Types of Waste
This type of waste includes everyday trash from homes and businesses.
What is municipal solid waste (MSW)?
The most common method of solid waste disposal in the U.S.
What is a sanitary landfill?
This waste disposal method burns trash to reduce volume.
What is incineration?
The process of converting waste into reusable materials.
What is recycling?
Landfills can contaminate this underground water source.
What is groundwater?
Waste that is toxic, reactive, corrosive, or flammable.
What is hazardous waste?
A barrier placed at the bottom of landfills to prevent groundwater contamination.
What is a liner?
Incineration reduces waste volume by about this percent.
What is 90%?
Organic waste like food scraps and leaves can be turned into this.
What is compost?
Plastic waste often accumulates in this large ocean garbage patch.
What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
Electronic waste like phones, TVs, and computers.
What is e-waste?
Liquid produced when water passes through waste in landfills.
What is leachate?
Air pollutants released by burning waste.
What are dioxins and particulate matter?
The three “R’s” of waste management.
What are Reduce, Reuse, Recycle?
Landfills contribute to climate change by releasing this greenhouse gas.
What is methane?
Waste that breaks down naturally by microorganisms.
What is biodegradable waste?
Gas produced when organic waste decomposes in landfills.
What is methane?
A benefit of incineration is producing this type of energy.
What is electricity?
This recycling problem occurs when recycled materials lose quality.
What is downcycling?
Burning waste releases this gas that contributes to global warming.
What is carbon dioxide (CO₂)?
Waste that does NOT easily decompose in nature.
What is non-biodegradable waste?
Pipes in landfills collect this gas for energy.
What is methane gas collection?
The toxic ash left after incineration must be disposed of here.
What is a hazardous landfill?
This waste reduction strategy focuses on producing less waste in the first place.
What is source reduction?
Improper disposal of e-waste can release these harmful substances.
What are heavy metals?