Energy can come in many different ways but not every way is good for the environment. By-products produced from the waste or energy being converted can cause harmful repercussions to the environment. There is more than 200 million tons of hazardous waste that is created annually through such things like pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, cleaning products, etc. (High Temperature Incineration, n.d.). I will be discussing the incineration process as well as the pros and cons of incineration based waste to energy have on the environment. I will also be going over my views on incinerating waste and what steps should be taken to get rid of waste more effectively. To better understand the positives and negatives about incineration technology the process …show more content…
The process in which waste is burned to produce energy requires a few steps in which everything is controlled and monitored. The first step in producing waste to energy is entering solids and liquids into a rotary kiln, which rotates like a clothes dryer allowing the 1800°F temperature to expose all sides of the waste inside (High Temperature Incineration, n.d.). The liquids are introduced in to the rotary kiln using spray nozzles, much like fuel injection cars, which atomizes the liquids allowing for optimal combustion. Once the items inside have been broken down they are then transformed into two different elements. The organic materials become hot gases which are routed into the afterburner chamber for further heating. The other wastes that are inorganic materials become ashes that fall out of the rotary kiln into a …show more content…
One such harmful by-product is the ash released from the incinerators, not only through smoke stacks but the bottom ash as well. According to alternative-energy-news.info, bottom ash from the furnace is mixed with slag which is 10% by volume and is approximately 20 to 35% by weight of the solid waste input (Zafar, 2008). The ash released through the air contains much lower amounts of pollution than that of the bottom ash. The largest amounts of pollutants come from plastics that are burned in the incinerator. Some of these fly ashes can be captured through very expensive filters inside the smoke stacks, but even then not all pollutants will be captured. Also, the filters inside these smoke stacks will require to be disposed of in a specialized
Radioactive Waste One of the most talked about opposition to nuclear fission is the radioactive waste it produces. Radioactive waste is what is left behind after using a reactor to make electricity. There are two levels of waste, low and high, but both are regulated by the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. High level waste is made up of fuel that’s been used directly in the reactor, which is highly radioactive but can still be disposed of. Low-level waste is the contaminated items that have been exposed to radiation.
This paper will examine the pros and cons of the death penalty. Is it a deterrent or is that a myth. Does it give the family of the victim peace or does it cause them to suffer waiting for appeal after appeal. What are the forms of execution and any evidence of them being cruel and usual punishment. Is the death penalty fair if there are glaring, disparities in sentencing depending on geographic location and the color of the offender and victim’s skin?
Is there a difference between someone with a terminal illness and someone that has to die under the law? Carlos Musso, a doctor who participated in state of Georgia 's execution through lethal injection, says “A death penalty patient is no different from a patient dying of cancer- except his cancer is a court order.” The underlying results is death, and Carlos Musso ethnically believes, “When we have a patients who can no longer survive his illness, we as physicians must ensure he has comfort.”, which seems to fit the idea of AMA’s standards that physicians are “healers” in the aspect of relieving a patient’s suffering. The 8th amendment supports that lethal injection is a less punishing form of execution and require doctors to carry out a this more healing procedure. However, the American Medical Association (AMA) has set one standard that bans “a physician from participating in any legally authorized execution.”, which ultimately encourages physicians to leave possible
In today’s society there are many issues surrounding the topic of torture. There are two sides to this argument. One side would be that torture should never be used, the other side would be that torture should be used if it is absolutely necessary. Many times when torture is used it is used to get information out of an individual. On many occasions people hear of torture being used on terrorists that have been captured. Torture is also used on Soldiers that have been captured during war. During times of war torture is often used by both sides to gain an advantage over the other side. The use of torture is a widely debated topic in today’s world.
Should euthanasia be allowed or not? It has become a very controversial issue nowadays. Velleman and Hooker have different perspectives on euthanasia, and whether there should be laws permitting voluntary and non-voluntary euthanasia. Although there are well-reasoned arguments on both sides, I would strongly agree with Hooker's argument that there should be a law permitting voluntary euthanasia when it is for the wellbeing of the person and that each individual should be able to make their own decision.
More and more of our U.S. troops dead. American families suffering due to the fact that they have to let their husbands, sons, and possibly even grandsons go to war, while a brainwashed Japanese troop is willing to kill himself to serve his emperor. Even as an Asian American I find this revolting. During World War II, two atomic bombs were dropped in Japan. Little Boy was first dropped in the city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and Fat Man dropped in the city of Nagasaki three days later.
Should we have the right to say enough is enough when it comes to our body? Should euthanasia be view as ethical or unethical? So, what is euthanasia? Euthanasia is the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to end pain for the patient in pain and suffering. The words euthanasia comes from the Greek root word “eu” and “Thanatos” this forms a phrase which means “good death”. The action of euthanasia is also known as “Physician Assisted Suicide” or “Mercy Killing” refers to the direct and intentional efforts of a medical professional to aid a terminally ill patient die. According to The Northern Territory of Australia in 1995, euthanasia was first legalized by Rights of the Terminally Ill Act. For us to truly understand the action of
August 6, 1945 was the bombing of Hiroshima, and Nagasaki was bombed a few days later on August 9, 1945 these bombings resulted in the unconditional surrender of Japan. The choice was made by President Truman as an alternative to the land based invasion of Japan. The bombings of the two cities killed 90,000 to about 146,000 people in Hiroshima and in Nagasaki 39,000 to about 80,000 people. WWII was a war that needed to be fought. The United States entered WWII due to the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941.
