NEHA Solid Waste Management

Question 1

Which federal law is the primary statute governing solid waste disposal in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

Answer

RCRA, enacted in 1976, is the principal federal law governing the disposal of solid and hazardous waste in the US.

Question 2

What is the primary environmental concern associated with sanitary landfills?

Accepted Answer

Leachate contamination of groundwater

Answer

Leachate, the liquid that percolates through landfill waste, poses a significant risk of contaminating underlying groundwater supplies.

Question 3

What does the term 'integrated solid waste management' refer to?

Accepted Answer

A hierarchy combining source reduction, recycling, composting, and disposal

Answer

Integrated solid waste management combines multiple strategies in a priority hierarchy: source reduction, reuse, recycling/composting, and finally disposal.

Question 4

Which gas is the primary component of landfill gas generated by decomposing organic waste?

Accepted Answer

Methane

Answer

Methane (CH4) is typically the predominant component of landfill gas, comprising approximately 50% of total gas generated by anaerobic decomposition.

Question 5

Under RCRA Subtitle D, which entity is primarily responsible for regulating municipal solid waste landfills?

Accepted Answer

State environmental agencies

Answer

RCRA Subtitle D establishes minimum federal criteria for municipal solid waste landfills, but state environmental agencies are primarily responsible for their regulation and permitting.

NEHA - National Environmental Health Association Practice Test

NEHA - National Environmental Health Association Practice Test

NEHA Solid Waste Management