chapter 21 vocabulary
biodegradable plastics- incorporate such materials as cornstarch that can be decomposed by microorganisms.
bioremediation- taps the great capacity of microorganisms to absorb, accumulate, and detoxify a variety of toxic compounds.
brownfields- have been abandoned or are not being used up to their potential because of real or suspected pollution.
composting- biological degradation or breakdown of organic matter under aerobic conditions.
demanufacturing- the disassembly and recycling of obsolete products.
e-waste- computers, cell phones, tvs, and printers.
energy recovery- waste-to-energy; the heat derived from incinerated refuse is a useful resource.
hazardous waste- any discarded material, liquid or solid, that contains substances known to be fatal, toxic, ignitable, corrosive, or explosive.
mass burn- to dump everything smaller than sofas and refrigerators into a giant furnace and burn as much as possible.
permanent retrievable storage- placing waste storage containers in a secure building, salt mine, or bedrock cavern where they can be inspected periodically and retrieved for repacking or for transfer if a better means of disposal is developed.
photodegradable plastics- break down when exposed to ultraviolet radiation.
recycling- the reprocessing of discarded materials into new, useful products.
refuse-derived fuel- in some plants, refuse is sorted as it comes in to remove unburnable or recyclable materials before combustion.
sanitary landfills- where solid waste disposal is regulated and controlled.
secure landfills- have many layers of clay, and various types of rock that protect the earth and dispose of the waste.
Superfund- a revolving pool designed to provide an immediate response to emergency situations that pose imminent hazards, and to clean up or remediate abandoned or inactive sites.
Toxic Release Inventory- requires 20,000 manufacturing facilities to report annually on releases of more than 300 waste stream- describes the steady flow of varied wastes that we all produce, from domestic garbage and yard wastes to industrial, commercial, and construction refuse.
