Waste Management: Efficient Technologies and EPA Regulations

This article discusses efficient technologies and EPA regulations for waste management. It answers questions about municipal solid waste landfill, hazardous waste disposal, and provides tips for handling household hazardous wastes. The article also highlights the importance of proper waste management and its impact on the environment.

Running Head: WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1WASTE MANAGEMENT
Introduction
Wastes management is one of the major problem the whole United Sates is concerned
about. Several researches have been conducted to derive efficient methods to decrease wastes
and recycle them productively. Studies shows that the biological wastes can be used to
enhance the productivity of the soil with the help of efficient technology (Rhyner, 2017).
Recent researches have also revealed that hazardous wastes can also be removed using
scientific technologies. This paper contains answers of six questions regarding the efficient
use of technology and rules and regulations recommended by EPA.
Answer to Question 1
The term ‘Municipal Solid Waste Landfill’ (MSWLF) refers to an area of land where
household wastes are disposed. It may be a discrete land or an excavation. Generally,
MSWLF receives different kinds of non-hazardous wastes (Liu, et al., 2015).
.A secure landfill can be considered as a facility designed to dispose solid wastes
safely. It can be created either inside the ground or above the ground. Secured landfill is used
to dispose hazardous wastes (Blackman Jr, 2016)

2WASTE MANAGEMENT
Technology requirement differences in case of a municipal solid wastes and secured
landfill may is shown in the following table.
municipal solid wastes secured landfill wastes
The technical steps involved in the collection
as well as transportation of municipal solid
wastes are- underground collection system,
Waste bin monitoring system using GSM,
Web based GIS technology, Waste
compactors (Tchobanoglous, 2015). For the
conversion and recycling of the municipal
solid wastes, carbonization and wet thermal
technologies are used.
EPA has established Best Demonstrated Available
Technologies (BDAT), a framework The
effectiveness of the technologies used in case of
hazardous wastes depends on the performance of the
BDAT. The three key technologies that facilitate
landfill operations are- Internet of Things, Remote
monitoring, Control technologies (Rhyner, 2017).
.
Answer to Question 2.
Non- intrusive Survey Methods for the Investigation of Hazardous Wastes
Disposal sites
1. Seismic survey methods
Seismic geographical methods utilise a source and a receiver in order to
observe the subsurface, which uses compressional waves. The receiver records the
velocity of the seismic waves, which is known as geophones. Geophones are
correlated to the properties of the subsurface (Blackman, 2016). This method is used
to find and listen waves which returns to the earth’s surface, to determine whether the

3WASTE MANAGEMENT
wave is a direct surface wave or the wave has been reflected from a subsurface
geologic interface.
2. Electromagnetic surveys
This method typically helps in correlating the variations in water content fluid conductivity,
porosity, permeability (Inglezakis & Moustakas, 2015). This method also check the presence
of metal. Decaying solid wastes as well as metal which have a higher electrical conductivity
than soil, can be removed with the help of electromagnetic survey.
3. Gravitational survey techniques
Gravity measurements are used to find the internal structure of the earth, which in turn will
accelerate the process of removing wasters from soil. It is also used to locate the underground
gravitational anomalies, measuring spatial variation which may cause while removing wastes
(Kuijken et al., 2015).
Answer to Question 3.
Hazardous wastes refers to wastes generated from manufacturing process from
industries, pesticides, gases which are harmful for human beings.
There exists a variety of hazardous management treatment which are-Physical
treatment, Chemical treatment, Biological treatment, incineration, solidification, stabilisation
(US EPA, 2019)

4WASTE MANAGEMENT
Physical treatment
1. Screening
Definition Pros Cons
It is a method used to remove
solid particlescontained by a
waste stream. This method is
effective for eliminating
suspended solid particles from
special tanks or holding ponds
(Prakash & Gowtham, 2019).
1. This process is simple
2. This process is easier as
compared to other process, in case
of removing solid particles from-
canals, ponds ,pools, lakes can be
1.This method consumes a lot of
time
2. Requires respectively larger
space as compared to other
methods.
3.Sometimes, harmful chemical
agents are added in order to
facilitate the settling process of
fine particles.

5WASTE MANAGEMENT
2. Floatation:
Definition Pros Cons
This method is used to
eliminate solids from liquids.
Air bubbles are used to make
the particle float on the surface
of the liquid
(Jambeck, et al., 2015)
.
1. One of the major advantages
of this method is the removal of
particles from water bodies or
liquids, which are tiny.
2.Particles can be eliminated
faster as compared to the
sedimentation method.
1.This method is not effective to
remove particles from solid surfaces.
It cannot remove wastes minutely
From a semi-solid surface.

6WASTE MANAGEMENT
Definition Pros Cons
This technique is effective to
reduce the level of toxicity of
organic wastes. This is done with
the intervention of high
temperature
This method is very effective to
abolish the toxic elements, as,
wastes are exposed to a temperature
of 800-3000 degree Fahrenheit
(Brunner, P. H. (2019).
This process consumes a lot of
time. This is why expert considers
it obsolete.
Biological treatment
1. Incineration and Pyrolysis

7WASTE MANAGEMENT
2. Solidification and Stabilisation
Definition Pros Cons
This treatment system is prepared to
improve the handling of the wastes,
restricting the solubility of hazardous
constituents that exists in the wastes.
Wastes from mixed waste
stream can be intoxicated and
removed.
This treatment is expensive and
The process followed is
complicated, and not applicable
to all kinds of wastes.
Answer to question 4.
In this particular answer, three methods of disposal of hazardous wastes used by the
United States Environment Protection Agency shall be discussed in the table underneath.
Having provided information about the method, its advantages and disadvantages focusing on
how it affects the soil, water and the air shall be discussed.
Method of
Hazardous Waste
Disposal
Explanation Advantages Disadvantages
Incineration
(Waste, 2018)
This particular
method of waste
disposal is
commonly used for
the disposal of
hazardous waste
- The scope for
human being
to come in
contact with
the waste is
eliminated as
the process if
highly
machinized.
- Neutralizes
the toxic
effects of the
- It pollutes the
air as burning
involves
releasing of
carbon dioxide
into the air.
- The ash residue
when released
can deteriorate
the quality of
air and pollute
the local water

8WASTE MANAGEMENT
materials to avoid
human contact with
the mass of waste.
In this particular
method, the mass if
waste is burnt in
high temperature
within a
incineration plant
and are reduced to
ashes.
wastes by
reducing
them to ashes.
- Effective in
managing
huge
quantities of
toxic waste.
bodies.
- The quality of
soil can also be
affected as the
ash when
mixed with the
soil can reduce
its fertility
Landfill
(Tchobanoglous et
al., 2015)
Tonnes of
hazardous wastes,
instead of dumping
haphazardly on
land and in water
bodies are dumped
in low lying areas
and buried under a
layer of soil, to
avoid contact with
the atmosphere and
the human beings.
- Effective
alternative to
mismanaged
dumping.
- Prevents land,
air and water
pollution.
- Helpful n
reclaiming
unproductive
land and can
be turned into
housing
complexes
and
industries.
- Can pollute the
underwater
table by means
of seeping
through the
layers of soil.
- Can pollute the
air by means of
spreading
malodour in the
neighbouring
regions.
- Can pollute the
soil by
degrading its
fertility if at all
dumped on
cultivatble land
surface.
Exporting
(Jambeck et al.,
Buying of wastes
of another country
- Economically
beneficial for
both the
exporting and
- Usually
underdeveloped
countries which
cannot manage

9WASTE MANAGEMENT
2015) and recycling it
into usable
products is a
productive
business in first
world countries
like Denmark,
Sweden and
underdeveloped
countries like
Pakistan and
Albania. US
exports tonnes of
hazardous wastes
each year and
mostly those which
it is unable to
dispose or recycle
the importing
nation.
- Encourages
recycling.
the mass of
waste imported
tend to dump it
at open spaces
causing the air,
water and soil
to get polluted.
- Groundwater
contamination
is an issue.
- Decreases the
fertility of the
soil.
- Pollutes the air
by spreading
malodour.
Answer to question 5.
Around my home, the discarding of bleaching agents by households is something
which I consider to be hazardous when disposed. The EPA has defined hazardous waste as
solids, liquids, gases or sludges which are discarded as either household waste or by
commercial units and has the potential to harm the health of the living beings or the
environment (Artiola, 2019). Bleaching agents are highly corrosive chemicals usually found

10WASTE MANAGEMENT
in liquid form, which if dumped carelessly can cause the ones handling it much harm (Okoye
& Elbeshbishy, 2019). Leakage of the bottle of bleaching agents can cause it spill and
damage the drain water. Drain waters are more often than not discharged into water bodies
and can cause them to get contaminated. It is harmful for the biodiversity and can kill several
animals both aquatic and terrestrial. This is why bleaching chemicals are harmful as per the
definition of the EPA.
Answer to question 6.
Depending on the science and environmental management concept, EPA has provided
some tips to handle and dispose household hazardous wastes like -bleaching agents. Every
company selling such hazardous chemical should provide tips for disposal of the same, in the
labels of the product. EPA advices to follow the disposal directions provided in the labels on
the containers of bleaching agents. EPA also states that if the leftover of other household
wastes mixes with bleaching agents, due to incompatibility products may ignite or explode.
This is why EPA suggests the segregation of household hazardous wastes from organic
wastes. This segregation will help in managing the hazardous as well as organic wastes in a
better way. EPA has suggested floatation treatment for the segregation and disposal of
bleaching agents. In case of disposal of bleaching into drain water, EPA recommended the
usage of plunger or plumber’s snake as a drain cleaner (US EPA, 2019).
In legal context, EPA has imposed an act. Under the subtitle C of the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act, the regulations for the exclusion of household wastes are
mentioned (US EPA, 2019).

11WASTE MANAGEMENT
Conclusion
Human beings must remember that improper waste management shall harm them in
the long run as the waste which we dump on earth does not escape and when it reaches
unmanageable limits, it tends to harm us.

12WASTE MANAGEMENT
References
Artiola, J. F. (2019). Industrial Waste and Municipal Solid Waste Treatment and Disposal.
In Environmental and Pollution Science (pp. 377-391). Academic Press.
Blackman Jr, W. C. (2016). Basic hazardous waste management. Crc Press.
Brunner, P. H. (2019). WTE: Thermal Waste Treatment for Sustainable Waste
Management. Recovery of Materials and Energy from Urban Wastes: A Volume in
the Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology, Second Edition, 523-536.
Inglezakis, V. J., & Moustakas, K. (2015). Household hazardous waste management: A
review. Journal of environmental management, 150, 310-321.
Jambeck, J. R., Geyer, R., Wilcox, C., Siegler, T. R., Perryman, M., Andrady, A., ... & Law,
K. L. (2015). Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean. Science, 347(6223), 768-
771.
Kuijken, K., Heymans, C., Hildebrandt, H., Nakajima, R., Erben, T., de Jong, J. T., ... & van
Uitert, E. (2015). Gravitational lensing analysis of the Kilo-Degree Survey. Monthly
Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 454(4), 3500-3532.
Liu, A., Ren, F., Lin, W. Y., & Wang, J. Y. (2015). A review of municipal solid waste
environmental standards with a focus on incinerator residues. International Journal of
Sustainable Built Environment, 4(2), 165-188.
Okoye, F., & Elbeshbishy, E. (2019). Improper Disposal of Household Hazardous Waste:
Landfill/Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant. In Municipal Solid Waste
Management. IntechOpen.

13WASTE MANAGEMENT
Prakash, R., & Gowtham, M. (2019). Hazardous Waste and Its Treatment Process. In Energy
from Toxic Organic Waste for Heat and Power Generation (pp. 119-138). Woodhead
Publishing.
Rhyner, C. R., Schwartz, L. J., Wenger, R. B., & Kohrell, M. G. (2017). Waste management
and resource recovery. CRC Press.
Tchobanoglous, G., Theisen, H., Vigil, S. A., & Alaniz, V. M. (2015). Integrated solid waste
management: engineering principles and management issues (Vol. 4). New York:
McGraw-Hill.
US EPA. "Learn the Basics of Hazardous Waste | US EPA". US EPA, 2019. Online. Internet.
1 Mar. 2019. Available: https://www.epa.gov/hw/learn-basics-hazardous-waste.