Envir 130 ch 22
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
1) From the 1960s to the present, the trend has been that ________ over time. A) less waste was sent to landfills B) more overall waste was produced C) less waste was recovered for recycling D) less overall waste was produced E) there have been equal ratios of landfill disposal, combustion, and recovery
answer
Answer: B Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
question
2) Which of the following years demonstrated the greatest volume of recycling? A) 1970 B) 1980 C) 1990 D) 2000 E) 2010
answer
Answer: E Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
question
3) Which decade demonstrated the greatest percentage increase in the amount of waste disposed of in landfills? A) 1960s B) 1970s C) 1980s D) 1990s E) 2000s
answer
Answer: A Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
question
1) The largest component of U.S. municipal solid waste
answer
D) paper
question
2) The second-largest component of U.S. municipal solid waste
answer
C) yard debris
question
3) Often the primary contributor to solid waste in developing nations
answer
G) food scraps Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
4) Waste that has taken up a substantially greater share of the waste stream since 1970
answer
plastic Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
5) Waste component from the Islip, New York, barge that was rejected by North Carolina, Louisiana, and Mexico in 1987, so it was returned to New York
answer
A) syringes, hospital gowns, and diapers Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
1) Which of the following produces the largest amount of hazardous waste? A) industry B) households C) agriculture D) utilities E) military
answer
Answer: A Section: 22.4 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
2) The average American generates approximately ________ lb of solid waste per day. A) 40 B) 1.5 C) 4.4 D) 13.7 E) 9
answer
Answer: C Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
3) To safeguard against groundwater contamination, sanitary landfills are ________. A) located on slopes so water runs downhill B) lined with plastic and compacted clay C) lined with cement D) located in unpopulated areas E) located on industrial sites where groundwater is not used for drinking or agriculture
answer
Answer: B Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
4) The best solution to the solid waste problem is to ________. A) increase the number of WTE facilities B) increase the number of sanitary landfills C) reduce the amount of waste generated D) subsidize WTE facilities E) increase the number of oceanic burial sites
answer
Answer: C Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
5) The first bottle bills were ________. A) designed to provide glass for road construction B) initiated in the 1990s C) designed to cut down on litter D) designed to provide incentives to industry E) a consequence of landfill regulations
answer
Answer: C Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
6) The Fresh Kills Landfill ________. A) is the first U.S. landfill conversion project B) will remain open until late 2020 C) site will be converted into a public park D) was abandoned in the late 1970s E) is New York's first and only modern sanitary landfill
answer
Answer: C Section: 22.0, 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
7) In 2007, San Francisco became the first U.S. city to ban ________. A) sanitary landfills B) paper from entering their waste stream C) plastic shopping bags D) e-waste E) composting
answer
Answer: C Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
8) In the United States today, the approach which best reduces the volume and weight of municipal solid waste is ________. A) in open pits B) composting C) sanitary landfills D) incineration E) municipal sewage treatment
answer
Answer: D Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
9) The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act is a U.S. law enacted in the 1970s that ________. A) reduces environmental levels of the 12 most toxic chemicals, called the "dirty dozen" B) requires states to pass bottle bills C) requires states to enact strict recycling standards D) regulates how hazardous waste is managed E) restricts use of off-road vehicles in national parks
answer
Answer: D Section: 22.4 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
10) The most problematic greenhouse gas produced from most landfills is ________. A) carbon dioxide B) methane C) water vapor D) ozone E) nitrogen
answer
Answer: B Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
11) Lining a landfill with a thick tough plastic barrier is a good way to address problems related to ________. A) methane production B) settling C) incomplete decomposition D) leachate E) mudslides and trashslides
answer
Answer: D Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
12) Recycling aluminum cans saves ________% of the energy needed to make the same amount of aluminum from virgin bauxite. A) 95 B) 80 C) 70 D) 50 E) 25
answer
Answer: A Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
13) Over half of all U.S. MSW consists of ________. A) toxic waste B) plastics and metals C) glass, rubber, and wood D) paper, food waste, and yard waste E) plastics, metals, and glass
answer
Answer: D Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
14) Industrial ecologists ________. A) favor an economy that moves linearly rather than circularly B) advocate taxes on green industries C) redesign industrial systems to minimize physical inefficiency and maximize economic efficiency D) urge an emphasis on internal manufacturing costs rather than external costs E) primarily analyze industrial inputs
