Collaborators:
This lab was an independent experiment.
Introduction:
Solid waste is defined as any discarded material -- garbage, refuse, and sludge -- derived from everyday activities as well as commercial and industrial operations. According to Cassese, the United States produces 249 million tons of solid waste each year (approximately 682,192 tons per day); therefore, the United States produces 4.5 pounds of waste per capita per day (approximately 1,642.5 pounds per capita per year). Many common everyday items -- newspapers, plastic bottles, food waste, yard trimmings, and cans -- are used and then thrown away; the majority of these from paper and paperboard (Environmental Protection Agency, 2012). Although much of this waste is disposed of using landfills, incineration, and environmental dumping, these methods may lead to negative environmental impacts in the future if not carefully monitored -- ground water contamination, air pollution, expedition of global warming, and habitat destruction. Possible, environmentally friendly alternatives include recycling and composting; in addition, source reduction can reduce the amount of waste generated by reducing the amount of materials used to manufacture products. Although the actions of one individual may seem negligible, the combined efforts of a group of individuals has a significant effect on the environment. Through this lab, the waste generated during a three-day interval will be recorded, perhaps leading to realistic lifestyle changes with respect to trash, and its implications with respect to sustainability, natural resources, and energy.
Pre-Lab:
1) How much solid waste is produced in the US per day? Per year?
According to Cassese, the United States produces 249 million tons of solid waste each year (approximately 682,192 tons per day).
2) How much is that per capita/per day? Per year?
According to Cassese, the United States produces 4.5 pounds of waste per capita per day (approximately 1,642.5 pounds per capita per year).
3) Where does this waste go?
According to Cassese, much of this waste is disposed of using landfills, incineration, and environmental dumping -- methods that may lead to future, negative environmental impacts if not carefully monitored.
4) What different things can be done with waste?
This waste can also be recycled, which changes waste materials into new, useful products. Organic waste can also be used as compost, which provides nutrients for soil and plants. By recycling and composting, people can decrease the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, incinerators, and the environment, preventing pollution and preserving natural resources.
According to Cassese, the United States produces 249 million tons of solid waste each year (approximately 682,192 tons per day).
2) How much is that per capita/per day? Per year?
According to Cassese, the United States produces 4.5 pounds of waste per capita per day (approximately 1,642.5 pounds per capita per year).
3) Where does this waste go?
According to Cassese, much of this waste is disposed of using landfills, incineration, and environmental dumping -- methods that may lead to future, negative environmental impacts if not carefully monitored.
4) What different things can be done with waste?
This waste can also be recycled, which changes waste materials into new, useful products. Organic waste can also be used as compost, which provides nutrients for soil and plants. By recycling and composting, people can decrease the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, incinerators, and the environment, preventing pollution and preserving natural resources.
Procedure:
- Keep track of all the waste, of all kinds, you generate over the course of three days.
- Ensure that one of the three days is either a Sunday or a Saturday.
- Collect the waste in an environmentally friendly bag; record the items using the solid waste inventory provided by the teacher.
Solid Waste Inventory (11/2 - 11/4):
Data
Data Analysis
After the inventory of the solid waste that I had generated during the three-day interval had been organized using a pie chart, it was evident that the majority of the solid waste generated consisted of paper items -- about 58% of the total waste generated. In addition, the remaining waste consisted of plastic items -- about 42% of the total waste generated. None of the waste generated during the three-day interval consisted of aluminum, mixed metal, nor glass items.
Conclusion:
Conclusion Questions
1. What is done to control the amount of pollution created from a landfill?
The amount of pollution created from a landfill is reduced by the use of sanitary landfills -- sites where solid waste is isolated from the environment until it is safe. In both open dump and sanitary landfills, the waste has been dumped into a large hole in the ground, dispersed, compacted, and covered with soil; however, unlike open dump landfills, sanitary landfills contain clay barriers and plastic liners, as well as leachate collection to prevent groundwater contamination. This reduces the amount of pollution created from landfills, since any harmful chemicals from reaching the water supply.
2. Many people think landfills should not be expensive since they are a hole in the ground. Explain why a landfill such as above can cost in the millions of dollars to build and keep up.
Landfills, contrary to what many people think, are expensive to build and keep up. Sanitary landfills must abide by certain environmental regulations; therefore, before a landfill is constructed, the land must be pedantically studied. In addition, sanitary landfills are required to have trained officials to supervise preparation and construction, as well as regular operation and maintenance of the landfill. Finally, the clay barriers, plastic liners, and leachate collection are required to construct sanitary landfills. Therefore, landfills can cost millions of dollars to build and keep up:
For example, according to Freudenrich the North Wake County Landfill in Raleigh, North Carolina cost about $19 million to construct; it was paid through municipal bonds.
3. How did the amount of waste you and your family each create compare with what you expected?
The amount of waste that I generated during the three-day interval compared to the amount of waste that I had expected to generate during the three-day interval. During the three-day interval,
4.What are some reasons the U.S. average could be different then your (or family’s) amount for one day?
The U.S. average amount of solid waste generated in one day could be different than my amount of solid waste generated in one day since everyone has different careers and roles, and therefore will generate different amounts and types of waste. I am a high school student enrolled in rigorous classes; therefore, I generate a lot of waste deriving from paper items, especially school assignments. On the other hand, other people are parents, teachers, doctors, chefs, or pilots; since they all have different careers and roles, the levels and types of waste that they produce will differ, therefore affecting the average amount of solid waste generated in the U.S. as a whole.
5. Calculate how much trash you accumulate in one month’s time.
Using the data collected during the three-day interval, the amount of trash accumulated in one month's time (about 30 days) can be estimated to be 360 items.
6. There are approximately 2,000 students and staff at our school. How much trash do you estimate would be produced by all the students in our school over the course of 10 months (one school year)?
Using the data collected during the three-day interval, the amount of trash produced by all the students in our school over the course of 10 months can be estimated to be 7,200,000 items.
7. How did the relative amount of your recyclable and compostable material compare to the trash that had to go to a landfill?
The relative amount of recyclable and compostable material -- 19 items -- is slightly greater than the amount of trash that had to go to a landfill -- 17 items. The recyclable material consisted of school-related papers and plastic bottles; the generally non-recyclable and non-compostable materials consisted of plastic items -- food wrappers and plastic bags.
8. How much and what, material did you throw out that could have been composted or recycled? Why was it put in the trash? (both your specific reasons, but other reasons too)
I threw away 1 plastic bottle, which could have been recycled, and 18 school-related papers, which could have been recycled or composted. Many people -- including me -- throw away plastic bottles because they cannot find recycling bins in which they can recycle them. Many times, the recycling bins in schools are for paper only, and many students do not want to find the designated recycling bins for plastic bottles. In addition, many people throw away paper instead of recycling it because the trash can is closer than the recycling bin, or they do not want to find the designated recycling bins for paper. Finally, many people throw away soiled napkins and greasy, cardboard pizza boxes; although these items are generally not recycled, they can be easily composted, since they easily break down in compost piles. The main reason that I have thrown away recyclable and compostable materials is my indolence; on multiple occasions -- including during this lab -- I have thrown away plastic bottles and papers because the trash can was closer than the recycling bin, or I did not want to find their designated recycling bins.
The amount of pollution created from a landfill is reduced by the use of sanitary landfills -- sites where solid waste is isolated from the environment until it is safe. In both open dump and sanitary landfills, the waste has been dumped into a large hole in the ground, dispersed, compacted, and covered with soil; however, unlike open dump landfills, sanitary landfills contain clay barriers and plastic liners, as well as leachate collection to prevent groundwater contamination. This reduces the amount of pollution created from landfills, since any harmful chemicals from reaching the water supply.
2. Many people think landfills should not be expensive since they are a hole in the ground. Explain why a landfill such as above can cost in the millions of dollars to build and keep up.
Landfills, contrary to what many people think, are expensive to build and keep up. Sanitary landfills must abide by certain environmental regulations; therefore, before a landfill is constructed, the land must be pedantically studied. In addition, sanitary landfills are required to have trained officials to supervise preparation and construction, as well as regular operation and maintenance of the landfill. Finally, the clay barriers, plastic liners, and leachate collection are required to construct sanitary landfills. Therefore, landfills can cost millions of dollars to build and keep up:
For example, according to Freudenrich the North Wake County Landfill in Raleigh, North Carolina cost about $19 million to construct; it was paid through municipal bonds.
3. How did the amount of waste you and your family each create compare with what you expected?
The amount of waste that I generated during the three-day interval compared to the amount of waste that I had expected to generate during the three-day interval. During the three-day interval,
4.What are some reasons the U.S. average could be different then your (or family’s) amount for one day?
The U.S. average amount of solid waste generated in one day could be different than my amount of solid waste generated in one day since everyone has different careers and roles, and therefore will generate different amounts and types of waste. I am a high school student enrolled in rigorous classes; therefore, I generate a lot of waste deriving from paper items, especially school assignments. On the other hand, other people are parents, teachers, doctors, chefs, or pilots; since they all have different careers and roles, the levels and types of waste that they produce will differ, therefore affecting the average amount of solid waste generated in the U.S. as a whole.
5. Calculate how much trash you accumulate in one month’s time.
Using the data collected during the three-day interval, the amount of trash accumulated in one month's time (about 30 days) can be estimated to be 360 items.
6. There are approximately 2,000 students and staff at our school. How much trash do you estimate would be produced by all the students in our school over the course of 10 months (one school year)?
