Deck 7: Managing Solid Waste- a Plastic Surf: Are the Oceans Teeming With Trash- Ecology

Question 1

Matter cannot be created nor destroyed; it only changes form. This is the law of _________.

A) conservation of energy
B) waste management
C) conservation of matter
D) no returns
E) sustainability

Answer 1

conservation of matter

Question 2

Hazardous and nonhazardous wastes in developing countries often end up in open dumps. Which of the following is FALSE regarding open dumps?

A) Open dumps attract pests such as flies and rats.
B) Leachate from open dumps can contaminate groundwater.
C) Sanitary landfills and open dumps are essentially the same thing.
D) Open dumps are one of the cheapest ways to get rid of human trash.
E) All of the above are true.

Answer 2

Sanitary landfills and open dumps are essentially the same thing.

Question 3

Sanitary landfills are commonly used in the United States to manage solid waste. Since decomposition in sanitary landfills relies upon anaerobic bacteria (those that live in oxygen-poor environments), a large amount of the greenhouse gas ______ is produced.

A) methane
B) carbon dioxide
C) oxygen
D) nitrogen
E) sulfur

Answer 3

methane

Question 4

Waste is _____________.

A) anything that humans do not deem valuable to survival
B) a human term used to describe things we throw away
C) any discarded item that can be naturally degraded in the environment
D) common in natural ecosystems
E) all of the above

Question 5

What are the characteristics of something that is nondegradable?

A) It does not degrade in normal atmospheric conditions.
B) It is mostly synthetic molecules.
C) It is chemically stable.
D) It cannot be broken down by naturally occurring enzymes.
E) All of the above choices are characteristics.

Question 6

Incineration of waste reduces its volume by 80-90%, which is good. What are problems associated with this practice?

A) the creation of air pollution
B) the creation of water pollution
C) the production of toxic solid waste
D) the cost of incinerators
E) All of the choices listed above are problems associated with incineration.

Question 7

One of the cheapest and most common methods of handling solid wastes in developing countries is _________.

A) sanitary landfills
B) incinerators
C) recycling
D) open dumps
E) composting

Question 8

Americans produce _______ amount of solid waste produced by most less-developed countries.

A) half the
B) the same
C) twice the
D) 10 times the
E) 100 times the

Question 9

This picture shows people scavenging Cambodia's municipal garbage dump. What does their presence there imply about what has been thrown away?

Question 10

Why can't we permanently get rid of the waste we generate?

A) It is illegal to dump waste in the oceans.
B) Most states prohibit the burning of waste.
C) It would violate the law of conservation of matter.
D) Disposal costs are prohibitive.
E) None of the choices above fit the description.

Question 11

Incinerators reduce the volume of solid waste by about ______________.

A) 10-20%
B) 30-40%
C) 50-60%
D) 70-80%
E) 80-90%

Question 12

What is the difference between degradable and biodegradable waste?

Question 13

Even though a banana peel is biodegradable and is typically broken down at rapid rates, if you bury the peel deep within a landfill, it takes much longer to degrade. Why is this?

Question 14

Currently, 54% of our waste is put into landfills. According to the EPA, which of the following shows available waste management techniques in order of most preferred to least preferred?

A) recycling/compost, incineration with energy capture, source reduction/reuse, landfilling
B) source reduction/reuse, recycling/composting, incineration with energy capture, landfilling
C) landfilling, recycling/composting, incineration with energy capture, source reduction/reuse
D) source reduction/reuse, incineration with energy capture, recycling/composting, incineration without energy capture
E) recycling/composting, source reduction/reuse, landfilling

Question 15

A manufacturer of potato chips claims that its packaging can be broken down by living organisms. This packaging is considered _____________.

A) industrial waste
B) nondegradable
C) biodegradable
D) All of the choices listed above fit the description.
E) None of the choices listed above fit the description.

Question 16

In the United States, 54% of all garbage is categorized as ___________ waste.

A) recycled paper
B) mining
C) municipal paper
D) agricultural and industrial
E) municipal metal

Question 17

Why is there no such thing as waste in natural, non-human ecosystems?

A) There is not enough consumption to produce waste.
B) The discarded matter of one organism becomes the resources for another.
C) All organisms reuse their own discarded matter.
D) There is one niche in every ecosystem that consumes all waste from the other members of the ecosystem.
E) Waste does exist in natural ecosystems; we just can't see it.

Question 18

In 2012 alone, each American produced about _____ of solid waste per day.

A) half a pound
B) 2.5 pounds
C) 3.2 pounds
D) 4.3 pounds
E) 10 pounds

Question 19

The majority of municipal solid waste produced in the United States ends up being __________.