Since the dawn of civilization, all living (and some non-living) things have needed energy. When humans discovered fire, the first form of harnessed energy, it made it easier to stay warm, prepare food, make weapons, etc. Since then, humankind has been inventing new ways to harness energy and use it to our advantage. Now-a-days, people in most nations depend extremely heavily on fossil fuels – to work, travel, regulate temperature of homes, produce food, clothing, and furniture, as well as other power industries. Not only are these fossil fuels dominating our society and creating economic vulnerability, but they also produce waste that causes a number of social and environmental concerns. The waste from these fuels leads to acid rain, smog, and climate change. It also releases sulfur dioxide as well as other air pollutants that are very harmful to the human respiratory system (Morris, 1999, p. ix). There are other alternative sustainable energy sources including solar, hydroelectric, wind, and biomass. However, the main source aside from fossil fuel is nuclear energy from controlled nuclear reactions (where nuclei of radioisotopes become stable or nonradioactive by undergoing changes) in a nuclear power plant. Nuclear power produces enormous amounts of energy to serve a community. Unfortunately, nuclear energy has its own set of problems – a big one being its waste. The spent fuel from nuclear plants is radioactive. This means that it emits radiation, or penetrating rays and particles emitted by a radioactive source. Ionizing radiation is known to cause cancer, and therefore makes anyone who lives near spent nuclear waste facilities vulnerable to this incurable disease. The disposal of nuclear waste is a global issue...
...ing nuclear waste is a new and unsound technology, but still a solution to the problems of excessive waste. Where in the future, new technologies may allow for the waste to be completely recycled and reused in the reactors to create more energy. With both positives and negatives of nuclear energy, the real question that remains is “if not nuclear, then what else?” (Rutgers’s Felder)
The death penalty has been an issue of debate for several years. Whether or not we should murder murderer’s and basically commit the same crime that they are being killed for committing. People against the death penalty say that we should not use it because of that very reason. They also make claims that innocent people who were wrongly convicted could be killed. Other claims include it not working as a deterrent, it being morally wrong, and that it discriminates. Some even claim that it is cruel and unusual punishment. I would like to shed light on the issue and inform everyone as to why we should keep the death penalty and possibly even use it more than we do now.
Waste incineration units produce a lot of carbon dioxide gas approximately around one third of the greenhouse gasses. It also impacts people’s health as they get exposed to the toxic emissions by breathing in the air or consuming contaminated food and water. Additionally, when the garbage gets burnt by the incinerators they end up as ashes which are then emitted from the chimneys, including the toxic materials and end up in specialist landfill sites for hazardous waste.
Burning waste is not good at all for human health. It’s disturbing smell cause by burning plastic, rubber and some other artificial object can cause lot of trouble...
America and Europe are at the top of the list for most waste generated according to Waste (4). This is very visible because there’s litter on every street in the towns and cities, as well in lakes, beaches, and rivers. The book Waste by Rob Bowden states that the amount of waste produced is increasing at a rate faster than population growth. About 1.5 million computers, in the U.K, are thrown away each year and most end up in landfills. There are 3 types of waste which are Municipal Solid Waste, Industrial Waste, and Hazardous waste. MSW includes waste from public garbage cans and local dumpsters. Industrial Waste includes massive amounts of waste water that is contaminated with chemicals. Hazardous waste is the most dangerous as it presents a danger to human health and the environment. Solutions for waste disposal take time because people need to consider their lifestyle and limit the amount of waste they generate. A good start is to recycle items such as paper, cans, plastic, and clothes. This way they don’t end up in landfills, beaches, or streets. Another solution is to join organizations that go around places to recycle, or organizations that demand the reduction in the amount of products that are being
Policy is needed to regulate which course of action should be taken and how it should be implemented. Because of this, many plans and policies revolving around the management of solid waste have been put in place. Sometimes however, a particular policy can have its shortfalls, potentially resulting in its negative aspects outweighing the positive ones. According to the Conference Board of Canada Report, “Canadians dispose of more municipal solid waste per capita than any other country” (2013). Solid waste management in particular, involves many aspects, ranging from packaging waste, food waste, etc. (White & Franke 1999), hence, the following analysis revolves around household and commercial waste – referred to as Municipal Solid Waste (White & Franke. 1999) – in the Greater Vancouver Regional District. Municipal waste is a major health and environmental concern as it contributes to numerous problems like habitat destruction, surface groundwater pollution, and other forms of air, soil, and water contamination. Waste disposal methods like incineration create toxic substances, and landfills emit methane, which contributes to global warming. According to the Zero Waste Objective Report, “The impact of climate change and the increasing awareness of the role of “waste” and “wasting” in the production of greenhouse gas emissions is a constant environmental pressure… (2009). This leads to an increasing limitation of government to prevent and control the volume and toxicity of products in the waste stream and a growing need to shift responsibility to the product manufacturer.