Chapter 21 SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTE

Multiple Choice Questions

CORE CASE STUDY 1. Approximately 70% of the worlds electronic waste (ewaste) ends up a. in land fills b. recycled c. shipped to India d. shipped to China e. incinerated Level: Moderate Answer: D

2. The United States produces one-half of the worlds ewaste and recycles a. none of it b. all of it c. one-half of it d. 25% of it e. 1015% of it Level: Moderate
3.

Answer: E

Which of the following is not a type of ewaste? a. discarded TV sets b. discarded computer printer paper c. discarded cell pones d. discarded e-toys e. discarded computer monitors Answer: B

Level: Easy

21-1 What Are Solid Waste and Hazardous Waste, and Why Are They Problems?
4.

Waste that includes paper, food wastes, cans, bottles, yard waste, glass, wood, and similar items is called a. industrial solid waste b. hazardous waste c. municipal solid waste d. toxic solid waste e. ewaste Answer: C

Level: Easy

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5. Hazardous waste includes radioactive wastes, which will have to be stored safely for as long as a. 15,000 years b. 50,000 years c. 100,000 years d. 240,000 years e. 1,000,000 years Level: Moderate Answer: D

6. How much of the waste we mix, crush, and bury could actually be recycled? a. 33% b. 50% c. 67% d. 75% e. 90% Level: Easy Answer: D

7. With 4.6% of the world's population, the United States produces about _____ of the world's solid waste. a. one-tenth b. one-fifth c. one-forth d. one-third e. one-half Level: Easy Answer: D

8. For each one pound of electronics in a computer, how much solid and liquid wastes were created? a. 4 tons b. 1,000 pounds c. 500 pounds d. 250 pounds e. 10 pounds Level: Difficult Answer: A

9. Garbage produced directly by households and businesses accounts for _____% of the solid waste produced in the United States. a. less than 2 b. 5 c. 10 d. 15 e. 20 Level: Easy Answer: A

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10. The amount of solid waste produced in the United States each year would fill a convoy of garbage trucks stretching around the world almost a. 2 times b. 4 times c. 6 times d. 8 times e. 10 times Level: Easy Answer: D

21-2 How Should We Deal with Solid Waste? 11. One way to attempt to deal with the solid wastes we create is to attempt to reduce the environmental impact without trying to reduce the amount of waste produced. This is called a. waste reduction b. waste prevention c. secondary pollution prevention d. primary pollution prevention e. waste management Level: Moderate Answer: E

12. The recycling and composting rate of U.S. municipal solid waste is about a. 7% b. 14% c. 25% d. 32% e. 54% Level: Difficult Answer: D

13. ____ percent of the solid waste produced in the United States is buried in landfills. a. Ninety-eight b. Fifty-four c. Forty-eight d. Thirty-eight e. Forty Level: Easy priority? a. incinerate b. reuse c. reduce d. bury e. recycle Level: Easy Answer: D Answer: B

14. In a low-waste approach, which of the following strategies should be given lowest

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15. Taking a refillable coffee cup to the office and using it instead of throwaway cups is an example of __. a. refuse b. reduce c. reuse d. repurpose e. recycle Level: Easy Answer: C

16. Which of the following is the least desirable from an environmental standpoint? a. refuse b. reduce c. reuse d. repurpose e. recycle

Level: Moderate

Answer: E

17. Scientists estimate that in a low-waste society _____ of solid and hazardous waste could be eliminated through reduction, reuse, and recycling. a. 510% b. 1525% c. 2550% d. 6580% e. 7590% Level: Easy a. b. c. d.
e.

Answer: E extending the useful lifetime for a product designing products that pollute less when used built-in obsolescence modular construction for repair eliminating unnecessary packaging Answer: C

18. All of the following reflect a low-waste approach, except

Level Difficult

19. Which is the most advanced approach? a. recycling materials b. using biodegradable material c. creating more durable products d. reducing the amount of materials used e. reusing materials Level: Moderate Answer: D

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20. As a form of waste reduction, reuse does all of the following, except:

a. b. c. d. e.

decreases the use of matter resources decreases the use of energy resources cuts pollution and waste creates local jobs costs money Answer: E

Level: Moderate

21-3 Why Is Reusing and Recycling Materials So Important? 21. Studies by two soft-drink companies indicate that 21-oz bottles of soft drinks cost _____ in refillable bottles than throw away bottles. a. three times more b. two times more c. about the same d. one-third less e. four times more Level: Easy Answer: D

22. Environmentalists say that the best way to handle soft-drink and beer containers is to a. use landfills b. recycle aluminum cans c. use stainless steel cans d. use reusable glass bottles e. bury them Level: Moderate Answer: D

