Sustainable Materials Management Flashcards
7 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 7 Sustainable Materials Management flashcards as text
When evaluating competing end-of-life pathways for organic waste under SMM, which factor most heavily influences the selection between composting and anaerobic digestion?
Answer: Whether the primary goal is nutrient recovery or energy generation
The choice between composting and anaerobic digestion hinges primarily on program objectives: composting optimizes nutrient and soil carbon recovery, while AD optimizes renewable energy generation with secondary nutrient recovery.
Which international agreement most directly supports SMM goals by targeting the global phase-out of hazardous chemicals in products and supply chains?
Answer: Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants
The Stockholm Convention targets the elimination of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in products and the environment, directly supporting SMM by preventing hazardous materials from entering material cycles.
A state implements a 'paint stewardship' program. Which SMM principle does this BEST exemplify?
Answer: Extended producer responsibility
Paint stewardship programs funded and operated by manufacturers exemplify extended producer responsibility by making producers financially and operationally responsible for managing post-consumer paint.
In a life cycle assessment, what does the 'system boundary' definition determine?
Answer: Which lifecycle stages and processes are included or excluded from the analysis
The system boundary in LCA defines which unit processes and lifecycle stages (e.g., raw material extraction, manufacturing, use, end-of-life) are included, directly affecting results and comparability.
What is 'wishcycling' and why is it problematic for SMM programs?
Answer: Placing non-recyclable items in recycling bins hoping they will be recycled, causing contamination
Wishcycling occurs when residents place non-accepted materials in recycling bins, which contaminates recyclable streams, increases processing costs, and can result in entire loads being landfilled.
Under SMM frameworks, which material property makes electronic waste (e-waste) both a significant opportunity and a challenge?
Answer: Concentration of both valuable critical minerals and hazardous substances
E-waste contains valuable critical minerals (gold, cobalt, rare earth elements) co-mingled with hazardous materials (lead, mercury, cadmium), requiring specialized processing to capture value while preventing environmental contamination.
A regional SMM strategy seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the waste sector. Which material stream intervention offers the greatest GHG reduction potential?
Answer: Diverting food waste from landfills to composting or anaerobic digestion
Food waste diversion from landfills eliminates methane generation (a potent GHG) while also avoiding emissions from food production, making it the highest-impact intervention for waste sector GHG reduction.