A Zero-Waste Future

            As my blog posting comes to an end, I imagine my readers may have a bleak outlook on the future of our planet due to the large amount of waste the population creates. Many may think that there is no way to stop the snowball that we have started rolling. The vast volume of waste that has already accumulated is shocking and can be alarming. Though there is not much that we can do about the waste we have already created, we must strive to reduce our future waste, strive for a zero-waste future. The idea of zero waste seems daunting, but is actually a real goal for many people and communities.

            Zero waste is a principle that focuses on a circular system for resources, as opposed to a linear one. This involves an entire focus on recycling and reusing, where waste is eliminated as opposed to managed. Essentially, no waste comes from consumers. All non-recyclable packaging is removed and all other products that leave the home are either recyclable or compostable. This system models nature in the way that all materials are used, reused, or absorbed by the earth.

            Surprisingly, many cities have made plans to strive towards zero waste, Minneapolis included. Minneapolis has a goal to recycle and compost 50% of its city’s trash by 2020, and 80% of its total trash by 2030. It makes me proud to live in a city that is taking step to move toward zero waste like some west coast cities like San Francisco and Seattle. San Fran recycles and composts 77% of its waste, and Seattle recycles and composts 56% of its waste. Their numbers are so high mainly because they have laws set in place that prevents the sale of non-recyclables.

            It may seem daunting as an individual to attempt to reach towards zero waste in your own home. But I can tell you that it is not as difficult as it seems. One of the easiest ways to produce less trash is to bring reusable bags to the grocery store. They reduce the number of harmful plastic bags that can easily be washed into the environment though mismanagement, and many stores offer a discount based on the number of bags you bring. Target offers a 5-cent per bag discount, and other environmentally friendly retailers like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s offer discounts as well. Though getting a discount should not be the only reason you bring reusable bags, it sure provides an incentive! Another way to reduce your waste is to buy in bulk or avoid individually packaged items. It is much more economical and environmentally conscience to buy one large package instead of many smaller packages.

I hope that my blog as a whole has helped my audience understand the large impact that their waste has on the environment. If I motivate one person to just think about the impacts that their waste has, I will be fulfilled! If we work together as a human race, there is such a strong possibility that the country and the world could be zero waste within the next few decades! Again, I firmly believe that it is the little things that count. Making the decision to bring a reusable bag instead of using a plastic one, could one day, change the world.

Stay Sustainable,

            Shelby

Sources:

http://www.grrn.org/page/what-zero-waste

http://www.startribune.com/where-has-all-the-trash-gone-minneapolis-eyes-zero-waste/258843121/

A Survey: What About You?

                Over Spring Break, I was able to spend time with some of my family and take some much needed time off school. I took this time to write some blog posts, and find out about my family’s interaction with waste on a daily basis. So I interviewed my immediate family, and my aunt and uncle about their waste practices and their knowledge of their city’s practices.

                I started with my mom and stepdad who live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They recycle, mostly cardboard and plastics like water and milk bottles and yogurt containers. They do not compost, simply because there is not a lot of room in the backyard of houses in the city like theirs. They also do not really have a need for it considering that they do not have a garden or anything like that. Also, they claim it is a lot of work, which is true. When questioned about curbside composting, they said that they would happily take part in this, if no fee was associated. I then asked them about hazardous wastes and their knowledge of its disposal. They knew that cleaning supplies and automotive oils are hazardous, but they were unaware of some other household materials that are hazardous. My mom says that her practices include finishing a bottle of cleaning supplies, rinsing it, then recycling the bottle. Although this may not be the best way of disposing of hazardous wastes, it is a huge step forward from simply dumping these materials down the drain (which she knows not to do!). Additionally, they take auto oils to the local dump nearby, where they dispose of them, though my family does not know exactly what happens after the trade.

                I also talked to my aunt and uncle about their waste practices. They recycle mostly cardboard, soda cans and bottles, yogurt containers, and milk and water bottles. They do not compost, though they did attempt to start a compost pile once for their garden. They said that it turned out to be very time consuming and a lot of work. They also claim that they did not have extensive knowledge on how to properly handle the compost, which seems to be one of the most common reasons that people do not compost more. Also, my uncle works at a USG factory in Walworth, Wisconsin. USG is a company that produces many different ceiling covers like tiles, panels, finishes, as well as flooring and roofing materials. I asked him about how his factory handles industrial waste that they create. He explained to me that his plant is a zero-waste plant that has no greenhouse emissions or chemical wastes. They are a self-contained plant, meaning that any hazardous waste that they create, they keep stored on site. They also have a whole team dedicated to managing hazardous waste in case of a spill or breakage. It was very interesting to hear how waste is handled in an industrial setting, even in such a small town.

                I also asked them were they think their trash goes after it is picked up by the garbage trucks. My mom did not know this information, but my step dad knew that the waste goes to a landfill outside of the city. My aunt was not certain, but she had an idea that her trash also went to a landfill on the outskirts of the city, and she would be correct. It was interesting for me to learn that there are many people that do not have any knowledge of what happens to their trash after it leaves their homes, and I think this is a trend that extends far past my family.

                I have been very happy about learning the technicalities of waste and how it is treated, but I feel very fortunate to be able to talk to real people about their experiences with trash. I hope that this blog in general allows people to think about their waste more and not just forget about it. Waste is an issue that is often looked over because it is such an everyday theme, but it is one of the largest issues that we are facing as a population now, and it will continue to be an issue unless we do something about it.

                Please feel free to comment on this post about sustainable practices you have at home or your knowledge of your waste after it leaves your home!

Stay Sustainable,

                Shelby

Hazardous Waste

                So far, we have only discussed waste treatment options for MSW, or municipal solid waste. But there are many other types of waste that must be considered when discussing waste management. One of the most important of these wastes is hazardous waste. Hazardous waste is any waste that poses a threat to public health or the environment. These wastes cannot initially be disposed of by regular methods like landfills, incineration, or recycling, and must be stored or treated to decrease their harm to the environment. Some hazardous wastes must be stored for very long periods of times, even thousands of years, until they can be recycled or sent to a landfill. Today we are going to discuss the misconceptions of hazardous waste, some examples, the possible treatments of hazardous waste, and the correct ways to disposed of household hazardous wastes.

There are many misconceptions about hazardous waste, many of which I had before doing some extensive research. One of the biggest misconceptions of hazardous waste it that it only comes from big factories and power plants, and I thought this was true too. Hazardous wastes can come from factories and processing plants, but a large portion also comes from households, auto shops, drycleaners, and even art shops. I’ll discuss how each of these places contributes to hazardous waste later. Another misconception about hazardous waste is that it remains dangerous forever and cannot ever be disposed of in landfills or incinerators. This is not necessarily true. Many hazardous wastes can be stored and treated until their hazard is no longer present. This then allows the substance to be disposed of in a regular landfill or incinerator.

                Now that we know some of the misconceptions of hazardous waste, it is important to know some examples of what hazardous waste is. Hazardous waste is divided into many different categories based on their characteristics, but I am just going to outline the most important ones. A large source of hazardous waste is sludge from wastewater treatment plants. Sludge is a semisolid material that is a byproduct of sewage treatment. Additionally, household cleaners and degreasers are also considered hazardous waste. Many paints and paint wash waters are hazardous as well because they are flammable. Also, photographic processing wastes that contain silver (used in the development of film) are hazardous as well. Pesticides are also hazardous. Batteries, thermometers, and automotive fluids, like antifreeze and motor oil, are all hazardous materials. Finally, many dry-cleaning wastes are hazardous because they are flammable. There are many other forms of hazardous wastes, but these are common items that most people would be familiar with. As you can see, the list of hazardous wastes that you come in contact with on a daily basis is substantial and cause for concern.

                There are many options for disposal of hazardous wastes. One manner of disposal is treatment and disposal. Treatment Storage and Disposal Facilities are areas that house hazardous materials after they have been treated. Here, wastes are altered through incineration or oxidation to change their chemical makeup. Then, the treated waste is stored for a short amount of time, then disposed of, usually at a landfill or incinerator, where strict precautions are taken to regulate pollution. These facilities treat and manage large amounts of waste and are highly regulated by the EPA. Contrary to normal disposal, hazardous wastes can also be recycled. Hazardous materials are not recycled in ways that plastics, paper, and metals are recycled. Hazardous materials are recycled if they are reclaimed, meaning that they are modified to be used for a different task other than their original use, or if they are reused. There are different manners of recycling many different products, so explaining them would be difficult. This method is useful because it prevents more precious metals and other chemicals from having to be extracted from the earth.

                Last but not least, it is very important for you to learn about how you can properly dispose of household hazardous materials. The first and most important rule about managing household hazardous waste is DO NOT POUR HAZARDOUS LIQUIDS DOWN THE DRAIN. Pouring hazardous liquids like paints, cleaners, oils, and pesticides will contaminate the sewage system and can cause harm to sanitation workers. This action also has the possibility of harming the environment and human health if the toxic chemicals reach bodies of water or sources of drinking water. Finally, pouring liquids down the drain causes the wastewater treatment plants to expend more energy to treat the water that comes in from households, which is a cause for more fossil fuels. The next important step in hazardous waste disposal is to check and read the labels on the packaging and make sure to follow instructions. Next comes actual disposal of the waste. Some cities offer hazardous waste curbside pickup. Others provide year-round collections sites in your area. If your city does not offer hazardous waste disposal, some local businesses, like auto garages, will accept hazardous wastes, like motor oil. Also, make sure you write your representatives encouraging them to start to offer these services. The final way you can aid in the disposal of hazardous wastes is to simply use them less often. Try to find alternative cleaning and polishing products that are natural and safe for the environment.

                Just like e-wastes, it is surprising that so many people do not know about the dangers that this type of waste can have. We all run into these items very frequently and many people don’t think about what happens to them when they are disposed of with normal garbage. I urge you to make positive changes in your household to decrease the dangers of these items and to ultimately save the planet.

Stay Sustainable,

                Shelby

Sources:

http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/nuclear-wastes/radioactive-waste-management.aspx

https://www.epa.gov/hw/learn-basics-hazardous-waste

https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/publications/9112a.pdf

https://www.epa.gov/hwpermitting/hazardous-waste-management-facilities-and-units

https://www.epa.gov/hw/household-hazardous-waste-hhw

E-Waste

                It’s something that we don’t think about or realize the harmful impacts. We rarely throw away our high-tech appliances, but what happens when we do? Electronic Waste, or e-waste, has become a huge problem across the world, but especially in the United States, over the last 30 or so years. E-waste is any electronic device that is nearing the end of its usable life. This includes many devices such as laptops, cell phones, fax machines, televisions, VCRs, and many more. There are laws in place to prevent the improper disposal of these appliances, yet many households dispose of them with their usual trash, not minding the rules. According to National Geographic, more than 80% of televisions are discarded to landfills where they have the potential to leach harmful chemicals like arsenic, mercury, and lead. It’s alarming to think that these appliances have the potential to be discarded correctly, but many people don’t want to put in the time or energy to do so. Today my goal is to inform readers of the dangers of e-waste and how they can reduce their e-waste footprint.

                The battle of e-waste began in the 1970s when most developed countries shipped their hazardous waste, including e-waste, to lesser developed countries, usually in Africa and Asia, in order to be dumped. This was met with backlash from many developing countries, causing much of this hazardous waste to be illegally dumped at sea. Then, in 2003, California became the first state to enact laws to regulate electronic waste. But sadly, only 25 states have laws governing the proper disposal of e-waste as of 2015.

                One of the main issues of e-waste comes from its impacts in landfills. A large majority of televisions, cell phones, and other electronics are sent to landfills where they can leak their precious metals. This has the potential to leach into groundwater and harm human health. Additionally, if these appliances are burned in an incinerator, their hazardous materials can be released into the atmosphere where they can cause breathing issues for humans. Additionally, e-waste in developing countries is becoming a problem because many of these countries do not have opportunities to recycle these materials in a safe manner.

                There are a surprising number of options for consumers to recycle their outdated electronics. One of the most common methods that many people probably use now is recycling older electronics to other family members. Additionally, cell phones and laptops that are still in working condition can be donated to less fortunate people or charities. Recently, many manufacturers are beginning to offer buyback programs for their old electronics. Companies like Best Buy and Staples will buyback cell phones and computers in return for a payment to the customer. These companies can use one of two options to recycle: they can refurbish components of these old electronics and reuse them in newer models, or they can recycle them properly.

Finally, there are even companies that specialize in e-waste recycling. Customers can search their local Department of Natural Resources Website to find a drop off site near them. At these drop off sites, electronics are sorted then shipped off to a special electronic recycling plant. Here, hazardous materials, like cathode tubes used in old televisions, are separated and treated very carefully to ensure their safety. This prevents them from adding harmful chemicals like lead to other glass recycling. Other electronics are crushed to small pieces, sorted like in a regular recycling plant, and shipped to their specific recycling facilities. 

                One of the most effective ways for consumers to prevent the harmful effects of e-waste is to simply buy less. In today’s world, there is a demand to have the newest and the best electronic products, so people are always buying more. If you hold on to your devices until they cannot be held onto for any longer, you are doing your part to slow the effects of e-waste. Additionally, please check with your city to see if they offer a free e-waste disposal system. Many cities offer drop off sites near you to drop off TVs, cell phones, computers, and almost anything else you can think of. Considering that there are so many electronic appliances in circulation today, e-waste will continue to become a problem in the coming years. Please make sure you are doing your part to dispose of your electronics properly and helping the world around you!

Stay Sustainable,

                Shelby

Sources:

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/01/high-tech-trash/carroll-text

http://cdrglobal.com/history-of-electronics-recycling/

http://city.milwaukee.gov/Milwaukee-Recycles/DropOff/Disposal--Recycling-Guide/Electronics

http://www.prb.org/Publications/Articles/2013/e-waste.aspx

Waste in the Oceans

                In a study published by Science Magazine in 2015, it was determined that around 8 million metric tonnes of plastic waste enters the ocean each year. It turns out that much of this plastic is not immediately visible to the human eye.  Much of the plastic is broken down into tiny pieces called microplastics that can cause a major risk to marine life, and even humans. Trash in the oceans has become a huge issue across the world and it has many layers that make it very difficult to find a solution. Today I’m going to discuss the causes and effects of mismanaged waste, what large scale cleanup efforts are currently taking place, and how you can help stop plastics entering our precious oceans.

                First off, what is mismanaged waste? It turns out that mismanaged waste is any type of waste that is moved from its original position, a landfill or trashcan, to somewhere else by air or water. Essentially, all waste that ends up in the oceans is mismanaged waste. There are many ways that waste can enter the oceans. One way is excess litter left on beaches being washed into the water by waves or wind. This debris is often plastic bags and bottles that are left behind instead of disposed of properly. Additionally, plastics and other wastes left in the streets is often washed down storm drains by precipitation. This includes all sorts of plastics like bottles, cups and fast food containers. Finally, poorly managed landfills can allow waste to fly off the surface to other areas, like the ocean. This is usually plastic bags, but can include other items like milk jugs, ice cube trays, toothbrushes, and pretty much any other plastic that goes to a landfill.

                The most well-known effects of plastic debris in the ocean are those that effect large animals like whales and turtles. Many large marine animals mistake plastic items as food, such as plastic bags being confused as jellyfish. These animals can choke on these items and die. Some items like plastic ropes or soda can rings can get stuck around animals and they have no way of removing them. According to the website Animals Australia, more than 100,000 animals die each year due to consumption or entanglement of plastic bags alone.

                Not only do large pieces of plastic cause marine death, but disintegrated plastics can be even more harmful to the environment and the biodiversity of an area. Considering that plastic is not biodegradable and remains intact for thousands of years, the mismanaged plastic that is put in the oceans is just broken down into smaller pieces called microplastics. These pieces are less than five millimeters long, and cause lots of damage to marine life. Because these pieces are not easily spotted by humans, they cannot easily be cleaned up with traditional methods. These microplastics can easily absorb hazardous chemicals from fertilizers and hazardous waste sites. When they are mistaken for plankton, these plastics allow chemicals to accumulate in the stomachs of marine animals, causing their ultimate deaths. They die because of the lack of food in their stomachs and the high levels of toxins. Though the effects on humans are not well known, consuming these contaminated fish must be harmful as well.