Using the data collected during the three-day interval, the amount of trash produced by all the students in our school over the course of 10 months can be estimated to be 7,200,000 items.
7. How did the relative amount of your recyclable and compostable material compare to the trash that had to go to a landfill?
The relative amount of recyclable and compostable material -- 19 items -- is slightly greater than the amount of trash that had to go to a landfill -- 17 items. The recyclable material consisted of school-related papers and plastic bottles; the generally non-recyclable and non-compostable materials consisted of plastic items -- food wrappers and plastic bags.
8. How much and what, material did you throw out that could have been composted or recycled? Why was it put in the trash? (both your specific reasons, but other reasons too)
I threw away 1 plastic bottle, which could have been recycled, and 18 school-related papers, which could have been recycled or composted. Many people -- including me -- throw away plastic bottles because they cannot find recycling bins in which they can recycle them. Many times, the recycling bins in schools are for paper only, and many students do not want to find the designated recycling bins for plastic bottles. In addition, many people throw away paper instead of recycling it because the trash can is closer than the recycling bin, or they do not want to find the designated recycling bins for paper. Finally, many people throw away soiled napkins and greasy, cardboard pizza boxes; although these items are generally not recycled, they can be easily composted, since they easily break down in compost piles. The main reason that I have thrown away recyclable and compostable materials is my indolence; on multiple occasions -- including during this lab -- I have thrown away plastic bottles and papers because the trash can was closer than the recycling bin, or I did not want to find their designated recycling bins.
General Conclusion
Before having conducted this lab, I was not cognizant of the amount of waste that one individual generates in one day; therefore, I was surprised by the results of this experiment. Although the amount of waste that I generated in one day -- about 12 items -- may seem negligible, if those lifestyle changes with respect to trash persist, then in one year I would generate about 4,380 items of trash. In addition, if all the students and staff at our high school (about 2,000 individuals) generated the same amount of trash in one school year (about 10 months), then in one school year they would generate about 7,200,000 items. The Environmental Protection Agency's figure (figure 1) shows the total and per capita solid waste generation per day in the United States between the years 1960 and 2012. The solid waste generation in the United States has increased significantly between the years 1960 and 2012; therefore, the number of landfills in the United States has also increased significantly between the two years.
The data also corroborates the Environmental Protection Agency's figure (figure 2), which shows the total municipal solid waste generated in the United States in 2012. During the three-day interval, 58% of the solid waste generated consisted of paper items -- mostly school-related papers. According to the figure, 27.4% of the municipal solid waste generated in the United States in 2012 consisted of paper and paperboard -- including newspapers, mail pieces, store receipts, and napkins. According to the figure, 14.5% of the total municipal solid waste generated in the United States in 2012 consisted of food waste, while 12.7% of it consisted of plastic items, including plastic bottles, bags, and food wrappers.
The results of this lab have significantly changed my attitudes toward trash: Cognizant of the amount of trash as well as the most common trash items that I generate, I can make realistic lifestyle changes with respect to trash.
Firstly, as a student, I generate a lot of paper waste -- including notebook paper, copy paper, and sticky notes. In addition, I generate a lot of plastic items, such as plastic bottles. Although I often recycle these items in their designated bins at school, I often forget to recycle these items at home. On multiple occasions, I have thrown away paper or plastic bottles that could have been recycled. After conducting this lab, I am going to remain committed to recycling all recyclable products, paper or plastic. In addition, I am going to inform others -- friends and family -- of the importance of recycling. Also, if I see any recyclable material in trash cans, I will recycle it in its designated bin. Making a commitment to recycling, as well as informing one's community about the importance of recycling can increase sustainability of natural resources as well as save energy, for it eliminates the need to extract and refine virgin materials to manufacture new products. In addition, although recycling factories still emit greenhouse gases and pollute the atmosphere, recycling materials requires less energy than manufacturing new products using virgin materials; therefore, in the long run, recycling increases sustainability of natural resources, saves energy, and decreases air pollution.
In addition, much of the paper items that I generated in the three-day interval consisted of school-related papers and napkins. Before conducting research for this lab, I was not cognizant that many paper items, such as newspaper, cardboard, and copy paper could be composted; however, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, these materials can be composted. Shredded newspaper, greasy pizza boxes, and clean paper can all be composted. By composting these materials, instead of throwing them away, it can not only reduce the amount of trash in landfills, but can also promote soil fertility, leading to healthier topsoil and vegetation. In addition, once the vegetation grows, it can increase biodiversity by supporting organisms, and promote air quality by converting carbon dioxide into oxygen.
