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Waste Management Overview
Waste Management Overview
Read
Frumkin Chapter 17: Solid and Hazardous Waste, starting on page 453
Watch:
Waste management (~5min; https://youtu.be/p8rPeLI3EUU)
The World Bank reports trends in waste management, offering a glimpse at the current status of waste production and waste management at a global level. The vast majority of physical waste is being sent to open dumps or unspecified landfills. This poses health risks in leachate from uncontrolled landfills contaminating soil and water systems. Further risk is introduced in the fact that open dumps and landfills produce methane and other greenhouse gases, contributing to the global warming problem driving climate change.
The text of the amendment leads to prohibition of exports of all hazardous wastes covered by the Convention that are intended for final disposal, reuse, recycling and recovery from countries listed in annex VII to the Convention (Parties and other States which are members of the OECD, EC, Liechtenstein) to all other countries.
Significant environmental justice issue!
Dig deeper: The world-wide waste web
(Martinez et al, 2022, Nature)
The three classes of chemical fingerprints: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) (green), Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) (orange), and HM (blue) left by the three BaC waste types Y1-Y18 (red), Y19-Y45 (purple), Y46-Y47 (yellow) in the top 28 countries at high risk of improper handling and disposal of wastes (HRIHDW) (Martinez et al, 2022).
The 3 BaC waste types include type 1 (red), waste from general production streams, including medical waste; type 2 (purple), waste that includes particular elements, primarily heavy metals; and type 3 (yellow), waste from households and incineration of household waste.
A company called InEnTec uses a plasma arc gasification process to create hydrogen fuel cells. This form of waste management contributes less to greenhouse gases and keeps waste out of landfills, but is extremely costly to build and maintain. As a solution, it also relies on the perpetuation of a waste stream which is not being
In this episode of GreenState, the DEQ discusses new legislation for recycling, centered around Producer Responsibility Organizations. The full activity of the Act will be in place by 2025, and producers, recyclers, local governments, and other parties are engage in a collaborative agreement seeking process to determine the parameters of the new system.
Explore strategies, opportunities and information from the EPA about work being done to build legislative policy that encourages a more circular economy.
Rays of Light in Waste Management
Rays of Light in Waste Management
Poor waste management disproportionately impacts ecosystem health, food safety, and access to drinking water across populations. As waste production and disposal increases on a global scale, so does the need for innovative waste management strategies. In Fall 2021, public health graduate students presented Rays of Light in Environmental Health, where they identified new and creative ways of combating this ever-growing problem.
Circular Economy
Circular Economy
The reduction of waste through shifts in industrial production and life cycle analysis.
Learn more about the Circular Economy
Mycoremediation
Mycoremediation
The use of fungi to clean up toxic soil and water pollutants
Learn more about mycoremediation
Food Waste to Energy
Food Waste to Energy
The use of excess food to generate energy in a way that promotes planetary and human health.
Learn more about food waste as an energy source
Reusable Menstrual Products
Reusable Menstrual Products
Discussing alternatives to single-use menstrual products and how these help both waste management and public health.
Learn more about Reusable Menstrual Products
Shrinky Dinks in a circular economy
Shrinky Dinks are polystyrene plastic that become 1/3 of their size when heated (check out their science)
Look for #6 plastic (see recycling logo), though #5 works somewhat. Color with sharpies, cut a hole in it (if desired for string), then bake at 325-350 degrees for 1-3 minutes, until they lay flat (up to 5 min sometimes).
Learn more about the interplay of waste management and COVID-19 from former students
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