Environmental Science

Front 1

According to the EPA, the United States produces about _______ tons of solid waste per year.

Back 1

11 billion

Front 2

In recent decades, unregulated open dumps have ____________ in developing countries.

Back 2

remained the primary disposal method

Front 3

Motor oil can be toxic at concentrations of only 1 part per million, which means that __________ of fresh water.

Back 3

1 quart of oil can pollute 1 million quarts

Front 4

Landfills differ from open dumps in that

Back 4

landfilled waste is compacted and covered.

Front 5

Choosing the site of a landfill depends on:
neighborhood and community attitudes.
local topography and drainage patterns.
proximity to aquifer recharge zones.
All of these.
permeability of underlying rock formations.

Back 5

All of these

Front 6

Many states, countries, and corporations dispose of their waste overseas because it is

Back 6

extremely cheap.

Front 7

The main method for disposing of municipal wastes in the United States is_______ while ______ is the main method in Japan.

Back 7

landfilling
recycling

Front 8

Energy recovery is another term for _______ waste.

Back 8

burning

Front 9

Refuse-derived fuel differs from normal garbage in that it

Back 9

is sorted.

Front 10

Refuse-derived fuel has______ energy content than raw refuse, but requires energy________before burning.

Back 10

a higher
to sort

Front 11

Incinerator ash is (select all that apply):

a good source of agricultural fertilizer.
None of these.
contaminated with highly concentrated toxic substances.
commonly taken to a landfill for disposal.
pure carbon, with no nutrients.

Back 11

contaminated with highly concentrated toxic substances.
commonly taken to a landfill for disposal.

Front 12

Ash left from incineration represents ____ percent of the original waste volume.

Back 12

10-20

Front 13

One of the sources of dangerous heavy metal emissions is from incinerating

Back 13

batteries

Front 14

Urban curbside recycling costs cities

Back 14

far less than landfilling or incinerating.

Front 15

Recycling aluminum is most important for:

saving landfill space.
saving energy.
reducing pollutants in the air and water.
All of these.
saving raw materials (the ore).

Back 15

all of these

Front 16

Photodegradable plastics break down

Back 16

when exposed to light.

Front 17

Biodegradable plastics incorporate _______ to speed breakdown processes.

Back 17

cornstarch

Front 18

The most often overlooked of the "three Rs" is

Back 18

reduce.

Front 19

Hazardous waste is anything that

Back 19

is toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, corrosive, or explosive.

Front 20

If the land around your home was designated as a priority site under CERCLA,

Back 20

you should prepare to move because you live on a leaking, abandoned hazardous waste site.

Front 21

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulates (select all that apply):
clean up of Superfund designated hazardous waste sites.
None of these.
the maximum contamination levels (MCLs) allowed in human drinking water.
the siting, construction, and operation of hazardous waste sites.
the amount of recycled materials required in post-consumer products.

Back 21

clean up of Superfund designated hazardous waste sites.
the siting, construction, and operation of hazardous waste sites.

Front 22

The original pool of money available for Superfund cleanup projects

Back 22

was about 1/10 as much as needed.

Front 23

A brownfield is

Back 23

contaminated property that is not used to its full potential because of real or suspected contamination.

Front 24

Contamination in the Love Canal was from a(n)

Back 24

long-abandoned city and chemical factory dump.

Front 25

According to the Household Disposal Guide, what is the best way to dispose of your aerosol cans (hairspray, Lysol, spray starch, etc.)?

Back 25

Save and bring to a hazardous waste collection site

Front 26

Secure landfills are those that

Back 26

are built like a bathtub with a lid.