Reliance of dying technologies to reduce and recycle waste

Waste disposal and management facilities as well as state resources have continued to rely on myopic and quickie solutions instead of developing effective recycling and waste reduction programs. Consequently, it has created continued reliance on the use of outdated technologies to deal with waste disposal. The problem is that most states are reluctant and less creative towards advancing novel technologies for reducing the toxicity and volume of waste or enhancing recycling, especially solid waste.

 

15. Learning skills development. Underline the main ideas of the text and write them down using the following graphic form “fish bone”:

16. Grammar. Find pariciple 1 and participle 2 in the text and pay attantion to their translation.

 

17. Word formation. Match the term with its translation:

1) waste disposal 2) effective recycling 3) incineration/burning 4) reduce 5) landfill 6) health-threatening chemicals 7) volume of waste 8) threat to the environment 9) leak

а) эффективная переработка б) уменьшать, сокращать в) утечка г) угрожать окружающей среде д) химические вещества, опасные для здоровья е) объем отходов ж) утилизация отходов з) мусорная свалка к) сжигание

17. Grammar. Translate the sentences, pay attention to the Absolute Participial Construction.

1. The O2 that reacted with substances in gasoline is conserved too, with most being converted to CO2.

2. In general, productivity is highest where there is a strong circulation of water, with upwelling currents bringing deep water to the surface.

3. Glaciers disappearing from the Himalayas, hundreds of millions of people could have their water supplies threatened.

4. At the top end of the food chain there are significant linkages with the surface food chain, with higher carnivores predating animals from both the autotrophic and the detrital systems.

5. Thus ideal soil conditions for the most efficient decomposition of organic detritus are generally in the range pH 5.5–8.0, with the optimum being about neutral (7.0).

6. Water becoming more acidic, it is less able to absorb CO2.

7. In all, such forests may have up to seven discernible strata or stories of above-ground plants, with the lower layers being composed of species adapted to low levels of light availability.

8. Among most classes of common organic compounds, biochar has been shown to adsorb PAHs particularly strongly, with desorption having been regarded as ‘very slow’.

9. Technology developing to collect and sort plastics more efficiently and economically, each can be recycled to specific higher-value uses.

10. Similarly, the measured mean number diameter of biomass-burning smoke less than 4 minutes old is 0.10 to 0.13 m, yet the mass of such aerosol particles increases by 20 to 40 percent during aging, with one third to one-half the growth occurring within hours after emissions.

 

18. Grammar. Open the brackets using appropriate form of the verbs.

 

1) If more people around the world (recycle), it could help minimize the negative impact of pollution, including debris littered across land and water.

2) If people had known how recycle waste, there (be) so much problems.

3) If I study ecology, I (help) to clean our planet.

4) If everyone in the world recycled, there (not be) as large a collection of plastic floating in the ocean.

5) If there (be) recycling plastic, it would reduce our collective carbon footprint on the planet.

6) If all disposal problems (solve), the Earth will be cleaner.

7) If new technologies (use), there wouldn’t have been so much garbage.

8) If manufacturing industries continue dump hazardous and health-threatening chemicals into lakes, water bodies (stay) poisoned.

9) If the amount of landfill (not reduce) it will results in piles of garbage.

10)  Unless people (make) some actions the environment pollution will not be reduced.

 

19. Skills development. Speaking. Work in pairs andask your partner the following questions:

 

Would you cut down a tree if it grew in front of your house spoiling your view?	If you were the president, what would you do to protect wildlife?	If you were an animal and if you could choose, would you rather be a herbivore  (plant-eating) or a carnivore (predator)?
If you could choose, which job would you take, a position in a government environment agency or in an independent organization like WWF?	If you saw your teacher litter, would you tell him/her not to do it.	How would your life change, if you could only use solar power?
If your pet could talk, what it would tell us?	If you could be a superman, what would you do to save the Earth?	What could you do to reduce the amount of rubbish if you were in the government?
If you were on safari, could you kill an animal?	If you could be an extinct animal for one day, what animal would you be?	If you were an scientist, what would you invent to protect the environment?

 

20. Vocabulary. Match the words from two columns to make phrases.

prevent toxic artificial vehicle absorb emit decompose cause crisis reduce harmful

catastrophe damaging give off means of transport cut man-made take in bring about poisonous break down stop

21. Translation. Translate the text in a written form.

 

Landfills

Throwing daily waste/garbage in the landfills is the most popularly used method of waste disposal used today. This process of waste disposal focuses attention on burying the waste in the land. Landfills are commonly found in developing countries. There is a process used that eliminates the odors and dangers of waste before it is placed into the ground. While it is true this is the most popular form of waste disposal, it is certainly far from the only procedure and one that may also bring with it an assortment of space.

This method is becoming less these days although, thanks to the lack of space available and the strong presence of methane and other landfill gases, both of which can cause numerous contamination problems. Landfills give rise to air and water pollution which severely affects the environment and can prove fatal to the lives of humans and animals. Many areas are reconsidering the use of landfills.

 

19. Skills development. Speaking. Make reports on the following topics.

Reuse of component parts of products – remanufacturing

Recycling

Composting and “bio-treatment”

Promoting recycling

Reducing waste by Extended Producer Responsibility: take-back programs

Methods of waste disposal

 

Unit 10