                Though the effects of plastic debris in the oceans sounds inevitable, there are efforts beginning to find ways to clean up the oceans. Because of ocean current patterns, much of the floating surface debris ends up in one large area surrounding a circular ocean current. One example of this is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This is an area in the northern Pacific Ocean that contains about 7 million tons of waste and is approximately twice the size of Texas. 19-year-old Boyan Slat engineered a mechanism that can help clean up this garbage patch. He hypothesized a V-shaped screen-like system (shown below) situated near the garbage patch to catch the trash that is moved by the ocean currents. This trapped trash can then be harvested and recycled nearby. In addition to ocean cleanup, there is a strong focus on beach cleanups around the world. Removing trash from beaches can greatly reduce the amount of trash that is allowed in the ocean. Large environmental companies organize cleanup efforts to prevent large scale pollution and to raise awareness about litter around the world.

                Not only are large companies responsible for plastic cleanup, you can help too! There are many ways that ordinary people can help too. First off, don’t litter! This is the simplest way to ensure that waste has a small chance of entering storm drains and nearby bodies of water. Additionally, make sure to recycle your plastic so they do not end up in landfills and cannot escape by wind or other weather tactics. The final way to attempt to get less plastic in our oceans is to decrease your consumption of plastics. Ways to do this include using cloth bags instead of plastic bags at the grocery store, buying fewer processed products that need plastic packaging, and providing your own reusable containers when buying nuts or fruits or vegetables. As you can see, mismanaged waste is a huge problem, especially as it pertains to our oceans, but there are many ways that the excess amounts of plastic can be reduced, and many of them are already underway! It is necessary to make sure that, as a worldwide population, we are working together to protect our most precious world biomes.

Stay Sustainable,

                Shelby

Sources:

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/01/how-much-plastic-is-there-in-the-ocean/

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/01/150109-oceans-plastic-sea-trash-science-marine-debris/

http://plastinography.org/lesson1/how-does-plastic-reach-the-ocean.html

http://garbagepatch.net/greatpacificoceangarbagepatchfacts/

http://www.animalsaustralia.org/features/say_no_to_plastic_bags.php

http://inhabitat.com/19-year-old-student-develops-ocean-cleanup-array-that-could-remove-7250000-tons-of-plastic-from-the-worlds-oceans/

Composting

                In a technique related to recycling, composting is a form of waste management that is becoming popular in major cities. Composting is the act of recycling organic wastes so they can be converted to fertilizer or a humus soil additive. Natural composting took place thousands of years ago, when people reused most of their crop waste like straw and manure as fertilizer. In the early 20^th century, farmers and scientists noticed the organic needs of plants and crops. They realized that fish and manure were not the best form of fertilizer, but food scraps were beneficial to plants. Currently, composting is much more large scale than it was. Some cities have employed commercial composting programs that involve removing organic waste from households. Minneapolis is one of the few modern cities that takes place in this practice. At composting plants, food and garden waste is shredded and loaded into open tanks that are heated. In the 14 to 18 days that the waste sits in these tanks, the waste is sterilized, thanks to the hot temperatures. Next, the waste is placed in a large room for up to 6 weeks to mature. Once mature, the compost is screened to remove large pieces and tested to ensure the highest quality compost.

                Additionally, composting in your home is essentially the same process done in a plant, just slowed down and on a smaller scale. You can compost your food and lawn waste in a pile in the backyard to be used as an organic fertilizer for a garden. Make sure that there is enough water added to the pile to ensure that breakdown can occur. If you do not have enough space in a backyard, you can even compost indoors too! You can obtain a compost bucket from your local hardware store and fill it up with your food wastes. In addition to the basics of how to compost, lets discuss the things you can and cannot compost, though be sure to check with your local compost coordinators to see what can be composted in your town.

