Purchase Solution

Environmental studies

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

Background: Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is all of the garbage, refuse, trash or junk that gets thrown away from our homes or small businesses. All of this MSW is collected and taken away. Have you wondered where it goes? In the 1950's and 60's it went to open dumps. In the 1970's landfills were established but there were problems, and today there is new legislation and technology to better manage this waste.

I need a review the history of MSW.

1) Describe an open dump. Explain the environmental problems.

2) Describe an early landfill. What are the problems associated with early landfills? Include a discussion of leachate, methane, incomplete decomposition and settling.

3) Describe a modern landfill. What are the differences as compared to early landfills? What improvements have been made?

4) Choose one of these landfills and explain the innovations being implemented to make the landfill more productive and to reduce its environmental impact:

- Marionhill Landfill, South Africa
- Peuntes Hills, California
- Alamonte Landfill, CA
- Tessman Road Landfill, TX

Purchase this Solution
Solution Summary

Address issues of Municipal Solid Waste. Research and make recommendations to improve environmental problems.

Solution Preview

A Review the History of Municipal Solid Waste

1) Describe an open dump. Explain the environmental problems.
An open dump is a place to put unwanted material that has no use and needs to be disposed of. These unwanted items are put on land to decompose or merely out of sight. Open dump areas are foul smelling infested with rats and flies.

2) Describe an early landfill. What are the problems associated with early landfills? Include a discussion of leachate, methane, incomplete decomposition and settling.
The early landfills accepted all material, including hazardous waste products. Methane gas was released into the air when microorganisms decomposed the solid waste. The early landfills were burned, polluting the air with acid rain. Liquid leachate traveled to the soil, surface water and groundwater. Hazardous material in the leachate often contaminated soil and water. Incomplete decomposition, left as ash, generally contained high concentrations of toxic substance.

3) Describe a modern landfill. What are the differences as compared to early landfills? What improvements have been made?
Modern ...

Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
Energy

This quiz provides a brief review to different energy examples. How is energy evident in our world? This vocabulary is important to understand the connection between energy and matter.

Environmental Awareness 2020

This quiz is to test your knowledge and awareness on the current environmental issues that are posing a serious threat to the planet.

United States and Canada Vocabulary

Assessment of basic vocabulary terms related to geography and resources in the United States and Canda.

"Tornadoes and Hurricanes" Vocabulary

Brief introduction to vocabulary terms related to the atmosphere. Definitions are related to conditions for tornadoes and hurricanes.

Environmental Laws

The quiz tests some basic US environmental laws and policies.

View More Free Quizzes
Related BrainMass Solutions

  • Environmental Epidemiology: Secondhand Cigarette Smoke

    In other words, environmental epidemiology studies how environmental factors affect the individual's health.

  • Environmental Hazards: Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

    Some studies in animals provide further evidence that PCBs cause cancer. Studies in humans suggested that PCB can be a potential carcinogenicity.

  • Green Environmental Accounting Details

    EMPIRICAL STUDIES Quality management, environmental management and firm performance: A review of empirical studies and issues of integration José F. Molina-Azorín, Juan J. Tarí, Enrique Claver-Cortés, María D.

  • Heredity and environmental effects

    selective breeding experiments, family studies, and estimating the contribution of genes and environmental factors.

  • Environmental Toxicology and Human Health

    Why is epidemiology important to research studies of environmental health? Give reasoning to support your answer. What are some of the important limitations of the epidemiological approach with respect to the study of environmental health problems?

  • Twin and Adoption Studies

    However, the differences wera considered environmental. Thus, these studies have taught us the heritability of human intelligence is ranging from .80 (adult studies) to .50 (children) according to the information above.

  • three atmospheric environmental stressors

    Further studies indicate the aggressive tendencies may also be seen. Humidity can also can affect individuals greatly.

  • Heredity and Environmental Factors: Impact on Development

    They described their theses and backed it with studies done on twins to show that inheritance does not affect the intelligence over the course of the life time, after all, that on the contrary, with favorable environmental opportunities the even hereditary

  • Twin study

    This means these environmental factors also influence human development and behavior. Thus, these twin studies are indeed a significant stepping stone for researchers to better understanding this area.

  • Green architecture and water management

    From its landscaping to its internal sensors, the Lews Center for Environmental Studies was carefully crafted for this purpose. 150 environmental sensors were installed throughout the building and landscape to prevent waste.

View More Related Solutions