectly matched?

A)municipal solid waste: school rubbish
B)municipal solid waste: library trash
C)municipal solid waste: agricultural wastes
D)nonmunicipal solid waste: mining debris
E)nonmunicipal solid waste: industries refuse

Question 6

What is the most efficient method of disposal for the solid waste illustrated below?

A)ship to China for re-use
B)bury in sanitary landfill
C)store in open dump
D)incinerate to generate electricity
E)recycle into patio furniture

Question 7

All of the following are problems associated with incineration except

A)air pollution containing mercury.
B)contamination of groundwater with heavy metals and pesticides.
C)large quantities of ash, which must be disposed of properly.
D)NIMBY site selection.
E)that it is expensive to operate.

Question 8

Paper, plastic, and rubber are the best materials for incineration since they produce a lot of heat.

Question 9

When solid waste is incinerated,

A)microorganisms completely dispose of fly ash.
B)methane gas is produced that can generate electricity.
C)the volume of solid waste is reduced by up to 90%.
D)large amounts of coal are needed to keep the fires burning.
E)glass is put in first to melt and provide residual heat for remaining solid waste incineration.

Question 10

Today's solid waste contains more ___ than in the past, whereas the amounts of glass and steel have declined.

A)paper and plastics
B)food wastes
C)yard wastes
D)copper and aluminum
E)rubber and wood

Question 11

Plastics pose a special problem for sanitary landfills because 1. plastics are the most rapidly accumulated component of municipal solid waste.
2. plastics attract harmful microorganisms and bacteria to the landfill.
3. plastics move upward to the surface creating a fire hazard.
4. most plastics are chemically stable and do not readily decompose.

A)1 only
B)2 only
C)3 only
D)4 only
E)1 and 4

Question 12

The composting process is the

A)conversion of organic waste into soil conditioners or mulch.
B)redesign of chemical processes to reduce environmental harm.
C)recycling of hazardous materials into gardening resources.
D)combustion of chlorine compounds into nontoxic gases.
E)disposal of solid waste generated by industry and mining.

Question 13

All of the following are problems associated with sanitary landfills except

A)large quantities of potentially toxic fly ash.
B)landfills fill up too quickly so it is not a long-term solution to waste disposal.
C)leachate seeps through lining of landfills and contaminates groundwater.
D)methane gas accumulations create the possibility of explosions.
E)toxic chemicals such as heavy metals and pesticides are found in the leachate.

Question 14

Fifty-four percent of the municipal solid waste generated in the U.S. today is disposed of

A)by storage in underground metal drums.
B)by exportation to developing countries.
C)in sanitary landfills.
D)in open dumps.
E)by composting.

Question 15

Solid materials discarded by homes, offices, stores, restaurants, schools, hospitals, prisons, libraries, and other commercial institutional facilities are considered

A)integrated stable waste.
B)nonmunicipal solid waste.
C)municipal solid waste.
D)unrecyclable waste.
E)hazardous waste.

Question 16

Would the materials illustrated below make a good raw material for composting? Why or why not?

A)no, because the polyvinyl chloride toxins in plastics would leach into the compost and make it contaminated
B)no, because composted materials must be biodegradable and these plastics are chemically stable and do not readily decompose
C)yes, because plastics can be shredded or shaped into pellets to provide uniformity in the compost
D)yes, because global demand for bottled water is increasing and recycling saves resources
E)yes, because composting bins can be rotated to thoroughly mix these bottles with other composted materials, speeding up decomposition.

Question 17

Which of the following descriptions is incorrectly matched with the type of incinerator?

A)modular incinerators: most expensive type of incinerator to build
B)mass burn incinerators: able to recover energy from combustion
C)modular incinerator: completely burns all solid waste
D)refuse-derived fuel incinerator: separate noncombustible wastes from combustible wastes
E)mass burn incinerators: larger than modular incinerators

Question 18

What concern does methane gas production create for the operation of a sanitary landfill?