answer
Answer: C Section: 22.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
15) Life-cycle analysis ________. A) is an environmental movement designed to reduce municipal traffic and encourage alternative forms of transport B) defines how different organisms interact within ecosystems C) examines the cycling of carbon in the environment D) is the study of statistical changes in the human population E) examines the life cycle of products for ecological efficiency
answer
Answer: E Section: 22.3 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
16) Which of the following represent the categories of hazardous waste? A) inorganic and organic B) ignitable, corrosive, reactive, toxic C) nonbiodegradable and biodegradable D) municipal, industrial and agricultural E) solid, liquid, gaseous
answer
Answer: B Section: 22.4 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
17) Heavy metals ________. A) become less hazardous after incineration B) become less hazardous over time as they degrade chemically C) are unregulated by the U.S. government D) bioaccumulate in animal tissues E) are not harmful unless they are directly ingested
answer
Answer: D Section: 22.4 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
18) ________ represent(s) the largest source of unregulated hazardous waste. A) Small businesses B) Households C) Farmers D) Utilities E) Large industry
answer
Answer: B Section: 22.4 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
19) Which of the following are classified as heavy metals? A) lead, mercury, cadmium B) nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium C) carbon, hydrogen, oxygen D) aluminum, iron, silicon E) any nonbiodegradable materials
answer
Answer: A Section: 22.4 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
20) E-wastes are a source of ________. A) compostable organic compounds B) ignitables C) heavy metals D) radioactive materials E) acid corrosives
answer
Answer: C Section: 22.4 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
21) Decomposition in a landfill will happen faster if there is more ________. A) sunlight B) moisture C) air D) methane E) natural gas
answer
Answer: B Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
22) The Superfund, established to clean up hazardous waste sites in the United States, is a part of what legislation? A) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act B) The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act C) Superfund Authority Act D) Hazardous Waste Management Act E) Superfund Management and Liability Act
answer
Answer: B Section: 22.4 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
24) The EPA is charged with cleaning up brownfields, which are ________. A) agricultural lands polluted by acid and heavy metals B) urban areas contaminated by acid drainage from mining C) lands whose reuse or development is complicated by the presence of hazardous materials D) coastal seagrass beds damaged by industrial dumping E) desert regions used for unsafe nuclear waste disposal
answer
Answer: C Section: 22.4 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
25) Funding for Superfund toxic waste sites ________. A) is currently paid by polluting industries B) has become the responsibility of taxpayers since 2004 C) is a portion of the EPA's budget D) has been eased because the costs of cleanup have diminished E) is no longer necessary because by 2010 all sites had been cleaned and restored
answer
Answer: B Section: 22.4 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
26) The current state of e-wastes is that ________. A) only because of the actions of charitable organizations, the recycling rate is 5% B) although recycling has improved, the majority of e-wastes are still being landfilled and incinerated C) because the EPA has classified e-wastes as toxic, more than 95% are being recycled D) the recycling rate has dropped significantly between 1999 and 2010 E) by EPA mandate, all metals in electronics have been replaced by biodegradable materials
answer
Answer: B Section: 22.4 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
27) In general, buying in bulk is environmentally friendly because it ________. A) reduces packaging waste B) recycles materials that would otherwise wind up in a landfill C) encourages people to eat or use just a little bit more than smaller sizes D) encourages people to eat less or use less of a product E) allows consumers to save money by purchasing larger amounts of an item for less
answer
Answer: A Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
1) Briefly describe the three main components of waste management. Which method is preferred
answer
Answer: The preferred approach to waste management is minimizing waste at its source. This is called source reduction. It includes the more efficient use of resources by manufacturers, reduced consumption, and the promotion of reuse, which includes purchasing used and durable goods and products with less packaging and donating unwanted items. The second best strategy is recovery, which includes recycling and composting. Paper, cardboard, glass, metal, plastic, and e-wastes have all become increasingly recyclable as new technologies have developed and as markets for recycled materials grow. Biological decomposition or composting effectively recycles organic waste. Third, safe and effective disposal of what remains is typically accomplished through incineration and/or internment in landfills. Section: 22.1 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
2) Discuss the benefits and environmental disadvantages of modern-day landfills in the United States.
answer
Answer: In contrast to open landfills, modern-day sanitary landfills are lined and covered to prevent waste from contaminating the environment and threatening public health. They are regulated by state or local governments and must meet federal standards. U.S. regulations specify that landfills must be located away from wetlands and earthquake-prone faults, and be 20 feet above the water table. The bottom and sides must be lined with heavy plastic and clay to prevent aquifer contamination. Leachate must be collected in pipes, treated, and monitored. Anaerobic bacteria that decompose landfill waste produce methane, which can be captured and used as an energy source. If this landfill gas is not captured, however, it can contribute to smog and global climate change. It also can explode. Many experts believe leachate escapes from landfills due to liner breakage. The dry state of landfills precludes rapid waste decay because decomposers thrive in wet conditions. Paper has been found to survive intact for decades. It has become increasingly difficult to find areas to locate new landfills. Most communities do not want large landfills in their midst for aesthetic reasons and for fear of potential health risks. In North America, as a result of the NIMBY syndrome, landfills are rarely sited in wealthy, educated, and politically powerful neighborhoods, but instead are disproportionately sited in poor and minority communities. Besides the obvious injustice of this pattern, an uneven distribution of landfills decreases efficiency, requiring waste shipments over long distances. Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
question
3) There are three main disposal methods for hazardous waste. One is landfills. Describe how hazardous waste landfills differ from ordinary sanitary landfills. Briefly discuss the other two ways that hazardous waste is contained.
answer
Answer: There are three primary means of hazardous waste disposal in the United States and most other developed countries: landfills, surface impoundments, and injection wells. Secure landfills store hazardous waste so that it is isolated from people, wildlife, and ecosystems. The standards for landfills that receive hazardous waste are higher than those of ordinary sanitary landfills. They must have several impervious liners and leachate removal systems and must be located far from aquifers. Another method for storing hazardous waste, particularly liquid hazardous waste or waste in dissolved form, is in ponds or surface impoundments. To create a surface impoundment, a shallow depression is dug and lined with plastic or an impervious material such as clay. Water containing small amounts of hazardous waste is placed in the pond and allowed to evaporate, eventually leaving a residue of solid hazardous waste on the bottom. The dry material is removed and transported elsewhere for permanent disposal. Surface impoundments may leak waste and some toxic material may evaporate, blow away, or travel in floodwater to surrounding areas. Therefore, impoundments are usually used only for temporary storage. The third disposal method is deep-well injection. In this long-term disposal method, a well is drilled deep beneath an area's water table. The well must reach below an impervious soil layer and must enter into porous rock. Wastes are injected into the well with the idea that they will be absorbed into the porous rock and remain deep underground, isolated from groundwater and human contact. Sometimes wells become corroded and leak waste into soil and aquifers. Section: 22.4 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
4) What are the benefits and drawbacks of incinerating trash? How have these problems been dealt with in most developed countries?
answer
Answer: Incinerating waste reduces its weight by up to 75% and its volume by up to 90%. Most North American incinerators today also generate electricity in a process called waste-to--energy (WTE). The remaining ash is generally shipped to landfills. Although high-temperature incineration can destroy certain pollutants such as PCBs, it does not always eliminate all toxins. Combustion actually can create new hazardous chemicals. Particulates, acids, dioxins, and heavy metals may be contained in incinerator smoke. Early incinerators did not include mechanisms for mitigating air pollution, and many citizens still fear the health effects of released incinerator gases. Most developed nations now regulate incinerator emissions and some have banned incineration outright. Scrubbers have been installed in some incinerators to remove hazardous combustion by-products and neutralize acidic gases. Baghouse filters have been installed to reduce particulate emissions. Most incinerators are required to test their emissions to ensure that discarded ash meets safety standards. Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
question
5) What are the three basic steps in the recycling loop? What is the step that needs the most attention if the recycling loop is going to work?
answer
Answer: The first step is collection and processing of recyclable goods and materials after they have been used. Items collected are taken to materials recovery facilities where they are sorted and processed, often with the help of automated machinery. The facilities clean the materials, shred them, and prepare them for reprocessing into new items. Once readied, these materials are used in manufacturing new goods. In the third step, consumers and businesses must purchase the products made from recycled materials if the recycling loop is to work and become economically sustainable. Some items currently made from recycled materials include plastic benches and bridges in city parks, "glassphalt" for paving roads and paths, and books. Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
6) If reducing waste can increase efficiency, why is the output of industrial waste still so great? What is the application of industrial ecology and life-cycle analysis to these problems?
answer
Answer: The first step is collection and processing of recyclable goods and materials after they have been used. Items collected are taken to materials recovery facilities where they are sorted and processed, often with the help of automated machinery. The facilities clean the materials, shred them, and prepare them for reprocessing into new items. Once readied, these materials are used in manufacturing new goods. In the third step, consumers and businesses must purchase the products made from recycled materials if the recycling loop is to work and become economically sustainable. Some items currently made from recycled materials include plastic benches and bridges in city parks, "glassphalt" for paving roads and paths, and books. Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
7) Describe the growing problems in dealing with e-waste.
answer
Answer: E-wastes are the rapidly growing numbers of cell phones, computer components, FAX machines, televisions, VCRs and other electronic equipment that are turning up in landfills. These items contain heavy metals and flame retardants that make them candidates for hazardous waste designation in order to keep them out of ordinary landfills. Many discarded electronic devices can be disassembled for recycling. There are many businesses and nonprofit groups that collect items for recycling. Because of the toxic materials risk, guidelines for the recycling industry need to be developed. Although recycling rates have improved in the last decade, the vast majority of e-wates are still ending up in landfills and incinerators. Section: 22.4 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
8) Describe what environmentalists mean when they say that the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act deals with waste streams "from cradle to grave."
answer
Answer: The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act requires large generators of hazardous waste to obtain permits and track the path of hazardous materials, to prevent illegal dumping and encourage the use of reputable waste carriers and disposal facilities. As hazardous waste is generated, transported, and disposed of, the producer, carrier, and disposal facility must each report to the EPA the type and amount of material generated. They must document the location, origin, and destination of the hazardous material and document the way it is handled. Section: 22.4 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
9) Describe the advantages of composting.
answer
Answer: In natural systems, there is no solid waste. All organic waste is used for food by other organisms. Conversion of organic waste into mulch or humus through the natural biological processes of decomposition reduces landfill waste, enriches soil and helps it retain water, resist erosion, encourages soil biodiversity, makes for healthier plants and more pleasing gardens, and reduces the need for irrigation, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
10) Identify steps that can be taken to reduce the size of the waste stream.
answer
Answer: Industry can decrease waste by making their practices more efficient with regard to wastes produced, and by minimizing packaging. Consumers can minimize waste by purchasing fewer goods, choosing products with minimal packaging (e.g., buying a case of toilet paper that does not contain individually wrapped four-packs), reusing goods they already own, buying used items, and donating unwanted items rather than disposing of them. Consumers can also recycle items such as cardboard, newspaper, metals, glass, and plastics, and they can compost yard waste and food scraps. Section: 22.1 Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
question
1) Closing the recycling loop refers to ________. A) avoiding contamination of plastic and paper collectables during sorting B) finding ways to recycle all plastics, including polystyrene C) covering landfills once they have outlived their usefulness and converting the sites to public parks D) composting biodegradable plastic E) purchasing items made from recycled materials
answer
Answer: E Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
2) Plastic ________. A) containers from motor oil are recycled with beverage bottles to make new bottles B) polystyrene is considered a plastic contaminant C) not made from recyclables is made from renewable raw materials D) from beverage containers is easily recyclable if decapped, washed, and squashed E) from grocery bags is labeled with recycling symbols #1 and #2
answer
Answer: D Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
question
3) ________ are wastepaper contaminants that can decrease the value of collected paper and cardboard. A) Corrugated cardboard boxes B) Cereal boxes C) Office papers D) Newspapers E) Paper shopping bags
answer
Answer: B Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
question
4) Paper and plastic waste share what characteristic? A) They are both made from petrochemicals. B) They readily degrade in landfills. C) Their increased consumption leads to increased waste. D) They cannot be incinerated to produce energy E) Both are more than 90% recycled in the Unite States.
answer
Answer: C Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
question
5) LDPE is ________. A) not currently recycled B) the most widely recycled plastic C) the plastic used to make grocery bags D) banned in Denmark E) a toxin found in most plastics
answer
Answer: C Section: 22.2 Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