COMPOST

·         Fruits and vegetables

·         Eggshells

·         Coffee grounds

·         Shredded newspaper

·         Cardboard

·         Grass clippings

·         Leaves

·         Dryer and vacuum cleaner lint

·         Wood ash

DO NOT COMPOST

·         Charcoal ash

·         Dairy products

·         Grease or oils

·         Meat scraps

·         Pet wastes

Again, please check your local waste collection services as many of them may accept different items.

Each piece of food that is composted instead of thrown away prevents it from filling up a landfill. Many food wastes produce methane when they decompose in a landfill, harming the environment and the atmosphere. Composting also reduces the need for chemical fertilizers that can run off the land and contaminate nearby water bodies. It is also a money saver for homeowners because creating your own compost decreases the need to buy inorganic fertilizers for gardens. The increased focus on compostable cups and wrappers also allows these items to be removed from landfills.

                One of the downsides to composting is that commercial composting can take up a lot of space. Also, composting is not regularly enforced or advertised in most public spaces. There is no need for compostable cups if no one is educated enough to compost them. With increased focus on the importance of composting and additional access, composting could really become a widespread fad that decreases the sheer volume of trash that enters landfills every year.

                Residents of Minneapolis: It’s so easy to sign up for organic recycling collection with the city. Just sign up at this link: http://minneapolismn.gov/solid-waste/organics/WCMSP-171641 and your organics will be collected weekly with your garbage! Non-residents of Minneapolis: Check on your city’s website to see if they offer organic recycling collection. If not, urge them to! Talk to your city representatives and mayors about the benefits of composting. Then, start composting practices in your own home.

                With the increased threat of waste disposal becoming a problem in the near future, composting may provide a solution to these issues and provide us with a cleaner, greener world.

Stay Sustainable, 
      Shelby

Sources:

https://web.extension.illinois.edu/homecompost/history.cfm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez3zrpuvXGw

https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home

 http://minneapolismn.gov/solid-waste/organics/index.htm

Recycling

To transform into some topics about reducing waste, we will focus on recycling. Recycling is one way that the amount of trash that flows into a landfill or an incinerator is can be reduced. Recycling is the act of converting waste to a new and usable material. Some form of recycling has been taking place for hundreds of years throughout the world. Since the 1700s, people have been keeping their so called “trash” and using them for other things. World War I brought about many shortages in supplies and resources. The government created the Waste Reclamation Service which included the saying, “Don’t Waste Waste, Save it”.  When the aluminum can was finally released in 1964, modern recycling really became popular because people realized the monetary value of aluminum. Later, the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” slogan that we all know was developed and became a symbol for environmental health and justice. The first modern recycling mill was built in Pennsylvania where plastic waste was sent to be broken down and transformed into other things.

                Nowadays, a multitude of items can be recycled including paper, glass, metal, textiles, and electronics. In 2014, over 89 million tons of waste was recycled in the United States. Modern recycling is a complex system that has many steps involved. First, the recycling that is picked up from your curb by a truck and transported to the plant. Then, the recycling is laid on a conveyer belt and sorted with the help of humans and machines. The specific waste is then shredded to smaller pieces, and sorted more carefully. Finally, the specific types of material are baled together and shipped to a different processing plant that is able to melt plastics and metals to transform them into other substances. The recovered paper is mixed with water and a series of chemicals to create a pulp like material. It is then cleaned with more chemicals and soap. The pulp is then rolled out with a series of rollers to remove excess water. Once the paper is dry, it can be cut, packaged, and shipped off to companies that buy the material.

                Let’s talk about what can and cannot be recycled. The following facts and figures are from the City of Minneapolis Public Works Website.

