Landfills
A flammable gas emitted from decomposing waste
What is methane (CH4)?
Pollution that occurs when lakes, rivers, or oceans are contaminated with trash or chemicals
What is water pollution?
A type of waste that naturally decomposes over time
What is biodegradable waste?
Respiratory condition made worse by breathing in polluted air
What is asthma?
The process of converting waste into usable material
What is recycling?
A regulated and sealed area where waste is disposed
What is a sanitary landfill?
Pollution that occurs when gases or particulates rise into atmosphere
What is air pollution?
A type of waste that does not decompose quickly or easily (e.g., plastic, metal, glass)
What is non-biodegradable waste?
Environmental issue caused by excess GHGs trapping heat in the atmosphere
What is global warming?
The process of turning food scraps and biodegradable waste into soil
What is composting?
An open and unregulated area where waste is disposed
What is an open dump?
Small plastic particulates that come from industrial and consumer waste
What are microplastics?
A hazardous type of waste (e.g., batteries, medical waste, pesticides)
What is toxic waste?
The slow buildup of pollutants in the body of an organism
What is bioaccumulation?
Technology that help remove toxic pollutants from factory smokestacks before they enter the air
What are scrubbers?
The protective liner around a landfill that prevents toxins from leaking into the groundwater
What is a leachate collection system?
Precipitation that occurs when nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide mix with atmospheric water
What is wet deposition?
A type of waste that consists of appliances and technology (e.g., phone, laptops)
What is electronic waste?
The buildup of pollutants in an organism from eating other organisms with a higher concentration of said pollutants
What is biomagnification?
A device in the exhaust of motor vehicles that turns the emissions into less harmful gases
What is a catalytic convertor?
The process that happens when a landfill is full and converted for another use
What is landfill repurposing?
The massive floating area of trash in the ocean
What is The Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
A type of waste that comes from households and businesses (e.g., food scraps, packaging)
What is municipal waste?
Effect on coral reefs where they loose color and die caused by pollution and climate change
What is coral bleaching?
A system that takes landfill gas and turns it into usable energy
What is landfill gas-to-energy recovery?