Solid Wastes

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• Solid Wastes
• Alternatives
• Composting
• Removing metal and newspaper
• Aerobic Decomposition with frequent agitation
  (faster)
• Anaerobic Decomposition without agitation
  (slower)

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Source EPA
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• Solid Wastes
• Alternatives
• Composting
• Pro
• Decreased volume of waste
• Compost useful for mulch, lightening soil,
  improved water retention
• Anaerobic decomposition ? methane that can be
  harvested as an energy source
• Con
• Requires processing in preparation for composting
• Requires attention to maintain aerobic conditions
• Anaerobic decomposition is slow
• Methane generation is hazardous (fire risk)
• Methane is a GHG

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• Solid Wastes
• Alternatives
• Incineration
• Used extensively in Europe
• Increasingly common in US, especially where other
  options are limited (e.g. Northeast)
• Large municipal incinerators

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Source EPA
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• Solid Wastes
• Alternatives
• Incineration
• Pro
• Reduces waste volume up to 90
• Can generate electricity (Waste To Energy)
• Con
• Air pollution hard to anticipate pollutants
  from combustion of waste (esp. plastics, etc.)
• Expensive emissions control equipment required
• Waste ash still requires disposal

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Source EPA
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Source EPA
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Source EPA
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Energy

• World energy consumption projected to rise 53
  from 2008 to 2035
• Greatest projected increase in non-OECD countries
  (85 vs. 18 in OECD countries)
• What is the OECD?

US EIA
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Energy
US EIA

• Energy use in non-OECD Asia (incl. India China)
  to more than double by 2035

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• Energy
• Conventional
• Fossil Fuels
• Oil
• Transportation, electricity generation, heating
• Worlds dominant source of energy for past
  several decades
• Expected to remain important for next 20 years -
  Predicted change 34?29 of total energy
  consumption through 2035
• Greatest consumption by OECD nations, but gap
  closing
• 1999 Non-OECD nations consumed 58 as much as
  OECD nations
• 2030 Projected to use 90 as much
• Most of increase from transportation sector (few
  alternative fuel sources)

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• Energy
• Conventional
• Fossil Fuels
• Oil
• Benefits
• Readily available
• High energy density
• Inexpensive
• Existing technology infrastructure
• Concerns
• Combustion releases pollutants (CO2, NOx, SOx,
  PM)
• Extraction harms environment
• Accidental releases, especially in ocean
• Energy security US imports 60 of oil
• Long-term availability (unconventional sources)

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• Unconventional Sources
• Oil sands
• Extra-heavy oil
• Coal-to-liquids
• Gas-to-liquids
• Shale oil
• Biofuels

US EIA
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• Energy
• Conventional
• Fossil Fuels
• Coal
• Electricity generation (60 of global coal use,
  2008)
• Main fuel source in China for industry
• Use expected to grow, mostly fueled by Asia,
  especially China (78 of global growth) and India
• Benefits
• Inexpensive
• Abundant, easy to recover
• Requires minimal processing
• Existing technology infrastructure
• Concerns
• Environmental degradation from mining
• Requires extensive transportation system (rail)
• Combustion ? pollutants (CO2, PM, Hg, NOx, SOx)
• Counter Clean coal (requires more processing)