Deck 21: Municipal Solid Waste: Disposal and Recovery

Question 1

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)groundwater contamination.

Answer 1

groundwater contamination.

Question 2

In most developed countries,nonrecycled MSW is more likely to be

A)burned when the population densities are high.
B)burned when the population densities are low.
C)buried when the population densities are high.
D)buried when the population is located near an ocean.

Answer 2

burned when the population densities are high.

Question 3

A landfill that was abandoned about 20 years ago has been eroding.Trees and grasses that had grown on the surface have died,the soil is eroding away,and buried wastes are now exposed at the surfaces.Nobody has been doing anything with the landfill for years.Most likely,these problems are the result of

A)rodents trying to dig up the buried wastes.
B)biogas seeping to the surface.
C)settling of the earth as the buried wastes decompose.
D)leachate generation from the buried wastes.

Answer 3

biogas seeping to the surface.

Question 4

Biogas in mostly produced in landfills

A)by the anaerobic decomposition of organic materials.
B)by the release of compressed gases from aerosol containers.
C)by the evaporation of the liquids draining from the buried waste.
D)when solid materials melt into fluids and evaporate.

Question 5

How is the disposal of MSW different today than it was in the 1960s? Today,MSW is much

A)less likely to be burned.
B)less likely to be recycled.
C)less likely to be buried in a landfill.
D)more likely to be dumped in the oceans.

Question 6

Solid-waste disposal prior to 1960 was mostly about the

A)sanitary treatment of sewage from cities and towns.
B)safe storage of radioactive wastes.
C)removal of topsoil contaminated by chemical spills.
D)disposal of household and commercial garbage.

Question 7

Compare the amount of municipal solid waste (MSW)generated per person in 2010 to 1960.If we remove the portion that could be recycled from the 2010 average,how would the remainder compare to the average per person MSW in 1960 when there was essentially no recycling? The average per person MSW in 2010 would be

A)about half that generated per person in 1960.
B)about the same as that generated per person in 1960.
C)about 10% more than that generated per person in 1960.
D)more than double that generated per person in 1960.

Question 8

The burning dump in this photograph illustrates a MSW disposal method most commonly practiced

A)in the United States before the 1960s.
B)in the United States between 2000 and 2010.
C)today in developed countries with low population densities.
D)today in developed countries with high population densities.

Question 9

More than 550 landfills in the United States now use biogas to

A)generate electricity and heat homes.
B)produce gasoline and oil products.
C)grow vegetables and other commercially raised plants.
D)promote the decomposition of the wastes buried in the landfills.

Question 10

Today,many of the old dumps and landfills from past decades are now

A)festering sites of toxic waste that must be fenced off and restricted.
B)parks and recreational areas widely used by the public.
C)being mined for the resources that were buried over several decades.
D)deep depressions,resulting from the decay of most of the materials that were buried long ago.

Question 11

In general,in developed countries,MSW is more likely to be recycled at a higher percentage when

A)the population densities are high.
B)the population densities are low.
C)the country relies on nuclear energy.
D)the country is located near an ocean.

Question 12

Closed landfills,first dubbed the "solid waste crisis" in the 1970s,now are being transformed into

A)organic farms.
B)nuclear waste storage sites.
C)recreational parks,nature preserves and golf courses.
D)new sources of clean drinking water.

Question 13

The greatest potential pollution and public health problem resulting from the use of landfills in Florida is related to

A)methane production.
B)settling.
C)incomplete decomposition.
D)groundwater contamination.

Question 14

The responsibility for the weekly collection and disposal of MSW from households largely falls under the jurisdiction of

A)local governments.
B)states.
C)the federal government.
D)international treaties.

Question 15

Using a natural ravine as a site for a landfill will most likely cause problems related to

A)settling.
B)methane production.
C)incomplete decomposition.
D)contamination of natural waterways.

Question 16

A home located about 500 feet from an abandoned landfill explodes in a giant ball of flames.This is a mystery,as the home only uses electricity for cooking and heating the home.Most likely,this disaster was caused by

A)groundwater contamination from the landfill into the home.
B)biogas that seeped from the landfill along horizontal cracks and into the home.
C)gasoline or other flammable substances that leached from the landfill into the home.
D)corrosives that leached from the landfill into the home and degraded the home's electrical wires.

