Abstract The paper looks at how the not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) syndrome affects how sites for wastedisposal facilities are located. The paper then examines particular problems facing landfills and incinerators. The paper shows how current wastedisposal strategies in Canada are ineffective due to undesirable by-products and strong resistance to these facilities. The paper concludes that the most obvious solution to these problems would appear to be to adopt waste diversion programs like the ones being developed in Toronto.
From the Paper "To begin this discussion it is necessary to look at the social phenomena known as NIMBY syndrome. NIMBY stands for Not In My Back Yard(Meredith 480). When discussing NIMBY syndrome in "Assessing Environmental Impacts in Canada" Thomas Meredith states,
"...A society collectively accepts the need for a project, say a landfill site, an airport, or a nuclear power plant, but no one wants it near them" (Meredith 480)."
"In this sense NIMBY syndrome can be seen as a way in which land can be made socially unavailable for facilities like incinerators or landfills. This can be seen as a major contradiction because two totally different social and environmental factors are being expressed at the same time. Everyone knows that these facilities are necessary for society to function and are largely unwilling to live without them. However, they are also unwilling to live near the facilities that they desire. Since these two desires can't both be fulfilled it is necessary to look for other options."
Abstract The paper explores the severity of the waste management problem in Ontario, specifically in Toronto. The paper examines what diseases and/or viruses are now emerging as a result of their waste management policies and explores the wastedisposal alternatives available as the issue of waste management becomes more pressing with the passage of time. The paper is of the opinion that the province of Ontario must begin to pressure citizens and private businesses to focus on diversionary plans for waste and they must start providing citizens and businesses with the resources they need to make these diversionary alternatives a success.
From the Paper "The relevance of this topic to our own course work can scarcely be exaggerated. For one thing, our focus on the environment has brought home the reality that we must find an adequate way of disposing of our waste or we as Ontarians will be confronted with the degradation of the ecosystem upon which we depend for food and nourishment. More than that, if human beings in the GTA and elsewhere in Canada's most populous province do not find a means of improving their approach to waste disposal, then the health risks to ordinary citizens - not all of whom are polluters or particularly slothful - will grow ever worse. Not least of all, our fragile groundwater reservoirs (a vital component of the hydrological cycle as our October 2 notes clearly reveal) will continue to face contamination - and the sufferings of this generation because of such a development will be met and exceeded by the sufferings of future generations who will be confronted with the grim specter of contaminated water, as well."
Abstract This paperfocuses on the Greater Toronto Area's curren, and historic reliance on land filling. It identifies the problems with landfilling and other aspects of the GTA's wastedisposal plans and proposes alternatives.
Abstract This paper describes the daily operation process of the Miami facility of Cliff Berry Inc., hazardous wastedisposal firm. The paper describes the facility, its wastedisposal processes and also explains the firm's specialization in oil waste treatment and disposal. The paper also describes Cliff Berry's waste water management system and relates the challenges that they face, such as is the development of new technologies, the criticism of the hazardous wastedisposal industry, the threat of new competition and regulatory issues on federal, state and county levels.
Outline:
Introduction
The Facility and Its Operations
Customers
Challenges
Major Regulatory Issues
Plans for the Future
References
From the Paper "The primary sources of waste at the Miami plant of Cliff Berry are the ships that ply the waters around South Florida. The area is home to two major cruise ship hubs at Miami and Fort Lauderdale, as well as two major container ports, the Port of Miami and Port Everglades. Oily bilge water from these ships is processed through this plant. They also service other major area hubs such as Tampa and Cape Canaveral. They work with all the major cruise lines that operate in South Florida."
Abstract This paper examines the problem of nuclear wastes and how it presents a particular dilemma on various fronts including health and security issues. Nuclear energy and technology has become an endemic part of modern society. The paper points out that concomitant with the significant advances in the production of nuclear energy as well as its application to the areas of medicine and defense has been the escalation of the problems of nuclear wastedisposal.
Includes several graphs and tables and diagrams.
1. Introduction
2. Classification of Types of Nuclear Waste 3. Sources of Nuclear Waste 3.2. Storage of Low Level Waste 3.3 Long-Term Storage of High Level Waste 3.4. The Storage of Plutonium
3.5. Transmutation
4. Conclusion
From the Paper "This debate emphasizes the dilemma and the importance of finding a permanent and less environmentally hazardous solution to the problems of nuclear waster. All of the methods discussed above provide some solutions to the problems - but they do not as yet present a permanent and fully acceptable means of waste disposal and many of the methods have significant drawbacks and are often manpower intensive and open to the vicissitudes of human error. The answer to what to do with nuclear waste has not yet been adequately answered."
Abstract This paper discusses the hazardous effects of inadequate methods of solid wastedisposal on the environment. The paper emphasizes the urgency of the need to deal with this issue, and describes fecal contamination as the major culprit. The writer illustrates how the lack of modern sanitation facilities and adequate health care in certain areas, are the main cause of fecal contamination.
