Define waste generation from an ecological and systems

perspective.
From an ecological and systems perspective, waste is composed
WASTE Non-useful products of the system
(plastic packaging on toys)

of the non-useful products of a system. Much of the solid waste

problem in the US stems from our "throw-away society" attitude,
which began after World War II. While the US may be a major
USA Throw-Away Society!
(This attitude began after WW2)
generator of solid waste, the lifestyle and goods disseminated
around the world have made solid waste a global problem.
USA: Huge generator of solid waste but our
product now go around the world, so the
waste we produce can become a global issue

Describe how each of the 3 Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle,

as well as composting can avoid waste generation.
The three Rs--reduce, reuse, and recycle--divert materials from
the waste stream - YAY!.
Composting (recycling), source reduction (reduce), and
repurposing (reuse) generally have lower energy and financial
costs than recycling, but all are important ways to minimize
solid waste production.

Explain the implications of landfills and incineration

LANDFILL
Currently, most solid wastes are buried in US are buried in DISADVANTAGE
landfills. Contemporary landfills entomb the garbage and keep Methane, Contaminated Ground H2O
water and air from entering and leachate from escaping. The ADVANTAGE
potential for toxic leachate to contaminate surrounding water- Cheap & easy to use. Old mines can be used.
ways is one major problem in landfills; the generation of
methane gas is another. Siting of landfills often raises issues of
environmental justice. Incineration is an alternative to landfills.
Its main benefit is that it reduces the waste material to roughly
one-quarter its original volume. In addition, waste-to-energy INCINERATOR
incineration often uses the excess heat produced to generate ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE
electricity. However, incineration generates air pollution and
ash, which can sometimes contain a high concentration of toxic
substances and require disposal in a special ash landfill.
Understand the problems associated with the generation
and disposal of hazardous waste.
Hazardous waste is a special category of material that
is especially toxic to humans and the environment. It
includes industrial by-products and some household
items such as batteries and oil-based paints, all
requiring special means of disposal. Though
legislation has been passed to deal with hazardous
waste, many problems remain.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

Gave the EPA the authority to control hazardous RCRA
waste from “cradle to grave”, including the
generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and CRADLE
disposal of hazardous waste.
TO GRAVE

1. Integrate Waste Management

Present a holistic approach to avoiding waste generation
and to treating solid waste. 2. Design products with a strategy for
By using life-cycle analysis, which tracks material
"from cradle to grave," and integrated waste
their ultimate reuse, dismantling & recycle
management, which draws on all the available
treatment methods, we can make optimal decisions
regarding our solid waste. The best solution is to
design products with a strategy for their ultimate
reuse or dismantling and recycling.