A) recycled
B) composted
C) incinerated
D) landfilled
E) reused

Question 20

Everyday garbage or trash (solid waste) produced by individuals or small businesses is known as ____________.

A) municipal solid waste
B) industrial solid waste
C) hazardous waste
D) biodegradable
E) sanitary

Question 21

What is hazardous waste, and why is it considered to be problematic? Discuss two ways the average person can reduce their contribution to the potential problems caused by hazardous waste.

Question 22

When e-waste is improperly recycled, toxic metals can be released; this can include _________.

A) lead
B) mercury
C) chromium
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 23

Infographic 7.1

Refer to Infographic 7.1. The pie chart shows components of U.S. municipal solid waste. For each component, describe what can be done to avoid disposal at a sanitary landfill.

Question 24

Infographic 7.3.

Refer to Infographic 7.3. Describe the pros and cons of a waste-to-energy incinerator.

Question 25

What is e-waste? Explain why recycling e-waste is a better idea than simply burying it in a hazardous waste landfill. What are the concerns with such recycling efforts?

Question 26

Infographic 7.2.

Refer to Infographic 7.2. From the diagram of a sanitary landfill, describe potential environmental issues associated with landfills and what steps are taken to protect the environment.

Question 27

Refer to Infographic 7.4. Compare the foraging areas for the two populations of Laysan albatross chicks relative to the locations of the garbage patches. This comparison suggests that _________ birds likely eat more plastic because ___________.

A) the Oahu; they have a smaller foraging area
B) the Kure; a large portion of the Western Garbage Patch is in their foraging area
C) the Kure; they have a larger foraging area
D) the Oahu; their actual nesting site is closer to the Eastern Garbage Patch
E) neither the Kure nor the Oahu; they can both avoid foraging in the area of the garbage patches

Question 28

What is the MOST appropriate way to handle hazardous waste?

A) Incinerate it, as burning eliminates all toxic waste.
B) Landfill it, as leachate contains the hazardous waste and prevents it from contaminating ground water.
C) Dump it in the ocean, as the volume of water dilutes the waste, essentially making it nonhazardous.
D) Send it to developing countries in Africa, as they have developed methods of extracting the valuable components of such waste without causing harm to the workers.
E) None of the above is an appropriate way to handle hazardous waste.

Question 29

Waste that is not disposed of correctly may end up in the oceans. How can we reduce the amount of waste that ends up in the oceans?

Question 30

Which of the following waste and waste management techniques are best matched up so as to cause the least harm to ecosystems?

A) aluminum cans-incinerating
B) pesticides-dumping in waterways
C) paper waste-open dumps
D) yard waste-composting
E) e-waste-landfilling

Question 31

Which of the following is NOT a component of a newer sanitary landfill?

A) a leachate collection system
B) an incinerator
C) a plastic liner
D) compacted clay and waste
E) daily earth cover

Question 32

It has been shown that a bottle deposit, a center for returning and recycling bottles and cans, significantly reduces the amount of plastic or glass bottles and aluminum cans that end up in a landfill. Not all states have a bottle deposit. What would be the benefits of having a bottle deposit in all states?

Question 33

Tiny bits of plastic gather in specific areas of the world's oceans where strong currents circle around areas with very weak, or even no, currents. These regions are called __________.

A) Bermuda triangles
B) gyres
C) pods
D) waterfills
E) neuston layers

Question 34

__________ is harmful to humans; it is toxic, flammable, corrosive, explosive, and/or radioactive.

A) Biodegradable waste
B) Sanitary landfill waste
C) Municipal waste
D) Hazardous waste
E) Industrial waste

Question 35

Ecological concerns regarding plastics in oceans include which of the following?

A) Sea mammals can get tangled in discarded plastic items, such as fishing nets and six-pack rings.
B) Seabirds eat plastic, mistaking it for food, and may end up choking on the plastic.
C) Plastic absorbs fat-soluble pollutants such as PCBs and DDT; these are toxins known to bioaccumulate in the tissues of marine organisms and biomagnify up food chains.
D) Floating bits of plastic can serve as attachment points for fish eggs, barnacles, and many types of larval and juvenile organisms, and thus they could potentially transport harmful, invasive species to new locales.
E) All of the above are concerns regarding plastics in oceans.

Question 36

Aquatic ecosystems are considered particularly vulnerable to plastic waste. Describe four ways that plastic waste can affect aquatic species and ecosystems.

Question 37

Match the waste management method to its potential harm to ecosystems.

A) landfills-ground water contamination from leachate
B) incineration-production of methane, a greenhouse gas
C) ocean dumping-toxic ash as waste breaks down under sunlight
D) composting-thermal (heat) pollution in local waterways
E) recycling-release of hazardous waste due to combustion of recyclable material

Question 38

What are the potential environmental consequences of disposing of waste via landfilling and incineration? What systems exist in each disposal method to try and prevent these potential problems?