23. How many U.S. states have bottle laws? a. 1 b. 6 c. 11 d. 22 e. 50 Level: Easy Answer: C

24. _____ has a beverage-container deposit fee that is 50% higher than the cost of the drink, to encourage use of refillable bottles. a. Italy b. Ecuador c. Germany d. Canada e. United States Level: Easy Answer: B

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25. The most energy-efficient beverage container on the market is

a. b. c. d.
e.

refillable glass recyclable aluminum stainless steel recyclable plastic carton Answer: A

Level: Easy

26. At the checkout counter, an environmentalist is most likely to a. say "Plastic please." b. say "Paper please." c. say "I brought my own bag." d. walk out of the store e. say Either plastic or paper. Level: Easy Answer: C

27. Compost is most accurately described as a. manure b. landfill byproducts c. pure garbage d. soil conditioner and organic fertilizer e. humus Level: Easy Answer: D

28. Source separation differs from materials-recovery facilities in all but which of the following? a. It is cheaper. b. It yields cleaner and more valuable recyclables. c. It produces less air and water pollution. d. It encourages higher throughput of matter. e. It saves more energy and provides more jobs per unit of material recycled Level: Moderate Answer: D

29. Currently, the United States recycles about _____ of all its wastepaper. a. 16% b. 26% c. 46% d. 56% e. 66% Level: Easy Answer: C

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30. Consumers of recycled products are most effective when they maximize the amount of _____ waste in the products. a. pre-producer b. post-producer c. pre-consumer d. post-consumer e. producer Level: Easy Answer: D

31. Partially biodegradable plastics need _____ to be broken down. a. light b. oxygen and moisture c. anaerobic conditions d. cool conditions e. heat Level: Moderate Answer: B

32. Which of the following is not true of plastic materials? a. They decompose readily in landfills. b. Toxic lead and cadmium can leach out of plastics. c. They can harm animals that swallow them or become entangled in them. d. They are made of many different types of resins. e. They are unnecessarily and excessively used as single-use and throw-away

packaging. Level: Moderate Answer: A

33. Critics of recycling are most likely to claim a. It isnt worth the effort. b. There is no solid-waste problem. c. Incineration is the safest and most efficient way to dispose of solid wastes. d. It does make sense to recycle if it costs more than landfilling or incinerating. e. There is abundant landfill space in all areas.

Level: Moderate

Answer: D

34. Of the following materials, the most difficult to recycle is a. glass b. plastic c. paper d. aluminum e. cardboard Level: Easy Answer: B

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35. Plastic is not recycled at a high rate for all of the following reasons, except a. Separating the many resins used is difficult. b. Plastics contain stabilizers and other chemicals that must be removed. c. The amount of plastic resin in each item is small. d. The price of oil has made it cheaper to use virgin resin. e. Health concerns exist about continual use of plastic.

Level: Difficult

Answer: E

21-4 What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Burning or Burying Solid Waste?
36. In order for an incinerator to be a safe alternative for waste disposal all of the following

must be done, except a. Find a use for the heat generated. b. Control release of CO2. c. Monitor for toxic metals. d. Monitor and remove toxic fly ash. e. Dispose of hazardous materials in an approved landfill. Level: Moderate Answer: A

37. Incinerators a. create many low-paying jobs b. are inexpensive to build c. are inexpensive to operate and maintain d. produce toxic substances in fly ash and bottom ash e. create few high paying jobs Level: Easy Answer: D

38. Sanitary landfills typically have problems with a. rodents and insects b. odor c. open, uncovered garbage d. traffic, noise, and dust e. spread of disease Level: Moderate Answer: D

21-5 How Should We Deal with Hazardous Waste? 39. The top priority when dealing with hazardous waste should be a. making it less toxic b. making certain it is stored properly c. pollution prevention and waste reduction d. making certain it is transported safely e. protecting groundwater Level: Moderate Answer: C

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40. All of the following are means of detoxifying hazardous and toxic wastes, except a. phytoremediation b. crushing and grinding c. bioremediation d. nanomagnets e. chemical methods

Level: Moderate a. b. c. d. e.

Answer: B

41. Since 1995, Superfund has been primarily funded by

identified polluters taxes on all industries taxes on all industries and fines on identified polluters taxpayers Superfund is no longer a funded program. Answer: D

Level: Moderate

42. Which of the following is a disadvantage of using a plasma torch to detoxify hazardous waste? a. mobility b. toxic ash production c. cost d. production of SO2 gas e. low energy use Level: Difficult Answer: C

43. Which of the following methods uses natural or genetically engineered plants to absorb,

filter, and remove contaminants from soil and water? a. phytoremediation b. physical methods c. bioremediation d. nanomagnets e. chemical methods Level: Moderate Answer: A

44. Which of the following is the most common method of storage of hazardous wastes used in most countries of the world? a. burial at sea b. above ground tanks c. inside plants and warehouses d. land burial e. glassification Level: Moderate Answer: D

