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Flip to reveal answersDefine leachate and state why it is a concern in landfills.
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All 15 Flashcards — Waste disposal methods
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Question
Define leachate and state why it is a concern in landfills.
Answer
Leachate is liquid that drains through landfill waste, carrying dissolved contaminants. It is a concern because it can pollute groundwater and surface water if containment fails.
💡 Hint
Leachate = polluted liquid.
Question
List four major waste management methods mentioned in the summary.
Answer
Major methods include landfill, incineration, recycling, composting (and anaerobic digestion as an organic waste treatment).
💡 Hint
Landfill, incinerate, recycle, compost.
Question
Give one major benefit of recycling aluminium.
Answer
Recycling aluminium saves very large amounts of energy compared with producing aluminium from ore and reduces the need for mining and landfill.
💡 Hint
Aluminium = big energy saver.
Question
What is downcycling?
Answer
Downcycling is recycling into lower-quality products (e.g., plastic bottles turned into fleece), meaning the material is less likely to be recycled again into the same product.
💡 Hint
Recycled but lower quality.
Question
State one advantage and one disadvantage of landfill.
Answer
Advantage: relatively cheap and can handle mixed waste (and methane can be captured). Disadvantage: methane emissions and leachate risk, plus large land use.
💡 Hint
1 pro + 1 con.
Question
Which methods are “end-of-pipe” and which are “recovery” approaches?
Answer
Landfill and incineration are end-of-pipe disposal methods, while recycling, composting, and waste-to-energy are recovery approaches that extract value.
💡 Hint
Disposal vs recovery.
Question
State one limitation of recycling systems.
Answer
Recycling is limited by contamination of materials, market demand/price volatility for recyclates, and the fact that some materials are difficult or uneconomic to recycle.
💡 Hint
Contamination is common.
Question
Why is methane from landfills a climate concern?
Answer
Organic waste decomposes anaerobically in landfills and produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas, so uncontrolled emissions increase warming.
💡 Hint
Anaerobic decay → CH4.
Question
Why is “best approach depends on local context” an important point?
Answer
Because costs, infrastructure, waste composition, policy, and public acceptance vary, so the most suitable method differs by region and waste type.
💡 Hint
Context matters.
Question
State one advantage and one disadvantage of incineration.
Answer
Advantage: reduces waste volume greatly and can recover energy (waste-to-energy). Disadvantage: air pollution (e.g., dioxins, particulates, heavy metals) and ash still needs disposal.
💡 Hint
Volume down, pollution risk.
Question
Give one reason incineration might reduce landfill use but still create disposal needs.
Answer
Incineration reduces waste volume but produces ash that must be disposed of safely and can contain toxic substances.
💡 Hint
Ash still needs disposal.
Question
Why is composting better than landfilling organic waste for climate?
Answer
Composting is aerobic and avoids large methane production, whereas landfilled organic waste decomposes anaerobically and releases methane.
💡 Hint
Aerobic vs anaerobic.
Question
What is anaerobic digestion and what useful product does it generate?
Answer
Anaerobic digestion breaks down organic waste without oxygen and produces biogas (methane-rich gas) that can be used for energy, plus digestate.
💡 Hint
AD → biogas.
Question
Why do modern incinerators still remain controversial?
Answer
Even with filters and scrubbers, emissions are reduced but not eliminated; incinerators are expensive, face public opposition, and may reduce incentives to recycle.
💡 Hint
Controls reduce, not remove.
Question
What are five common evaluation criteria for disposal methods?
Answer
Common criteria include environmental impact, cost, feasibility, public acceptance, and suitability for different waste types.
💡 Hint
Impact, cost, feasibility, acceptance, suitability.
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Topic 7.3 hub
Solid waste
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