A)may take up space in the landfill that could be better used for solid waste
B)may delay the decomposition of biodegradable garbage
C)may collect in tanks for use in generating electricity
D)may accumulate in underground pockets, creating the possibility of an explosion
E)may seep through cracks in lining of landfill contaminating groundwater

Question 19

__________ consists of both residential and commercial waste produced in a municipal area.

Question 20

Most solid waste generated in the United States is from nonmunicipal sources.

Question 21

Why must a sanitary landfill always be included in any integrated waste management plan?

A)for the disposal of hazardous wastes
B)to generate waste-to-energy
C)for dematerialization
D)because not all waste generated can be burned, composted, reused or recycled
E)a sanitary landfill does not have to be included in an integrated waste management plan

Question 22

Which of the following is an example of composting?

A)creating mulch from yard wastes and food scraps
B)using animal dung as a fuel source
C)recycling steel to replace dependence on iron ore
D)purchasing products that have less packaging
E)using less toxic materials to build products

Question 23

The United States recycling rates for paper and paperboard is currently higher than any other countries.

Question 24

An example of source reduction is

A)removal of dioxin chemical compounds from medical wastes.
B)separating wastes prior to recycling.
C)de-inking newsprint for reuse of the paper.
D)making aluminum cans 35% lighter today than in 1970.
E)use of microorganisms to treat contaminated soil.

Question 25

The term for crushed glass containers destined to be melted and reused to manufacture new products is ___.

A)scrap
B)dioxin
C)leachate
D)slag
E)cullet

Question 26

Dematerialization, the progressive decrease in the size and weight of a product, with a lifespan comparable to previous products, is an example of ___.

A)stimulus marketing
B)shrinking economy
C)source reduction
D)the waste reduction Act
E)consumer extortion

Question 27

Integrated Waste Management is a set of waste disposal alternatives that include all of the following except

A)incineration.
B)composting.
C)sanitary landfill.
D)relocation of waste to developing nations.
E)reuse.

Question 28

The United States currently recycles about 50% of discarded aluminum cans.

Question 29

What best explains the process that is illustrated below?

A)yard wastes are being mixed with crushed glass to make glassphalt
B)rubber and plastics are being prepared for incineration
C)food scraps and yard wastes are converted into compost or mulch
D)seeds are put into the drum to premix with soil for ease of distribution
E)noncombustible wastes are being removed by hand prior to incineration

Question 30

Which material has the greatest potential for recycling? WHY?

A)aluminum cans because less are being recycled than glass bottles
B)aluminum cans because more aluminum cans than glass bottles are used once
C)glass bottles because almost as many bottles are used once as recycled
D)glass bottles because 10 tons have already been recycled, so technology is in place
E)both aluminum cans and glass bottles have the same potential for recycling

Question 31

A typical aluminum can contains what percentage of recycled aluminum?

A)1%
B)10%
C)20%
D)40%
E)80%

Question 32

____________ is an aspect of waste management in which products are designed and manufactured in ways that decrease the amount of solid and hazardous waste in the solid waste stream.

Question 33

Recycling is preferred over landfill disposal because it conserves natural resources and is more environmentally friendly.

Question 34

According to the data below, what solid waste was recycled more in 2010 than it was incinerated or disposed of in the landfill?

A)yard trimmings
B)paper and paperboard
C)aluminum
D)glass
E)none of the waste products

Question 35

Integrated waste management refers to

A)dilution and dispersal of chemicals.
B)use of federal lands for hazardous waste disposal.
C)a combination of source reduction, reuse, recycling, composting. Landfills and incineration.
D)uniting municipal and nonmunicipal waste management programs.
E)using incineration as a single technique for waste disposal.

Question 36

The volume of solid waste generated can be dramatically decreased through

A)source reduction.
B)sanitary landfills.
C)incineration.
D)leachate treatment.
E)the Superfund Act.

Question 37

How can source reduction be used by the auto industry apply in the manufacturing of automobiles?

A)safety features of the car improved for increased durability of the product
B)technological improvements could decrease the size and weight of the car
C)recycled plastics and rubbers used for bumper construction
D)steel scrap could replace iron ore in the manufacturing process
E)all of these choices

Question 38

What is an economic benefit of recycling?

A)use of energy and generation of pollution for curbside collection
B)increase use of sanitary landfill
C)generates jobs and revenues from selling of recycled products
D)use of natural resources in reprocessing materials
E)recycling has no economic benefit

Question 39

The photograph below illustrates

A)bottle reuse.
B)bottle recycling.
C)reduced consumption of bottled products.
D)green colored glass headed for the landfill.
E)green colored glass headed for the incinerator.

Question 40

Reduce, reuse, and recycle are key parts of integrated waste management.

Question 41

__________ are unique materials and devices designed on the ultrasmall scale of atoms or molecules.

Question 42

A group of 209 industrial chemicals composed of C, H, and Cl manufactured for cooling fluids, hydraulic fluids, lubricants, inks, and pesticide extenders are known as

A)petroleum oils.
B)inorganic solvents.
C)heavy metals.
D)dioxins.
E)polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Question 43

In 1977, Love Canal, a small neighborhood near Niagara Falls became synonymous with

A)genetically engineered microbes designed to decompose PCBs.
B)innovative recycling initiatives.
C)green chemistry.
D)not-in-my-backyard policy.
E)chemical pollution caused by negligent hazardous waste management.

Question 44

Dioxins become toxic when they are chemically combined with chlorine or bromine.

Question 45

Which of the following forms of hazardous waste is incorrectly paired with its source?

A)dioxins - combustion of chlorine compounds
B)lead - computer components
C)polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)- household trash
D)mercury - emissions produced from combustion of fluorescent lights and batteries
E)fly ash - mass burn incinerator

Question 46

Incineration that uses a plasma torch produces hazardous waste that is more toxic than incineration without.

Question 47

What is the definition of a hazardous waste?

A)any gaseous waste generated from mining
B)any solid waste that is dangerously bulky
C)plastics that are non-biodegradable
D)a discarded chemical that threatens human health or the environment
E)a harmful liquid that forms from seeping through compost

Question 48

Acids, dioxins, explosives, heavy metals, infectious wastes and PCbs are all examples of ________ waste.

Question 49

Which of the following is an example of a hazardous waste?

A)metals
B)old tires
C)organic matter
D)organic solvents
E)compost

Question 50

What is the Superfund National Priorities List?

A)the federal inventory of green chemistry locations
B)the existing hazardous waste sites that pose the greatest threat to public health
C)federally approved locations for the long-term storage of toxic chemicals
D)current policy on how to handle chemical accidents
E)a list of bodies of water in the U.S. that have not been polluted

Question 51

Which of the following statements is false?

A)Leachate is a liquid that seeps from solid waste in sanitary landfills.
B)Hazardous waste is any substance that threatens human health or the environment.
C)If we reduce the municipal solid waste stream to near zero, there will be no need for sanitary landfills.
D)Mining is the largest producer of solid waste in the U.S.
E)Green chemistry focuses on source reduction for commercial chemical processes.

Question 52

Hazardous waste accounts for approximately ___ of the total solid waste stream in the U. S.

A)1%
B)10%
C)25%
D)50%
E)99.9%

Question 53

Currently two federal laws, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Superfund Act, in the United States dictate how hazardous waste should be managed.

Question 54

What is one difference between the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (the Superfund Act)?