Finally, some of the waste that I generated in the three-day interval consisted of items that are generally not recycled nor composted -- straws and plastic bags -- can be reused. To reuse an item is to use it again rather than dispose of it. Although I often throw away straws and occasionally throw away plastic bags, they can be reused. For example, if I eat at a fast food restaurant and order a drink, after I finish it, I can rinse the straw and save it for future use. Also, if I purchase groceries, and have leftover grocery bags, instead of throwing them away, I can use them to store household items and travel items, as well as to make arts and crafts. Reusing materials, instead of throwing them away, reduces the amount of trash in landfills, ultimately saving money because sanitary landfills cost millions to build and keep up, since they are required to have trained officials to supervise preparation and construction, as well as regular operation and maintenance of the landfill. In addition, the clay barriers, plastic liners, and leachate collection are expensive to construct. For example, according to Freudenrich, the North Wake County Landfill in Raleigh, North Carolina cost about $19 million to construct and was paid through municipal bonds.
By making a commitment to make these lifestyle changes with respect to trash, a community as a whole can not only reduce the amount of trash that ends up in landfills, but also promote the sustainability of natural resources, save energy, promote soil fertility and air quality, and increase biodiversity.
Firstly, as a student, I generate a lot of paper waste -- including notebook paper, copy paper, and sticky notes. In addition, I generate a lot of plastic items, such as plastic bottles. Although I often recycle these items in their designated bins at school, I often forget to recycle these items at home. On multiple occasions, I have thrown away paper or plastic bottles that could have been recycled. After conducting this lab, I am going to remain committed to recycling all recyclable products, paper or plastic. In addition, I am going to inform others -- friends and family -- of the importance of recycling. Also, if I see any recyclable material in trash cans, I will recycle it in its designated bin. Making a commitment to recycling, as well as informing one's community about the importance of recycling can increase sustainability of natural resources as well as save energy, for it eliminates the need to extract and refine virgin materials to manufacture new products. In addition, although recycling factories still emit greenhouse gases and pollute the atmosphere, recycling materials requires less energy than manufacturing new products using virgin materials; therefore, in the long run, recycling increases sustainability of natural resources, saves energy, and decreases air pollution.
In addition, much of the paper items that I generated in the three-day interval consisted of school-related papers and napkins. Before conducting research for this lab, I was not cognizant that many paper items, such as newspaper, cardboard, and copy paper could be composted; however, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, these materials can be composted. Shredded newspaper, greasy pizza boxes, and clean paper can all be composted. By composting these materials, instead of throwing them away, it can not only reduce the amount of trash in landfills, but can also promote soil fertility, leading to healthier topsoil and vegetation. In addition, once the vegetation grows, it can increase biodiversity by supporting organisms, and promote air quality by converting carbon dioxide into oxygen.
Finally, some of the waste that I generated in the three-day interval consisted of items that are generally not recycled nor composted -- straws and plastic bags -- can be reused. To reuse an item is to use it again rather than dispose of it. Although I often throw away straws and occasionally throw away plastic bags, they can be reused. For example, if I eat at a fast food restaurant and order a drink, after I finish it, I can rinse the straw and save it for future use. Also, if I purchase groceries, and have leftover grocery bags, instead of throwing them away, I can use them to store household items and travel items, as well as to make arts and crafts. Reusing materials, instead of throwing them away, reduces the amount of trash in landfills, ultimately saving money because sanitary landfills cost millions to build and keep up, since they are required to have trained officials to supervise preparation and construction, as well as regular operation and maintenance of the landfill. In addition, the clay barriers, plastic liners, and leachate collection are expensive to construct. For example, according to Freudenrich, the North Wake County Landfill in Raleigh, North Carolina cost about $19 million to construct and was paid through municipal bonds.
By making a commitment to make these lifestyle changes with respect to trash, a community as a whole can not only reduce the amount of trash that ends up in landfills, but also promote the sustainability of natural resources, save energy, promote soil fertility and air quality, and increase biodiversity.
Citations:
Cassese, Tim. "Solid Waste Production." Solid Waste Production. N.p., 13 May 2010. Web. 01 Nov. 2014. <http://kanat.jsc.vsc.edu/student/cassese/main.htm>.
Freudenrich, Ph.D. Craig. "How Landfills Work." HowStuffWorks. HowStuffWorks.com, 2011. Web. 08 Nov. 2014. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/landfill4.htm>.
"Municipal Solid Waste." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 28 Feb. 2014. Web. 08 Nov. 2014. <http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal/>.
"The Problems with Waste." The Problems with Waste. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2014. <http://www.toxicsaction.org/problems-and-solutions/waste>.
Freudenrich, Ph.D. Craig. "How Landfills Work." HowStuffWorks. HowStuffWorks.com, 2011. Web. 08 Nov. 2014. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/landfill4.htm>.
"Municipal Solid Waste." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 28 Feb. 2014. Web. 08 Nov. 2014. <http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal/>.
"The Problems with Waste." The Problems with Waste. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2014. <http://www.toxicsaction.org/problems-and-solutions/waste>.