Question 39

Which of the following is NOT considered hazardous waste?

A) pesticides
B) automotive oil
C) plastic bottles
D) e-waste
E) compact fluorescent light bulbs

Question 40

Hazardous waste is __________.

A) any material that humans deem to be unwanted
B) everyday garbage or trash produced by individuals or small businesses
C) waste that is capable of being broken down by living organisms
D) waste that is incapable of being broken down under normal conditions
E) waste that is toxic, flammable, corrosive, explosive, or radioactive

Question 41

A city is considering constructing a new industrial park to increase revenue and exports. They also want to make the park sustainable, so they should employ techniques used in __________.

A) industrial ecology
B) ecological downsizes
C) riparian restoration
D) landfill production
E) all of the above

Question 42

What everyday changes can you make to reduce the amount of waste you produce?

Question 43

Infographic 7.7.

Refer to Infographic 7.7. Use the infographic to describe an eco-industrial park and the advantages of using such innovations.

Question 44

Which of the following materials should NOT be added to a compost pile?

A) pet waste
B) livestock manure
C) paper
D) dead leaves
E) All of the above could be added to a compost pile.

Question 45

Choosing to buy goods with minimal packaging is an example of ____.

A) refusing
B) reducing
C) reusing
D) recycling
E) de-manufacturing

Question 46

Consumers can decrease the amount of landfilled solid waste by ___________.

A) refusing to purchase products that contribute to solid waste generation
B) purchasing goods with minimal packaging
C) finding ways to reuse materials instead of purchasing new ones
D) actively recycling materials
E) All of the choices listed above will decrease the amount of landfilled solid waste.

Question 47

Infographic 7.8.

Refer to Infographic 7.8. What are the three required steps of recycling? Which step drives the entire process and is therefore most important?

Question 48

Disassembling equipment, machinery, and appliances into components which can be salvaged or reused is an example of ___________.

A) refusing
B) reducing
C) negative feedback
D) limited growth
E) de-manufacturing

Question 49

Declining to take a plastic bag for a few items purchased at a store is an example of ________.

A) refusing
B) reducing
C) reusing
D) recycling
E) de-manufacturing

Question 50

Hazardous waste not only affects humans but also other living organisms in a variety of ecosystems when disposed of improperly. Explain how hazardous waste can affect different organisms and why it is important to reduce human use of these products.

Question 51

Composting kitchen and yard waste is an example of ____________.

A) refusing
B) reducing
C) reusing
D) recycling
E) de-manufacturing

Question 52

Many states in the United States have "take back laws" which require manufacturers to take back some of their products (such as computers) after the consumer has finished with it. How does this encourage companies to rethink their product design?

Question 53

Infographic 7.8.

Refer to Infographic 7.8. What options do consumers have for disposing of their waste, and which options are the most environmentally friendly? Refer to the infographic to support your answer.

Question 54

_______ is the process of allowing waste to biologically decompose in the presence of oxygen and water.

A) Bioaccumulation
B) Composting
C) Recycling
D) Eutrophication
E) Hypoxia

Question 55

A soup company wants to reduce the waste associated with its soup packaging. Which option among the ones listed below would help it to accomplish this goal?

A) Make the soup out of organically grown vegetables.
B) Encourage consumers to burn the soup cans as a source of heat.
C) Package the soup in reusable glass containers.
D) Encourage the location of landfills in communities near the factory so that the surplus soup ingredients and packaging materials can be landfilled locally.
E) Package the soup in smaller cans.

Question 56

At the grocery store, you are faced with a dilemma. Which container of milk is the most eco-friendly (plastic, paperboard, or glass)? Discuss impacts and trade-offs for each type.

Question 57

Which of the following is NOT a way to personally reduce your solid waste production?

A) filling a canteen instead of using plastic water bottles
B) buying goods with minimal packaging
C) composting kitchen and yard wastes
D) buying organic foods from developing countries
E) reusing plastic shopping bags for household chores

Question 58

Often, humans use hazardous materials without even knowing that the products they are using are harmful. What are some products that qualify as household hazardous waste? What efforts do you think should be made to make people more aware of the products they are using and how they should be properly disposed of?

Question 59

The four R's to help an individual limit waste production are _______________.

A) reclaim, rename, retake, and recycle
B) recycle, recycle, recycle, and recycle
C) ratify, rectify, remedy, and reframe
D) refuse, reduce, reuse, and recycle
E) revamp, retrofit, reduce, and regulation

Question 60

_________ require(s) manufacturers to take back some of their products after consumers are finished with them.

A) Cradle-to-cradle laws
B) Take back laws
C) De-manufacturing
D) Reuse laws
E) Reduction laws