All flashcards
Flashcard 1: Identify a disadvantage of incineration.
Answer: Incineration can release toxic pollutants. High-temperature burning can create dioxins and heavy metals.
Flashcard 2: What is the main advantage of anaerobic digestion in waste management?
Answer: Produces biogas and reduces waste volume. Oxygen-free breakdown produces methane and reduces organic matter volume.
Flashcard 3: What are the three Rs of waste management?
Answer: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Waste hierarchy prioritizing prevention over disposal.
Flashcard 4: What is the primary goal of sustainable waste management?
Answer: To minimize environmental impact and conserve resources. Balances environmental protection with economic efficiency.
Flashcard 5: What is the benefit of recycling?
Answer: Recycling conserves resources and reduces landfill waste. Reprocessing materials saves raw materials and energy.
Flashcard 6: Identify a disadvantage of incineration.
Answer: Incineration can release toxic pollutants. High-temperature burning can create dioxins and heavy metals.
Flashcard 7: Define composting.
Answer: Composting is the decomposition of organic waste into humus. Aerobic breakdown creates nutrient-rich soil amendment.
Flashcard 8: Identify the main component of municipal solid waste by weight.
Answer: Paper is the main component by weight. Paper products make up the largest portion of MSW by mass.
Flashcard 9: What is the purpose of a landfill liner?
Answer: To prevent contamination of groundwater. Impermeable barrier protects soil and groundwater from leachate.
Flashcard 10: Identify a material that is not biodegradable.
Answer: Plastic is not biodegradable. Synthetic polymers persist in environment for hundreds of years.
Flashcard 11: What is the environmental concern associated with incinerator ash?
Answer: It may contain toxic substances. Bottom ash concentrates heavy metals and persistent pollutants.
Flashcard 12: What is the effect of excess nutrients from waste runoff?
Answer: It can cause eutrophication in water bodies. Nitrogen and phosphorus promote excessive algae growth.
Flashcard 13: Identify a common hazardous waste.
Answer: Batteries are a common hazardous waste. Contains heavy metals and corrosive chemicals requiring special handling.
Flashcard 14: What is the role of environmental impact assessments in waste management?
Answer: To evaluate potential impacts of waste facilities. Predicts environmental consequences before facility construction.
Flashcard 15: What is the primary goal of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)?
Answer: To manage hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste. RCRA provides cradle-to-grave waste management framework.
Flashcard 16: Identify a benefit of using biodegradable plastics.
Answer: They decompose more quickly than conventional plastics. Engineered to break down faster under environmental conditions.
Flashcard 17: Identify a challenge associated with plastic waste.
Answer: It is persistent and difficult to degrade. Non-biodegradable polymers accumulate in ecosystems indefinitely.
Flashcard 18: What is the purpose of a transfer station in waste management?
Answer: To consolidate waste for efficient transport. Central collection point reduces transportation costs and distances.
Flashcard 19: Describe landfill gas recovery.
Answer: Capturing and using methane from landfills for energy. Converts landfill methane into renewable electricity or heat.
Flashcard 20: What is the environmental impact of improper e-waste disposal?
Answer: It can release toxic substances into the environment. Heavy metals and toxins contaminate soil and water systems.
Flashcard 21: What is the main purpose of landfill capping?
Answer: To prevent water infiltration and control gas emissions. Final cover system isolates waste from environment permanently.
Flashcard 22: What is the primary concern with open dumps?
Answer: They pose health and environmental hazards. Uncontrolled sites allow contamination and disease vectors.
Flashcard 23: Which type of waste can be disposed of in a sanitary landfill?
Answer: Non-hazardous solid waste. Only non-toxic waste allowed in engineered disposal sites.
Flashcard 24: What does the term 'biodegradable' refer to?
Answer: Materials that can decompose naturally. Broken down by natural biological processes over time.
Flashcard 25: What is the primary benefit of waste-to-energy (WTE) plants?
Answer: They generate energy from waste. Converts waste heat into electricity while reducing landfill volume.
Flashcard 26: Identify a method to manage hazardous waste.
Answer: Incineration or chemical treatment. High-temperature destruction or chemical stabilization neutralizes toxins.
Flashcard 27: What is source reduction?
Answer: Source reduction is reducing waste generation at the source. Prevents waste creation through design and consumption changes.
Flashcard 28: Identify a common method for treating hazardous waste.
Answer: Chemical neutralization. Acids and bases react to form stable, less dangerous compounds.
Flashcard 29: Which gas is primarily emitted from landfills?
Answer: Methane is primarily emitted. Organic decomposition in anaerobic conditions produces methane gas.
Flashcard 30: Identify the environmental concern of methane emissions from landfills.
Answer: Methane contributes to global warming. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, 25x stronger than CO2.