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45. What percentage of liquid hazardous waste in the U.S. is injected into deep disposal wells? a. 34% b. 14% c. 54% d. 24% e. 64% Level: Moderate a. b. c. d. e. Answer: E

46. Of the following methods of reducing hazardous wastes, the most desirable is

incineration conversion to less hazardous materials perpetual storage deposit in ocean trenches recycling and reusing hazardous wastes Answer: B

Level: Moderate

47. What percentage of the hazardous waste produced in the U.S. is regulated by the

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act? a. 5% b. 10% c. 15% d. 20% e. 25% Level: Easy Answer: A

21-6 How Can We Make the Transition to a More Sustainable Low-Waste Society?
48. A disproportionate share of polluting factories, hazardous waste dumps, incinerators,

and landfills in the U.S. are located in communities populated by all of the following, except a. African Americans b. Asian Americans c. Caucasians d. Latinos e. working poor Level: Easy Answer: C

49. In 1989 an international treaty called the Basel Convention banned developed countries from shipping hazardous waste to developing countries. Which of the following countries has not ratified the treaty? a. Lithuania b. Burkina Faso c. Cuba d. Democratic Republic of Congo e. United States

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Level: Moderate

Answer: E

50. Which of the following principles does not contribute to a transition to a low-waste

society? a. Economic growth and free markets reduce waste. b. Everything is connected. c. There is no "away." d. Reduce, reuse, recycle are the best priorities for using matter. e. Dilution is not always the solution to pollution. Level: Difficult Answer: A

True/False Questions
Core Case Study 1. The fastest growing solid waste problem in the U.S. and in the world is ewaste. True False Level: Easy Answer: True

2. The European Union has an approach to ewaste, known as the cradle-to-grave approach, which requires manufacturers to provide health benefits from cradle-to-grave. True False Level: Easy Answer: False

21-1 What Are Solid Waste and Hazardous Waste, and Why Are They Problems? 3. About 98.5% of all solid waste in the United States is industrial solid waste. True False Level: Easy True False Level: Easy Answer: False Answer: True

4. Since 1990 the annual production of municipal solid waste has doubled.

5. Trash production, by weight, in the city of New York reached its peak between 1920 and 1940. True

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False Level: Easy

6.

Answer: True

Each day the average American produces about 2.0 kilograms (4.5 pounds) of municipal solid waste, three-fourths of which is dumped in landfills.

True False Level: Moderate Answer: True

21-2 How Should We Deal with Solid Waste? 7. Most scientists think that waste management should be the last priority for dealing with material use and solid waste. True False Level: Moderate Answer: True

8. Integrated Waste Management involves combining several different waste management methods into one single strategy. True False Level: Easy Answer: True

9. Waste reduction is the preferred solution to managing solid wastes because it does not try to avoid the issue of economic growth. True False Level: Moderate Answer: True

10. The ecoindustrial revolution includes the redesign of manufacturing processes to mimic

how nature reduces and recycles wastes. True False Level: Moderate Answer: True

21-3 Why Is Reusing and Recycling Materials So Important? 11. Reusing products can be a health hazard for the poor in developing countries who dismantle products to extract usable parts. True False Level: Easy Answer: True

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12. Large beverage industries have used their political and financial clout to force most U.S. states to pass bottle bills. True False Level: Moderate Answer: False

13. Plastics are routinely recycled because they are composed of pure resins that can be extracted and used for other plastic products. True False Level: Moderate Answer: False

14. The products of composting can be used to slow soil erosion, retain water, and improve crop yields. True False Level: Easy Answer: True

21.4 What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Burning or Burying Solid Waste? 15. The incineration of hazardous wastes is quick, conserves space, and reduces waste volume but is not used because of the increased water pollution that results. True False Level: Moderate Answer: False

16. At sanitary landfills, consideration of leachate is of most importance as far as environmental preservation is concerned. True False Level: Easy Answer: True

21.5 How Should We Deal with Hazardous Waste? 17. The National Priorities List identifies hazardous waste sites, with clean up of these sites based on priority and severity. True False Level: Moderate Answer: False

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18. The Basal Action Network says that most businesses that call themselves ewaste

recyclers take your recycling fee and ship the waste to China, India, or Nigeria. True False Level: Moderate Answer: True

19. Burial or long-term storage of hazardous waste is the first priority for environmental scientists. True False Level: Easy Answer: False

21.6 How Can We Make the Transition to a More Sustainable Low-Waste Society? 20. NOPE calls for drastically reducing production of toxic and hazardous wastes by emphasizing pollution prevention and using the precautionary principle. True False Level: Easy True False Level: Easy Answer: False Answer: True

21. No country has yet to institute a ban on persistent organic pollutants.

22. The best and cheapest ways to deal with solid and hazardous wastes are waste reduction and pollution prevention. True False Level: Easy Answer: True

Fill-in-the-blank Questions
Core Case Study 1. __________ is the fastest-growing solid waste problem in the United States and in the world. Level: Easy Answer: Ewaste

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21-1 What Are Solid Waste and Hazardous Waste, and Why Are They Problems? 2. __________ __________ __________ is the combined solid waste produced by homes and workplaces. Level: Moderate
3.