Question 17

Despite its many problems,one of the advantages of open burning of MSW is

A)the generation of natural gas to warm buildings.
B)a reduction in air pollution.
C)a reduction in the volume of MSW.
D)the generation of agricultural fertilizer.

Question 18

In Massachusetts and other states,closed landfills are for the first time being used for

A)producing electricity by incinerating solid wastes.
B)generating electricity from acres of photocells covering the landfill surface.
C)extraction of recyclable materials.
D)disposal of radioactive waste from nuclear power plants.

Question 19

As you watch the demolition of an old office building,you see truck after truck hauling away large chunks of concrete,steel,and other building materials.Then you start to wonder,where are they taking all of this material and will it be safe? A friend comments to you,it's fine,the federal government has people to make sure they do this properly.You start to wonder,and then you recall that the disposal of nonhazardous industrial waste is controlled by

A)the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services.
B)the U.S.Department of Commerce.
C)the U.S.Department of Housing and Urban Development.
D)states and local government,not the federal government.

Question 20

Which of the following would be included in the general definition used by the federal government to define MSW?

A)substances,such as gasoline,that can catch fire easily
B)household and restaurant garbage
C)substances such as ammonia and pesticides,which can injure human health
D)agricultural and mining residues

Question 21

One of the greatest drawbacks of using incinerators to burn MSW is that incinerators

A)add to air pollution in the region.
B)increase the mass of MSW entering the landfills.
C)generate large volumes of toxins that otherwise would not need to be managed.
D)require large amounts of coal to burn the MSW.

Question 22

WTE combustion facilities like the one illustrated here

A)extend the life of landfills by decreasing waste volume.
B)are able to eliminate the disposal of MSW.
C)increase the volume of MSW that must be buried in landfills.
D)ultimately increase the use fossil fuels to generate electricity.

Question 23

According to EPA requirements for new landfills,leachate from the landfill must be

A)collected by a system that intercepts percolation and treats it as necessary.
B)collected into pools at the edge of the landfill where it can evaporate.
C)absorbed by materials such as paper products added as the landfill is formed.
D)contained within the landfill using a system of plastic liners that prevent its escape.

Question 24

The problems of where to locate new landfills has

A)increased transportation costs.
B)reduced the use of incinerators.
C)reduced the amount of recycling.
D)increased the total amount of MSW.

Question 25

Plans are underway to remove an old coal-fired power plant and build a modern WTE facility in its location that will generate the same amount of electricity.The coal was transported to the power plant by train,but the MSW will be trucked in to the WTE facility.People in the region are concerned about a waste incinerator near their city.Which one of the following concerns is correct? Unlike the coal-fired power plant,the WTE facility will

A)be releasing mercury into the air.
B)be releasing carbon dioxide into the air.
C)release more pollution than the coal-fired power plant.
D)result in more traffic on the roads.

Question 26

The specific design of the landfill illustrated in this figure uses a plastic liner that is most essential in landfills located in the state of

A)Ohio.
B)Illinois.
C)Florida.
D)Texas.

Question 27

The well in this landfill in the foreground of the photo is most likely being used to

A)recycle plastics.
B)process leachate.
C)capture methane.
D)recycle heavy metals.

Question 28

A town is considering the uses of its former landfill.Some people want to use it as a park and others want to build office buildings and form an industrial park.Engineers advising the town council have strongly urged the group to not place any significant buildings on top of the landfill because of problems related to

A)leaching.
B)settling.
C)biogas production.
D)incomplete decomposition.

Question 29

A city is considering the location of its next landfill.According to EPA requirements for new landfills,the city should consider

A)a region near an airport.
B)a region prone to earthquakes.
C)a low swampy region near a river.
D)an elevated region above the water table.

Question 30

A reduction in the volume of paper going to landfills has been brought about by

A)newspapers going out of business in most large cities.
B)electronic communications.
C)the invention of biodegradable paper.
D)the replacement of organic paper with plastic "paper" in many businesses.

Question 31

One of the unfortunate consequences of increased costs of disposing of MSW is an increase in

A)illegal dumping of MSW.
B)the amount of paper that is recycled.
C)the generation of electricity from biogas.
D)the generation of electricity from WTE facilities.

Question 32

Acronyms such as NIMBY,BANANA,NIMTOO,and LULU summarize the

A)types of materials that are buried within landfills.
B)many pollution problems that result from landfills.
C)perceptions of people regarding where to build landfills.
D)many forms of recycling programs that can reduce MSW.

Question 33

The main problem with constructing new landfills in the United States is that

A)nobody wants one built near them.
B)the cost of building a new landfill is too expensive.
C)the costs of running a new landfill are too expensive.
D)once a region has a landfill,it cannot be used for anything else.

Question 34

In very broad terms,as the cost of a manufactured good increases,

A)the longer it lasts,and less MSW is generated.
B)the longer it lasts,but more MSW is generated.
C)the shorter it lasts,but less MSW is generated.
D)the shorter it lasts,and more MSW is generated.

Question 35

Over the past two decades,the number of landfills has decreased significantly because

A)of increased recycling and increases in the size of landfills.
B)the total amount of MSW produced in the U.S.has decreased by about 50%.
C)increasing amounts of MSW are burned,reducing the need to bury it.
D)increasing amounts of MSW are being used to manufacture biogas.

Question 36

Problems identifying places to build new landfills has generally resulted in

A)increased dumping of MSW in rivers,lakes,and the oceans.
B)large piles of MSW in vacated lots and industrial parks awaiting proper disposal.
C)densely populated states outsourcing their MSW to states with less dense populations.
D)the increased reliance on abandoned mines as sites where MSW can be deposited.

Question 37

About half of all U.S.MSW consists of

A)food wastes.
B)plastics and metals.
C)glass,rubber,and wood.
D)paper products and yard waste.

Question 38

Water seeping through a landfill

A)stops the production of biogas.
B)promotes the decomposition of paper and other biodegradable organics.
C)helps petroleum-based plastics decompose.
D)reduces the amount of groundwater contamination.

Question 39

Waste-to-energy (WTE)facilities

A)increase the mass of MSW entering landfills.
B)require new collecting and hauling procedures not easily adopted by the public.
C)consume much more energy than they release,adding to the overall costs.
D)better isolate and remove toxic or hazardous substances in MSW.

Question 40

Incinerating organic wastes and placing the ash in landfills usually produces

A)less settling.
B)more decomposition.
C)significantly more leaching.
D)increased methane production.

Question 41

Recycling aluminum is particularly beneficial because it

A)saves energy.
B)creates jobs in the country that recycles.
C)decreases the need to import virgin aluminum ore.
D)saves energy,creates jobs,and decreases imports of virgin aluminum ore.

Question 42

Now,these students need to make a decision about what sort of towels they should purchase,again,in an attempt to generate the least amount of MSW.They agree that if they purchase paper towels,they will buy the thick,quilted brand.The best strategy,to generate the least amount of MSW,would be to purchase

A)5 bulk packages of 10 paper towels,for a total of 50 rolls of paper towels,and 10 garbage bags.
B)10 bulk packages of 5 paper towels,for a total of 50 rolls of paper towels,and 10 garbage bags.
C)25 packages of 2 paper towels each,for a total of 50 rolls of paper towels,and 10 garbage bags.
D)one bag of 5 rags (about the size of 5 rolls of paper towels)that they can wash out and reuse.

Question 43

You have a bicycle accident.Although you are OK,the bike is a mess.The rear wheel is bent,it will need a new chain,and the front tire is punctured.The estimated cost of repair is about $ 100.You can buy a new bike for about $ 120.What is the most environmentally friendly option?

A)repair the bike
B)buy a new bike and toss the old one
C)just drive your car instead
D)toss the old bike and buy a cheap used one at a garage sale

Question 44

Which of the following best represents primary recycling?

A)collecting up old clothing,cleaning it,and using the clothing to stuff new toy dolls
B)collecting up newspapers and reusing them to make more newspaper
C)shredding plastic water bottles to make lawn furniture
D)recycling plastic garbage bags to make decking and railing materials

Question 45

You want to purchase 5 pounds (80 ounces)of potato chips for your group's party.You can buy the chips packaged in many different ways.Which of the following represents the best way to reduce excessive packaging and the MSW burden on the environment? To reduce the greatest amount of packaging,you should purchase

A)two 40-ounce bags.
B)four 20-ounce bags.
C)six 15-ounce bags.
D)ten 8-ounce bags.

Question 46

If we only recycled half of the materials that could be recycled of the total MSW of the United States,we could reduce the total volume of MSW by about

A)5%.
B)10%.
C)20%
D)35%.

Question 47

The history of bottle laws in the United States reveals that as of 2010,there are

A)24 states with bottle laws,3 states have repealed them,and they result in a return rate of about 50%.
B)11 states with bottle laws,no states have repealed them,and they result in a return rate of about 75%.
C)3 states with bottle laws,one state repealed them,and they result in a return rate of about 25%.
D)37 states with bottle laws,3 states have repealed them,and they result in a return rate of about 60%.

Question 48

Which of the following are most commonly recycled from MSW,at the highest percentages?

A)plastic and glass
B)aluminum and glass
C)plastic,textiles,and old tires
D)yard wastes,paper,and paperboard

Question 49

Which of the following would reduce the greatest amount of MSW?

A)using half as much toilet paper when you use the restroom
B)using paper towels whenever possible instead of sponges and rags
C)buying concentrated cleaning solutions and refilling cleaning bottles at home
D)buying food products in individual serving containers whenever possible

Question 50

In general,newspaper recycling is

A)rare because demand in Europe and Asia has fallen.
B)rare but the demand is quite high and steady.
C)common and widespread but the demand is quite variable.
D)common and widespread and the demand remains very consistent and high.

Question 51

Between 1960 and 2010,how has recycling changed in the U.S.? The total amount of recycled MSW has

A)actually declined by about 10%,a very disappointing trend.
B)stayed about the same,as the cost of natural resources had declined.
C)actually doubled,representing significant improvement.
D)increased by more than 500%,representing a huge improvement.

Question 52

Making purchases of used items at a garage sale is one environmentally friendly approach that best represents a form of

A)source reduction.
B)composting.
C)recycling/reuse.
D)WTE disposal.

Question 53

The decking materials used in this photograph best illustrate which of the following methods to reduce MSW?

A)source reduction
B)composting
C)recycling
D)WTE disposal

Question 54

You finish your canned drink and get ready to throw it out.A garbage can is right nearby,but the recycling bin is a few more steps.Should you bother to recycle aluminum cans? Does it really make a difference? Remember that most electrical energy in the U.S.is generated from fuels that contribute to global climate change.So,when you recycle an aluminum can,about how much energy is saved compared to the amount needed to make a new can from scratch?

A)10-20%
B)30-40%
C)50-60%
D)85-95%

Question 55

In general,recycling materials found in MSW

A)uses more natural resources but decreases pollution and saves energy.
B)uses more natural resources,increases pollution,but saves energy.
C)conserves natural resources,decreases pollution,but uses more energy.
D)conserves natural resources,decreases pollution,and saves energy.

Question 56

The two students agree to use brand X,but they are unsure which sizes they should get.Which of the following options will most likely generate the least amount of MSW? To generate the least MSW,they should purchase

A)fifteen 20-ounce spray bottles of cleaner.
B)ten 20-ounce spray bottles and a 100-ounce refill jug.
C)five 20-ounce spray bottles and two 100-ounce refill jugs.
D)two 20-ounce spray bottles and one 260-ounce refill jug.

Question 57

As the population and economy has grown since 1990 in the United States,the weight per person of MSW produced has

A)declined sharply.
B)increased sharply.
C)stayed about the same.
D)declined in the 1990s but nearly doubled since the year 2000.

Question 58

The pulp from one tree equals a stack of newspapers about

A)a half a meter high.
B)a meter high.
C)two meters high.
D)five meters high.

Question 59

In general,buying in bulk is environmentally friendly because it

A)reduces the total amount of MSW that is generated.
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.

Question 60

Instead of purchasing a new car every 5 years and trading in the old one,a person buys a new,well-built car every 15 years,repairs it as needed,and then trades it in for a new one.This approach reduces the overall impact on the environment and best illustrates

A)source reduction.
B)composting.
C)recycling.
D)extending the life of a product.

Question 61

Which of the following have been used by at least one state?

A)bottle laws that require a deposit on every bottle sold
B)banning the disposal of yard waste in landfills
C)banning the disposal of cathode ray tubes (CRTs)in landfills
D)All of these approaches have been used by at least one state.

