CPWM Waste Management Planning and Program Economics Questions and Answers Flashcards
6 cards from real CPWM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 CPWM Waste Management Planning and Program Economics Questions and Answers flashcards as text
What is 'diversion rate' a measure of in solid waste management?
Answer: The percentage of waste materials diverted from landfill disposal through recycling, composting, or reuse
Diversion rate is a key performance metric calculated as the weight of materials diverted from landfill (recycled, composted, reused) divided by total waste generated.
In waste management, what is 'airspace' at a landfill?
Answer: The remaining volumetric capacity available for waste disposal
Landfill airspace refers to the remaining permitted volume in which waste can be placed; when it is exhausted, the facility must close or expand.
Which element of a solid waste management plan typically identifies the quantities and types of waste generated within a service area?
Answer: Waste characterization or waste stream analysis
A waste characterization study samples and analyzes the composition and quantity of waste generated so planners can design appropriate management strategies.
What is a 'transfer station' in the context of solid waste logistics?
Answer: An intermediate facility where waste is consolidated and transferred from smaller vehicles to larger transport vehicles
Transfer stations receive waste from collection vehicles, consolidate it, and load it onto long-haul trucks or rail cars for cost-effective transport to distant disposal facilities.
When evaluating a new waste-to-energy facility, which financial metric represents the net present value of revenues minus costs over the project lifetime?
Answer: Net present value (NPV)
Net present value (NPV) discounts all future cash flows to the present, allowing planners to determine whether a project creates financial value over its lifetime.
Which federal law requires states to have an approved solid waste management plan as a condition for certain EPA grants?
Answer: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle D
RCRA Subtitle D establishes a framework for non-hazardous solid waste management and encourages states to develop comprehensive solid waste management plans, often as a condition for federal funding.