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.S.city of East Hamp-most countries.There is strong opposition to this ap-ton, New York, cut their waste production by 85%.proach in the United States, especially from most in-dustries producing potentially dangerous chemicals.InLearn more about how shifting to a low-2006, the European Union was considering legislationwaste (low-throughput) economy would be the best long-that puts the burden of proof on manufacturers toterm solution to environmental and resource problems atshow that about 30,000 industrial chemicals and sub-ThomsonNOW.stances are safe.REVI SI TI NG E-Waste and SustainabilityThe growing problem of e-waste (Core Case Study) and other of renewable solar energy in the form wind, flowing water, andstories from this chapter illustrate the problems of maintaining a sunlight (Figure 13-43, p.319) will reduce our outputs of solidhigh-throughput, high-waste society (Figure 2-8, p.36).The chal- and hazardous waste, as will reusing and recycling materials bylenge is to make the transition from a high-waste, throwaway mimicking nature s chemical cycling processes.Integrated wastemode to a low-waste, reducing-reusing-recycling economy (Fig- management, with emphasis on waste reduction and pollutionure 2-9, p.36) over the next two decades.This requires applying prevention, is another useful way to mimic nature s biodiversity.the four scientific principles of sustainability (see back cover).Reducing the human population and the resources used per per-Shifting from reliance on fossil fuels and nuclear power (which son would also decrease the demand for materials that eventuallyproduces long-lived, hazardous, radioactive wastes) to greater use become solid and hazardous wastes.The key to addressing the challenge of toxics use and wastes restson a fairly straightforward principle: harness the innovation and technical ingenuitythat has characterized the chemicals industry from its beginningand channel these qualities in a new direction that seeks to detoxify our economy.ANNE PLATT MCGINNCONCEPT 16-6 39983376_17_ch16_p380-400.ctp 8/10/07 2:18 PM Page 400REVIEW QUESTIONS1.Explain why electronic waste, or e-waste, is the fastest 6.Discuss ways in which you could reuse some of the itemsgrowing solid waste problem in the United States and the that you buy.Discuss ways in which you could recycleworld.some of the items that you buy.2.Explain why there is essentially no waste in natural 7.Provide an argument for burning municipal solid waste inecosystems.Describe the components of municipal solid a waste-to-energy incinerator.What objections could bewaste, industrial solid waste, and hazardous waste.Dis- raised against it? Provide an argument for burying munic-cuss the role that the United States plays in the global ipal solid waste in a sanitary landfill.What objectionsproduction of solid waste.could be raised against it?3.Describe the steps involved in the strategy of integrated 8.Describe the priorities that are involved in integrated haz-waste management.ardous waste management.4.Discuss the additional priorities that have been suggested 9.Describe the pollution problems caused by one of theby scientists for dealing with solid waste.Comment on the neurotoxins mercury or lead, and explain how we canimplementation of these priorities.deal with such problems.5.Describe ways that homeowners, communities, and in- 10.Describe how we can make the transition to a more sus-dustrial operations can use the 4Rs to reduce the amount tainable low-waste society.of solid waste they generate.CRITICAL THINKING1.List three ways in which you could apply Concept 16-6it work? Does it have a hazardous waste collection sys-(p.398) to making your lifestyle more environmentallytem? If so, what does it do with these wastes? List threesustainable.ways to improve your school s waste reduction and man-agement system.2.Do you think that manufacturers of computers, televisionsets, and other forms of e-waste (Core Case Study)6.Give your reasons for agreeing or disagreeing with each ofshould be required to take them back at the endsthe following proposals for dealing with hazardous waste:of their useful lives for repair, remanufacture, or recycling?a.Reduce the production of hazardous waste and en-Explain.Would you be willing to pay more for these prod-courage recycling and reuse of hazardous materials byucts to cover the costs of such a take-back program? If so,charging producers a tax or fee for each unit of wastehow much extra per purchase (as a percent) would you begenerated.willing to pay?b.Ban all land disposal and incineration of hazardouswaste to encourage reuse, recycling, and treatment,3.Find three items you regularly use that are designed to beand to protect air, water, and soil from contamination.used once and thrown away.Are there other alternativec.Provide low-interest loans, tax breaks, and other fi-reusable products that you could use in place of these dis-nancial incentives to encourage industries producingposable items? Compare the cost of using the disposablehazardous waste to reduce, reuse, recycle, treat, andoption for a year versus the cost of buying the alternatives.decompose such waste.4.Would you oppose having a hazardous waste landfill, waste7.Congratulations! You are in charge of the world.List thetreatment plant, deep-injection well, or incinerator in yourthree most important components of your strategy forcommunity? Explain.If you oppose these disposal facilities,dealing with (a) solid waste and (b) hazardous waste.how do you believe the hazardous waste generated in yourcommunity and your state or region should be managed?8.List two questions you would like to have answered as aresult of reading this chapter.5.How does your school dispose of its solid and hazardouswaste? Does it have a recycling program? How well doesLEARNING ONLINELog on to the Student Companion Site for this book at www For access to animations and additional quizzing, register and.thomsonedu.com/biology/miller and choose Chapter 16 for log on to at www.thomsonedu.com/thomsonnowmany study aids and ideas for further reading and research.using the access code card in the front of your book.You canThese include flash cards, practice quizzing, Web links, informa- also explore the Active Graphing exercises that your instructortion on Green Careers, and InfoTrac® College Edition articles.may assign.400 CHAPTER 16 Solid and Hazardous Waste [ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ]