Wastes, Disposal and Strategies for Control

Type of Waste	Disposal	Strategy for control
Heavy Metals	Landfills. If not properly confined the leachate may pollute soil/ground water.	Mixed with cement and additive that encloses the sludge.
Nuclear Wastes	Depends on the type of waste: -For low levels, material is compressed and buried in landfills -For inter, level it may be solidified in concrete and buried -For high level, it is placed in a container Reuse (weapons, not cost-effective; hybrid reactors)	Very difficult. Confinement is needed wastes take thousands of years to decay. An option is to deplete highly radioactive materials
Organic Wastes	Pumping wastes into deep wells. The mulch is used as fertilizer. Land —> provides biogas.	Biotech processes open / closed composting use microorganisms or worms. Aerobic / anaerobic bacteria break down organic matter. Incinerators /pyrolysis
Plastic Wastes	Landfills Incinerators. Reuse/recycling	Efficient incineration provides useful thermal energy and control of the gases released. Treatment Conversion into fuels (Polymer Energy System)
Oils and Solvents	Small amount placed in containers and put in trash, landfills Larger amounts, containers for recycling; oil –> biofuels. Incinerators	Bioprocesses –> microorganisms break down molecules into simpler compounds.

 

 

Method	Description
Landfills	Confinement of wastes into an area, covered by soil
Incineration	Wastes are burned
Recycling	Materials are changed and used in other products
Reuse	A new use is find for materials or they are reused for the same purpose.