From the Paper "Fecal waste may contain an undetermined number of bacteria, viruses, and parasites capable of causing disease in humans and animals. Studies have focused on numbers of indicator bacteria (total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and fecal streptococci) or enteroviruses in feces and leachates, but have not estimated the total pathogen load or identified the major sources of these pathogens. This may be due to lack of detection methods for many of the pathogens in solid waste or leachate as well as potentially low numbers of viable but non-culturable organisms. Fecal waste is a breeding ground for diseases and even the smallest of contaminations can cause a great deal of problems."
Tags: bacteria, virus, parasites, garbage, recycling, health, hazard, water
Abstract This paper examines ways to stop Canadian trash from filling up our Michigan landfills and argues that the Michigan wastedisposal companies are not justified in accepting trash from Canada and other states in Michigan landfills. Canadian trash and trash from other states is a major problem facing America's landfills today, and the author of this paper suggests we find new ways of dealing with waste, while finding new areas for landfills before the country's current landfills are exhausted.
From the Paper "Thus, waste from other areas would have to meet strict criteria before it could enter the state, and this would cut down tremendously on the waste coming in from Canada and other areas, leaving our landfills open for our own waste, and not filling them up as quickly. The opposition to the bill comes from landfill owners and waste industry associations, who feel they should be able to accept waste from anywhere. Clearly, the two sides must come to an agreement, and the Senate must find out how the people of Michigan feel about the solid waste from other areas coming into Michigan for disposal."
Abstract This paper discusses how the accumulation of waste is an inevitable problem of highly industrialized, consumerist and rich nations, whose economies thrive on producing and creating demand for more products. The paper discusses three methods that are used to deal with waste: landfill, incineration and the 3Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle. The paper explains how all three methods are associated with various environmental and economic costs. The paper points out, however, that the 3Rs method of waste management has the greatest potential for growth and improvement.
From the Paper "Waste is a non-avoidable result of high-technology industrialized economies. We live in a consumerist society that encourages us to shop and acquire more things. Hence more things are produced and more waste is generated. In 2000, Canadians generated 1021 kg of non-hazardous waste per capita (Statistics Canada, 2002). 747kg of this waste were disposed of per capita (Statistics Canada, 2002), while the rest was recycled. "Current waste management practices in Canada emphasize techniques and approaches that avoid or minimize the need for waste disposal" (MacLaren, 371). There are three methods used to deal with waste: landfill, incineration and the 3Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle."
Abstract This paper discusses some of the problems and solutions to Canada's garbage and full landfill issues. It looks at the 3 R's of necessary alternatives - reduction of waste at its source, re-usability and recycling. The paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of this method of garbage disposal and makes recommendations for integrated waste management in Canada.
From the Paper "3 R's of necessary alternatives are meant "to divert as much waste as possible from disposal" (Mitchell 377) to reduction of waste at its source, reusability, and recycling. Source reduction refers to eliminating as much waste material as possible at its origin to halt "the flow of garbage into the landfill" (The 4 R's). For the consumer it means "reducing the amount of toxicity" (Mitchell 378) in products brought home (water based instead of oil based paints), and the durability of products that will not need to be thrown out despite their inconvenience (cloth instead of disposable diapers). In industry this could include "more efficient manufacturing techniques that produce less scrap or generate fewer toxic wastes per unit of output" (Mitchell 378). In both areas, especially retail, "packaging makes up about half our garbage by volume, one-third by weight" (The 4 R's). Reusability is simply living the way our great-grandparents did down on the farm: repair, don't replace the chair, the new-fangled radio, wash out jars to store things, and if you have to buy, purchase that which lasts. Quality pays for itself. Recycling is the final option, and ideally the least desirable because it means the first two have not achieved their objectives; however, modern life being what it is, what cannot be reused should be broken down by cardboard, paper, bottles, etc. at home. In industry recycling and reusability are often reversed in their order of precedence as they are in some telephone companies who melt down quantities of scrapped copper filaments and remold them into copper wire. This might be an example of the fourth R, recovering (potential) energy from waste, a practice which was employed during wartime especially in England where railings, gates, every scrap of metal was taken by the War Office and melted down for armaments.
Abstract This policy analysis and recommendation addresses the question of whether or not the Bradley Landfill in Sun Valley, California should be permitted to obtain approval for a potentially significant increase in landfill height and overall wastedisposal capacity.
From the Paper " sing the framework developed by David Easton, the various stakeholder positions are presented and analyzed. Relevant research is incorporated into an analysis of the options that are available at the present time. These options include permanently closing the Bradley Landfill, maintaining the status quo and refusing permission for..."
Tags: Bradley Landfill, environment, policy process
Abstract An argumentative paper, exploring the chemical make up of uranium, showing that it is extremely difficult to dispose of this material in a complete way. It looks at current disposal practices in the world and analyzes their pros and cons.
From the Paper "Radioactive material is defined as having atoms with extremely excited outer electron shells. This makes them unstable, excitable and an efficient means of providing energy to a population that can afford a nuclear power plant. The main source of this energy is Uranium. This is a naturally occurring element found in rocks and seawater. It is the most heavy element in the periodic table, having 146 neutrons and 92 protons in its stable form. The instable form has 143 neutrons and this is the kind that is used in cores to create energy (UIC website)."
Tags:disposal, nuclear, radioactive, sun, waste, water
Abstract In this essay the writer discusses that waste and its disposal are acute problems throughout the world. The writer notes that the disposal of waste provides a great environmental problem around the world. The writer looks at the use of recycling as a possible solution to the problem.
From the Paper "Waste disposal presents a big environmental problem that is universal to all nations of the world. Canada is no exception. Ontario for example has to export its waste across the border. There is no single solution to the problem and it is unlikely that our modern, industrialized society will in any near future become waste-free, as waste is an unavoidable consequence of our consumer oriented, highly industrialized society. In 2000, Canadians generated 1021 kg of non-hazardous waste per capita."
Abstract In this article, the writer points out that waste is a non-avoidable result of high-technology industrialized economies, as more things are produced and more waste is generated. Environmental, economic and social factors involved are examined and waste incineration is compared and contrasted with land filling and the 3Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle. The writer discusses that the growing concern for the environment, a constant increase in the amounts of waste produced, economic, land and social costs involved in developing new landfill sites and public opinion have brought about the need to approach waste management in a new way. The writer maintains that the use of waste incinerators does provide certain advantages to landfill, particularly in terms of waste reductions as well as through waste-to-energy schemes. The writer concludes that the 3Rs method of waste management has the greatest potential for growth and improvement and is a sustainable way of approaching waste management.
From the Paper "A waste incinerator involves burning waste at high temperatures inside a specially engineered and purpose-built incinerator facility. Some of the positive impacts include the reduction of the volume of waste, less fossil fuel use and less land required for disposal of leftover solid residue as well as the potential of energy-from-waste incinerators. For example, by incinerating waste, its weight and volume are greatly reduced, often by as much as 90% . Pitchtel also stated that a third, albeit unintended benefit of incineration is detoxification - the destruction of microbial and other pathogenic organisms - of the waste . Waste-to-energy incinerators boil water to make steam for heating spaces or for production of electricity."
Abstract This paper explains that, at one time, there were no problems with landfills because trash, such as wood, paper, oxidizable metals and organic garbage, was biodegradable; now, Styrofoam and other plastic based wrappings and containers, in which almost everything is over-wrapped, survive decomposition for decades and decades even when crushed. The author points out the problems of trash handle in the 21st century are: (1) Landfills are filling up at an astronomical rate, (2) they are not decomposing at the rate they used to before non-biodegradable items were being added, (3) because of this inconsistent rate of biodegradability, many landfills are developing large pockets of methane gas and leachate or "garbage juice", which is a potential threat to the ground water and (4) companies are dumping highly toxic materials in the landfill. The paper stresses that the only ways we are going to make landfills nearly obsolete are by recycling, which must be supported by very strong recycling laws, and by seeking improved technologies for wastedisposal and long-term chemical contamination.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Hazardous Waste and Landfills Problems with Non Hazardous Landfills Conclusion
From the Paper "According to the group "Make Less Waste", waste prevention is any practice that reduces the amount or toxicity of waste, including making goods last longer, reusing products and reducing packaging. It's a good way to save money, reduce pollution and conserve energy. They point out some ways we can reduce the amount of waste we generate. Some suggestions include avoiding "over-packaged" products. We should look for the most purposeful, least wasteful packaging. We should re-use or refuse shopping bags and bring your own bags. One of the best ways of making less waste is to avoid disposable versions of razors, pens, lighters, batteries, plates, cups, napkins and diapers. We cam choose products made from recycled material and buy products in glass, steel, or aluminum because all of these products have some recycled content and can be recycled. If we buy concentrates, "economy" sizes, and products selected from bulk bin, we save on packaging waste. To reduce fast food packaging, ask that your fast food be wrapped only in paper and refuse bags and Styrofoam boxes. Instead of throwing them away, donate used items such as clothes, furniture and books to charitable organizations."
Abstract The paper compares and contrasts the limitations of each the three ways of dealing with waste: landfill, incineration and the 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle). In particular, the paper focuses on municipal and non-hazardous waste. The paper critically examines each of these methods and their flaws. The paper argues that the 3Rs are the most sustainable ways of dealing with waste and that, despite the flaws, some of which can be fixed, this is the best long-term solution.
Outline:
Landfill Incineration
The 3Rs
From the Paper "Waste disposal presents a big environmental problem that is universal to all nations of the world. Canada is no exception. "In 2000, Canadians generated 1021 kg of non-hazardous waste per capital" Statistics Canada (qtd. in McLaren, 373.) Waste is an increasing problem within our consumerist society, since not only has it brought about adverse environmental impact but it is also becoming increasingly expensive to deal with it and we are producing more despite all our efforts. In Canada for example "non-hazardous waste disposal per capita was 7 per cent higher in 2000 than in 1996" (Mclaren, 373). Gandy states that "many US cities now face a tax burden for their solid waste management which is exceeded only by education and roads" (31)."