Question 62

Greater involvement by the federal government in the management of MSW disposal started with the Resource and Conservation and Recovery Act about

A)35 years ago and is currently the responsibility of the EPA.
B)100 years ago and has been under the authority of the FDA.
C)15 years ago and is largely supervised by the Department of Agriculture.
D)60 years ago and is controlled by the Bureau of Land Management.

Question 63

Which of the following strategies is the least costly and most environmentally sound way to address MSW management?

A)recycle MSW as much as possible
B)promote MSW reduction strategies
C)compost organic components of MSW
D)burn as much MSW as possible in WTE facilities

Question 64

In addition to the sheer volume,one of the greatest risks of adding e-wastes into landfills is

A)the generation of large volumes of biogas.
B)a danger that CRTs will result in huge explosions.
C)the leaching out of heavy metals into groundwater.
D)the tremendous amounts of heat generated when e-waste decays.

Question 65

If you use curbside recycling or participate in on-campus recycling,the sorted recyclable items will likely be sent to a MRF.At the MRF,the materials will be

A)recycled into new products.
B)sorted again and shipped to the recyclable-goods market.
C)melted down into blocks (glass and plastiC)or ground up (paper).
D)burned,with the residual glass and metals remaining behind for further sorting.

Question 66

Which of the following products is difficult to recycle,clogs sewer pipes,and kills thousands of marine mammals and turtles every year?

A)aluminum and steel cans
B)plastic bottles
C)glass containers
D)thin plastic grocery bags

Question 67

Apple Computers currently offers to recycle your old computer and monitor (regardless of the brand or place of purchase)when you purchase a new Apple computer (some restrictions apply,see the Apple web site for details).This program represents an example of

A)WTE.
B)EPR and product stewardship.
C)PAYT.
D)NIMBY.

Question 68

As of 2012,the fastest growing component of street and beach litter in the United States is

A)aluminum cans.
B)plastic water bottles.
C)vegetation waste from yards and businesses.
D)sheetrock,lumber scraps and other construction site waste.

Question 69

PETE (code 1)and HDPE (code 2)plastics

A)can be recycled and made into many useful products.
B)are biodegradable.
C)unlike most plastics,are not made from petroleum.
D)cannot be incinerated with other organic MSW because of their dioxin content.

Question 70

Which of the following is the strongest argument for recycling plastics?

A)Plastics burn hot and with little ash in WTE incinerators.
B)Plastics do not contribute to leachate in landfills.
C)Plastics do not generate biogas in landfills.
D)Plastics are produced from the fossil fuel petroleum.

Question 71

Challenges in dealing with the growing volume of e-wastes include all of the following except

A)avoiding outsourcing e-waste to developing nations where workers are not protected from the hazardous materials they handle.
B)developing the specialized technology for safely processing recyclable e-wastes.
C)creating public policy to regulate the handling of e-wastes.
D)developing the emission control for toxic materials when e-wastes are incinerated with other combustible MSW.

Question 72

Which of the following demonstrates the greatest stewardship in addressing the production and disposal of MSW?

A)promote strategies that reduce the generation of MSW
B)compost organic components of MSW
C)recycle MSW as much as possible
D)promote strategies that reduce MSW,compost organic components,and recycle as much MSW as possible

Question 73

Which of the following items experiences the lowest levels of recycling?

A)aluminum containers
B)glass containers
C)thin plastic grocery bags
D)newspapers

Question 74

The parts of MSW that can be composted include

A)most plastics.
B)most hazardous wastes.
C)yard wastes and food residues.
D)finely shredded aluminum and steel.

Question 75

Because of public pressure and environmental concerns,marketers of bottled water have

A)switched to biodegradable bottles.
B)given strong support to state bottle bills.
C)lowered the cost of the product.
D)intensified marketing in developing nations where clean drinking water is scarce.

Question 76

As of 2010 in the U.S.the amount of yard wastes recovered for composting was

A)more than 50%.
B)only about 5%.
C)nearly 90%.
D)zero,because the EPA has not yet approved large-scale composting operations for MSW.

Question 77

A system of integrated waste management involves

A)landfills.
B)recycling.
C)composting.
D)a combination of ways to handle MSW.

Question 78

Which of the following components of MSW has most recently shown the greatest increase?

A)glass
B)e-waste
C)plastics
D)paper