RECYCLE

·         Cartons

o   Juice Boxes

o   Soup or broth cartons

·         Metals

o   Soup cans

o   Aluminum cans

o   Pie tins

·         Paper

o   Newspaper

o   Office paper

o   Books (no hardcovers)

·         Cardboard

o   Cereal boxes

o   Packaging boxes

·         Glass

o   Colored or clear beverage containers

o   Food bottles

·         Plastic

o   Water, soda, juice bottles

o   Detergent bottles

o   Milk jugs

o   Yogurt and pudding cups

DO NOT RECYCLE

·         Egg cartons

·         Paint cans

·         Paper ice cream tubs

·         Drinking glasses

·         Plastic bags

·         Styrofoam

Be sure to check your own city’s policy for what can and cannot be recycled.

                Recycling is becoming more and more important these days because the need for land is growing rapidly. Landfills are taking up more and more space, and the less volume that is added to these areas, the lower demand for new landfills. Additionally, recycling paper stops the need to cut down as many trees to make new paper and recycling plastic makes a lower need for harvesting crude oil. As a whole, recycling is a practice that all companies and individuals can partake in that really helps make a difference without taking too much work.

Stay Sustainable,

                Shelby

Sources:

http://www.buschsystems.com/recycling-bin-news/2014/05/a-brief-timeline-of-the-history-of-recycling/

http://www.historyofplastic.com/plastic-history/history-of-plastic-recycling/

https://www.epa.gov/smm/advancing-sustainable-materials-management-facts-and-figures

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIVKmwzWSuc

http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/solid-waste/recycling/solid-waste_recycling

Plasma Gasification

                While doing some research on waste management practices, I came across an interesting technique for managing waste called Plasma Gasification. Essentially, plasma gasification plants produce electrified gas, called syngas, by burning organic waste at extremely high temperatures. This is a very new technique and has only been around for a few decades. The first plant was built in Japan in the late 1990s and it has had so much success, and there are now other plants in China, Taiwan, Canada, and India, with other plants in the works.

                The plants work with very complicated methods of producing syngas, but I will try my best to explain! The plants gather carbon containing materials including food and garden waste, hazardous waste, medical waste, and many other wastes from chemical processes. The waste is placed in a large tank that allows air inside. The waste settles down to the bottom of the tank towards the plasma torches. The plasma torches create an electrical arc that is over 3000˚F which breaks apart the chemical bonds in the organic material and converts it into synthetic gas, or syngas. This syngas is mostly made up of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. This gas can be used for multiple different uses. It can be converted to fertilizer, transportation gas, or it can even be used as a source of energy to turn turbines and produce electricity through a generator. The only byproduct of the gasification is the small portions of inorganic materials that are included and burned with the organic material. This inorganic waste is transformed into slag, which is a non-hazardous glass like substance which can be used in road construction or housing materials.

                Considering that this technology is so new, there is definitely some more research needed to ensure that there are not more disadvantages to plasma gasification. Though the disadvantages are small, there are lots of advantages:

·         Huge amounts of energy are produced that can be used for many services

·         Provides an outlet for hazardous waste

·         No methane or fly ash is produced like in incineration

·         Reduces the need for non-renewable fuel sources

·         Decreased waste in landfills

                The known disadvantages of plasma gasification are mostly focused on the high costs of building and maintaining these facilities. Frequent maintenance is also required to keep the plant running smoothly. As of now, there are no known negative environmental impacts associated with plasma gasification (which is the most important aspect for me!).

                Plasma gasification is a big step in the right direction for a new era of waste management. Even though this technique may not be perfect, more research could make this technique an important way of waste management. If you would like to learn more about plasma gasification, go to the following link: https://waste-management-world.com/a/plasma-gasification-clean-renewable-fuel-through-vaporization-of-waste  to learn all you need to know and more about the technique!

Stay Sustainable,

                Shelby

Sources:

https://waste-management-world.com/a/plasma-gasification-clean-renewable-fuel-through-vaporization-of-waste

http://www.gasification-syngas.org/technology/plasma-gasification/

Incineration

 

               Another popular method of waste removal that has been present since humans discovered the applications of fire, and that’s incineration. Incineration is the act of destroying trash and waste by burning. One of the first incinerators was built in Manhattan in 1905 in response to the large amount of trash that was building up in the streets. The incinerator basically consisted of a large brick chamber that was filled with trash then burned. The heat was recycled to burn more trash. Incinerators gained popularity and spread to about 200 burners around the country by 1960. Additionally, many people burned their own trash in their backyards, and this is a practice is still used today.

