| Term | Definition |
|---|
| solid waste prior to 1950 | before the indus. revolution, most wastes were biodegradable. Few items were made of metal and the population was small enough to manage the waste. |
| R.C.R.A. and H.S.W.A. laws | Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (hazardous waste, underground storage regulations); Hazardous and Solid waste laws (annual inspections, EPA, permits--total ban on solid waste in landfills, unrealistic) |
| modern sanitary landfill | a depression in impermeable clay layer, lined w/ impermeable membrane. Large landfills often employ methane gas and leachate detection systems. b/c of lack of oxygen, biological decay retarded. |
| hazardous waste | substances that could endanger life if released into the environment. |
| CERCLA | Comprehensive Environment Response Compensaton and Liablility Act "superfund" 1980. |
| pros of CERCLA | set nat'l priority list of dumps requiring immediate attention; makes responsible parties pay for cleaning up when possible. Defines what's hazardous. |
| cons of CERCLA | Where does money go? B/c of the way the law is written (any contributor to the site can be held responsible for entire clean-up costs) many companies find it cost-effective to hire lawyers and fight their inclusion into clean-up costs. |
| acute toxicity | a serious effect, such as a burn, illness, or death, that occurs shortly after exposure to a hazardous substance. |
| chronic toxicity | a serious effect, such as an illness or death, that occurs after prolonged exposure to small doses of a toxic substance. |
| leaching | the movement of minerals from the top layers of the soil to the B horizon by the downward movement of soil water. |
| incineration | method of disposing of solid waste by burning. |
| injection wells | 5 classes: 1. hazardous & non-haz. wastes below source of lowermost underground source of drinking water; 2. oil & gas production brine; 3. superheated steam or chem to extract minerals; 4. haz or radioactive wastes into or above a drinking water source- banned; 5. other, industrial wastewater disposal or septic &cesspool systems that are gravity drained. |
| Nat'l priority list | a listing of haz-waste dump sites requiring urgent attention as identified by Superfund legislation. |
| source reduction | reducing the amoung of solid waste generated by using less, or converting from heavy packaging materials to lightweight ones. |
| recycling | the process of reclaiming a resource and reusing it for another or the same structure or purpose. |
| pollution prevention hierarchy | regulatory controls that emphasize reducing the amount of hazardous waste produced. |
Combine with other sets
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace