Fast Fashion
Name 5 fast fashion brands.
Zara, H&M, Shein, Fashionnova, Topshop, Primark, Forever 21, ASOS, Mango, Old Navy, The Gap, etc.
What is plastic made from and what are some main concerns associated with that substance?
Made from oil, with concerns about risk of oil spills, damage to coastal plants, killing of sea life, and disturbing the sensitive ecosystem in the Arctic.
Name the 2 powerful greenhouse gases produced by landfills from microorganisms decomposing the solid waste?
methane and carbon dioxide
Plastics that can quickly decompose and return to the soil in an uncontaminated state are called:
Degradable plastics (biodegradable, photodegradable)
List 5 household hazardous waste items.
paints and solvents
automotive wastes such as tires, motor oil, gasoline, and antifreeze
aerosol cans and BBQ propane tanks
batteries and electronic devices such as cellphones, TVs, and computers
pesticides and fertilizers
LED light bulbs
smoke detectors
antibiotics and other medicines
corrosive cleaning agents
thermometers, thermostat switches, and fluorescent bulbs (all of which contain mercury)
appliances that contain a refrigerant (CFCs damage the ozone layer and are greenhouse gases)
What are 2 practical ways individuals can reduce the harm of fast fashion?
- buy used clothes (thrift stores)
- buy good quality clothing they won't need to throw/donate/give away
- repurpose clothes you need to get rid of
Forever chemicals from microplastics, found in non-stick pans, clothes, food packaging, household items, cosmetics, etc.
Name 2 items that can go in the green bin, and 2 items that cannot.
Define Bioremediation
Using living organisms like microbes, fungi, and plants to clean up contaminated environments (soil, water, air) by breaking down or transforming pollutants into less harmful substances, often using their natural metabolic processes. It is a sustainable way to manage pollution, treating oil spills, pesticides, and heavy metals.
Explain the problem with recycling.
Contamination from improper sorting, low market demand for recycled materials, the high cost and complexity of processing (especially for plastics), and "downcycling" where quality degrades, leading to many items still ending up in landfills or incinerators despite efforts, highlighting a need for better infrastructure and consumer education.
Define Greenwashing
The deceptive practice of marketing products, services, or a company as more environmentally friendly or sustainable than they actually are, misleading consumers into believing they're supporting green initiatives when they aren't.
What is landfill leachate?
Generated when water passes through the waste
Composition of leachate dependent on what is in the solid waste
Even if a landfill is closed, it still needs to be monitored. What are at least 2 things that must be monitored?
Gas monitoring
Groundwater
Surface Water
Seep Repairs
What is it called when extremely hot plasma is used to break down waste materials like municipal solid waste, hazardous materials, and biomass into a clean synthesis gas of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. This process turns trash into valuable energy (electricity, fuel) or chemicals, eliminates landfills, destroys toxins, and produces little harmful emissions, offering a sustainable waste management and energy recovery solution.
Plasma gasification
Where does Durham Region send our landfill garbage, how is it dealt with, and why?
Durham York Energy Centre, it is incinerated and used to generate electricity, because all our landfills in Durham are at full capacity and closed.
From The Patriot Act by Hasan Minhaj episode on Fast Fashion, we saw a certain psychological effect taking place on consumers while shopping. What was this referred to as/how was it described?
What is the name of the chemical, which is also a carcinogen, found in plastic?
Bisphenol A (BPA)
Why can't compost material be thrown in the regular garbage to send to the landfill?
Compost material should not be put in regular landfill garbage primarily because it won't be on the soil and decomposes anaerobically (without oxygen) in landfills, producing methane, a potent greenhouse gas. In contrast, when composted properly, it decomposes aerobically and creates valuable soil enrichment material.
Explain how you get rid of hazardous waste products.
Most landfill sites include hazardous-waste depots. Dropping off hazardous waste is free. Some municipalities have days set aside when you can drop off hazardous waste in your neighbourhood. There may also be community drop-offs in libraries, recreation centres, and schools for some of the smaller items such as batteries and cell phones.
How do industries/factories deal with hazardous waste, and what are 2 examples of these wastes?
Industry level waste is treated on site before being sent away (legally must neutralize the waste into non-toxic chemicals)
Examples:
PCBs
Nuclear waste
Disposal of nuclear medical waste
Storing used fuel bundles (package of uranium fuel that is inserted into a CANDU reactor. Of all nuclear waste, used fuel bundles require the most careful handling and processing)
What environmental harms are linked to producing both natural and synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, spandex, viscose, rayon?
water use, oil use, logging, chemical processing
The Fire in Hagersville where 14 million used tires burned for 17 days contaminated the soil and groundwater with various organic chemicals. Name one of these chemicals.
benzene, xylene, toluene, and phenol, ammonia, zinc oxide
Name the 4 steps of the composting process at a compost facility.
Sort, Load onto mixing floor, Mix and aerate, manage/distribute the finished compost.
Explain Landfill Mining and the benefits that come with it
Recover buried recyclables
Recover energy from non-recyclable waste
Site reclamation to reduce environmental risks
Benefits:
Expand landfill capacity
Reclamation costs are often offset by the sale of or use of recycled materials, such as recyclables, soil, and waste, which can be burned as fuel.
Improving groundwater quality by removing contaminant source
Reductions in closure costs
Reclamation of land for other uses
True or False? Old clothes made from non-biodegradable fabric take 200 years to decompose.
True