                Today, incinerators are more advanced and include much higher forms of technology. In municipal incinerators, waste from residential and commercial sources are brought to the plant and burned in a combustion chamber. Trash is burned at temperatures above 850˚C, and its products come in 4 forms. Some leftover solids are scrap metal and can be used as such, the rest of the solid waste is called bottom ash. Some of this ash is made of small metal fractions and can be repurposed into steel and other metals. The rest of the ash is nonhazardous and is often used for other purposes, such as an ingredient in concrete. The second byproduct is toxic gas like carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and other gasses. These are “cleaned” in a variety of ways, then released. An additional solid waste of the process is fly ash which is burned material that is too light to fall to the bottom, but flies in the air. This product is considered hazardous and must be taken to a hazardous waste facility. Finally, the last byproduct of incineration is the generation of heat and energy. This expelled energy is often used to generate electricity for the plant or for the community.

                Incineration has become a very important topic of interest recently because of its many different advantages and disadvantages. Some of the advantages of incineration include space conservation and energy generation. Incinerators save space by not requiring lots of space for a landfill. Also, the generation of energy is a very important factor in today’s time when energy is becoming a prominent issue. Additionally, there are some large disadvantages to incinerators as well. First, they are rather expensive to build and to maintain, at least more expensive than a landfill. Also, the release of dangerous gasses expelled from the burning is very harmful to the environment. These gases can harm the atmosphere and contribute to global warming.

                Stay Sustainable,

                Shelby

Sources:

http://www.wrfound.org.uk/articles/incineration.html

http://www.dublinwastetoenergy.ie/uploads/archive/html/how_incinerator_works.html

http://greengarageblog.org/8-pros-and-cons-of-incineration

Landfills

                For my first post, I will be discussing one of the most common forms of waste management in the world, the collection of trash in landfills. Ever since the 1800s, people in cities had the habit of disposing of trash by throwing it out their windows. Once medical knowledge advanced, the correlation between the presence of trash in the streets and the spread of deadly diseases. By the late 1800s, many cities gathered trash in horse drawn carriages and disposed of it in dumps or even in the sea. The first modern landfill was developed in 1935 and it consisted of a hole that trash was dumped in and periodically covered in dirt. Then, by 1959, the American Society of Civil Engineers set the standards for a sanitary landfill.

                Nowadays, there are strict regulations on the composition and location of landfills. Sanitary landfills must be lined with multiple layers of organic and inorganic substances. The top layer is just a layer of soil to serve as a base for the garbage, then a geotextile layer that filters out large pieces of trash, then some filtering gravel with a plastic layer that collects all water and hazardous materials. Finally, a layer of clay lines the bottom to collect any contaminated water that has seeped through the other layers. These layers of protection are very important to the prevention of hazardous materials leaching into ground water and polluting drinking water sources. Additionally, landfills cannot be placed in areas that could allow damage to occur, such as a wetland, a floodplain, or on a fault zone. Landfills are often not placed near neighborhoods or suburbs because many people do not want the smell or the possibility of groundwater contamination.

                Like any system, there are pros and cons to sanitary landfills. Landfills are one of the cheapest options for waste management because they do not require to transport of materials to places very far away. Additionally, they are one of the safest methods when taking worker safety into consideration. There is little to no risk of harm on workers in landfills like there is in other waste management situations like incinerators. Conversely, there are many problems with landfills. They take up lots of space and change the land cover of an area. There is also the potential of ground and surface water contamination if the linings in the landfill fail. One of the largest downfalls is that they produce a lot of methane gas into the atmosphere. When wastes breakdown, they produce methane which is flammable and can cause problems if ingested. Also, methane is a very potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming and ozone destruction.

Stay Sustainable,
     Shelby



Sources:

http://greenrisks.blogspot.com/2011/07/landfills-history.html

https://www.teachengineering.org/lessons/view/cub_enveng_lesson05

http://earthuntouched.com/pros-cons-landfills/