A)RCRA legislates nonmunicipal solid waste sites; the Superfund Act legislates municipal solid waste sites
B)RCRA holds polluters accountable for the cost of the cleanup; the Superfund Act does not
C)RCRA manages hazardous wastes being produced now; the Superfund Act cleans up abandoned or inactive hazardous waste sites
D)RCRA cleans up abandoned or inactive hazardous waste sites; the Superfund Act manages hazardous wastes being produced now
E)There is no difference between RCRA and the Superfund Act

Question 55

Which federal law mandates cleaning up the site illustrated below? CERCLA Listed Site

A)the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
B)the Superfund Act
C)the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
D)the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA)
E)the Toxic Waste Cleanup Act (TWCA)

Question 56

What is green chemistry?

A)the microbial transformation of organic wastes into soil conditioners
B)examining of the role of toxic substances in causing diseases and illnesses
C)the application of the tools and concepts of chemistry to living systems
D)the study of organic and inorganic compounds
E)a subdiscipline of chemistry in which commercially important chemical processes are redesigned to reduce environmental harm

Question 57

What makes the type of pollution illustrated below so dangerous?

A)The increased particulate matter in the air causes allergies.
B)Water vapor emissions add to greenhouse gases.
C)The smoke contributes to smog in the city.
D)Liquid spills from railroad cars could contaminate topsoil.
E)The smoke stack emissions may contain dioxins.

Question 58

The waste management system illustrated by the diagram below is

A)waste-to-energy management.
B)nonmunicipal waste management.
C)municipal waste management.
D)integrated waste management.
E)exportation waste management.

Question 59

Chemical byproducts formed during the combustion of chlorine compounds are

A)radioactive substances.
B)infectious wastes.
C)heavy metals.
D)dioxins.
E)polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Question 60

Is the existence of CERCLA a deterrent to further hazardous waste polluting by companies? WHY?

A)yes, because polluting companies are aware of the costs of liability and cleanup, which makes them more likely to properly dispose of hazardous wastes
B)yes, because of the fast pace and low costs of cleaning up the Superfund sites polluting companies are placed on federal watch lists
C)no, because companies responsible for polluting are not held accountable for the costs of liability and cleanup
D)no, because the law applies to past practices and not current practices
E)no, because most of the hazardous waste sites are on military bases

Question 61

Distinguish between municipal and nonmunicipal solid waste.

Question 62

What is the most effective method of disposal for the high-tech waste illustrated below? Obsolete computer equipment

A)reduce to ash in a mass-burn incinerator
B)disassemble and send functional parts to developing countries for recycling
C)bury with soil in a sanitary land fill
D)store in metal drums in a hazardous waste landfill
E)store in watertight containers and discard in the ocean

Question 63

What conclusions about how Americans recycle can be drawn from the data below on recycling in the U.S.?

Question 64

Which of the following is an example of green chemistry?

A)use bacteria to treat contaminated soil
B)use plants to absorb and accumulate toxic materials from the soil
C)develop a water-based solvent to substitute for a chlorinated solvent for industrial cleaning
D)use high-temperature incineration to detoxify pesticides
E)prevent chemical accidents through the principle of inherent safety

Question 65

What is the goal of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)? Describe one strength and weakness of the Superfund program.

Question 66

How does the practice illustrated below affect the volume of solid waste produced? Clothing market in Tanzania sells used clothing from Europe and America

A)it increases the volume of waste produced
B)it decreases the volume of waste produced
C)it does not affect the volume of waste produced
D)it increases the volume of waste produced, but at a later time
E)the affect cannot be determined

Question 67

In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill sent millions of gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. To keep the oil slick from polluting the fragile ecosystem of the Gulf coast, detergents and chemical dispersants were applied to the water's surface. The detergents were nutrient rich, being high in phosphorous and nitrogen compounds, and thus acted as fertilizer causing environmental damage on their own. Define green chemistry and consider how this subdiscipline of chemistry might help with the cleanup of the oil spill?

Question 68

What are dioxins and PBCs? How are they produced and what harm do they cause?

Question 69

What factors should be considered when constructing an "ideal" modern sanitary landfill. Include in your answer at least three safety measures.