Solid waste

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Total cards: 24•Content version: v4•Public deck•Updated: 8/1/2026

Card preview (24)

Front (Question)

4 main categories of waste

Back (Answer)

• domestic • agricultural • industrial • mining

Front (Question)

Properties of solid waste that determine pollutant properties and may determine storage and disposal

Back (Answer)

• degradability - how rapidly waste breaks down • flammability - how flammable it is • toxicity - how toxic the waste is to humans, environment etc • radioactivity

Front (Question)

How does affluence affect waste generation

Back (Answer)

• increased affluence - increase waste generation Because: • can afford more products • buy things they don’t really need • may buy too much of things

Front (Question)

3 ways manufactures and the retail industry increases sales and in turn waste

Back (Answer)

• inbuilt obsolescence • single-use items • unnecessary wrapping

Front (Question)

Factors affecting solid waste disposal methods

Back (Answer)

• population density • amount of waste produced • land availability • legislation and regulations • household income and affluence

Front (Question)

Overview of landfill tax system

Back (Answer)

• late 1990s • tax put on landfills - ^ expenses • increase tax year on year • now on tax per tonne - £100 per tonne

Front (Question)

What is a spoil heap

Back (Answer)

• pile of material that is of low value, that has low toxicity and left on the landscape

Front (Question)

Points to consider when managing and planning remediation of a spoil heap

Back (Answer)

• stability • drainage • lack of nutrients • pH • contamination • heavy metals

Front (Question)

Improvement to stability

Back (Answer)

• plant vegetation - root building • compact it

#10

Front (Question)

Improvement to drainage

Back (Answer)

• ^ drainage if cause damage • decrease mass = decrease risk

#11

Front (Question)

Improvement to lack of nutrients

Back (Answer)

• add top soil • apply organic waste sewage

#12

Front (Question)

Improvements to pH

Back (Answer)

• add crushed limestone or lime

#13

Front (Question)

Improvements to contamination

Back (Answer)

• phytomining

#14

Front (Question)

Improvement to heavy metals

Back (Answer)

• reduce pH - add limestone • reduce mobility • soil cover and vegetation

#15

Front (Question)

Description of landfill

Back (Answer)

• choose a site • prepare the area - putting down a protective layer - stop leaking • add waste • watch for problems - check for leaks • close it up when full

#16

Front (Question)

Advantages of landfill

Back (Answer)

• waste management • controlled disposal • energy generation

#17

Front (Question)

Disadvantages of landfill

Back (Answer)

• environmental pollution • land use • loss of habitats

#18

Front (Question)

Description of incineration

Back (Answer)

• collect waste • sort waste • shred and burn waste • control emissions • dispose ash

#19

Front (Question)

Advantages of incineration

Back (Answer)

• reduce landfill use • less land requirement • controlled emissions

#20

Front (Question)

Disadvantages of incineration

Back (Answer)

• air pollution • high costs • public opposition • greenhouse gas emissions

#21

Front (Question)

Description of encapsulation and vitrification

Back (Answer)

• heavy metals have low radioactive waste • mixed in cement - poured in container • buried into ground or landfills • grind waste and mix it with molten glass • poured into container

#22

Front (Question)

Features of a good landfill site

Back (Answer)

• traffic management • collection of methane • regular covering with soil to reduce pest problems

#23

Front (Question)

Features of a good incinerator

Back (Answer)

• recyclable waste • waste with high water content removed • atmospheric pollution is controlled

#24

Front (Question)

Sources of cyanide

Back (Answer)

• paper • plastics • textiles