Answer: Municipal solid waste

The worlds largest landfill, called _________ __________, outside of New York City closed in 2001; it is being turned into a park and nature preserve. Answer: Fresh Kills

Level: Moderate
4.

The two largest classes of hazardous wastes are __________ and ___________. Answer: organic compounds; toxic heavy metals

Level: Difficult

21-2 How Should We Deal with Solid Waste?

5.

Most analysts call for using __________ __________ __________a variety of strategies for both waste reduction and waste management. Answer: integrated waste management

Level: Easy
6.

From an environmental standpoint, the first two Rs, __________ and __________, are better alternatives because they are input or prevention approaches. Answer: reduce; reuse

Level: Moderate

7. In the __________ __________ manufacturing processes are being redesigned to mimic how nature reduces and recycles wastes. Level: Moderate
8.

Answer: ecoindustrial revolution

__________-_____-__________ laws require companies to take back various consumer products instead of having them put in landfills or incinerated. Answer: Cradle-to-grave

Level: Moderate

21-3 Why Is Reusing and Recycling Materials So Important?

9.

Tires being shredded and converted into surfacing for public roads is an example of __________ __________. Answer: secondary recycling.

Level: Easy

10. __________ are inefficient because they are expensive to build, discharge toxic emissions, and can produce a toxic ash. Level: Difficult Answer: Materials-recovery facilities (MRF)

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11. __________ occurs when waste is made into new products of the original type. Level: Easy Answer: Primary, or closed-loop, recycling

12. Ponds, pits, or lagoons into which liners are placed and liquid hazardous wastes are stored are called __________ __________. Level: Easy Answer: surface impoundments

13. __________ systems charge consumers for the amount of garbage picked up but do not charge for the amount of materials separated that can be recycled. Level: Easy Answer: Pay-as-you-throw

21-4 What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Burning or Burying Solid Waste? 14. __________ are sites where waste is isolated from the environment until it is safe. Level: Easy Answer: Sanitary landfills

15. __________-_____-__________ incinerators produce 38% less CO2 per unit of energy

than coal-burning power plants. Level: Easy Answer: Waste-to-energy

16. Japan embraces resource exchange, and most of the countrys municipal solid waste is

sent to __________-_____-__________ _____________ to produce steam. Level: Difficult Answer: waste-to-energy incinerators

21.5 How Should We Deal with Hazardous Waste?

17. __________ involves using natural or genetically engineered plants to absorb, filter,

and remove contaminants. Level: Moderate Answer: Phytoremediation

18. The U.S. has passed laws to facilitate the cleanup of abandoned, contaminated

industrial sites, known as __________. Level: Easy Answer: brownfields

19. In the United States, the __________ __________ _____ __________ __________ regulates only a small percentage of all hazardous waste. Level: Moderate Answer: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

20. __________ utilizes bacteria and enzymes instead of plants to filter or destroy

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hazardous substances. Level: Moderate Answer: Bioremediation.

21-6 How Can We Make the Transition to a More Sustainable Low-Waste Society?
21. The call to drastically reduce toxic and hazardous waste, at least by 75%, is part of a

concept called NOPE, which stands for __________ __________ __________ __________. Level: Easy Answer: Not On Planet Earth

22. We should mimic nature by reusing, recycling, or composting at least _____% of the solid wastes we produce. Level: Moderate Answer: 75

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Labeling Questions

Use the Figure above to answer the following questions.

1.

Choose the letter that represents photostabilization. Answer: B

Level: Easy
2.

Choose the letter that represents phytoextraction. Answer: D

Level: Easy
3.

Choose the letter that represents rhizofiltration. Level: Easy Answer: A

4.

Choose the letter that represents phytodegredation. Level: Easy Answer: C

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Critical Thinking Questions

Use the Figure above to answer the following questions. 1. Why is recycling an output approach for environmental concerns? Level: Moderate Answer: Recycling deals with wastes already produced and harmful to the environment. The wastes are the outputs. Prevention of waste production or reduction of wastes is the best approach. Recycling usually reduces pollution and waste production. 2. Explain how recycling reduces energy demand and makes fuel supplies last longer. Level: Moderate Answer: Recycling uses oil products like tires for other applications. Waste generated in manufacturing a product, for example heat, can be used to warm the manufacturers water, etc.

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