Explain the process of preparing a solid waste management plan for a moderately sized urban area of approximately 25,000 residents in the State of FLORIDA. What specific kinds of information would you...

Question 1
Explain the process of preparing a solid waste management plan for a moderately sized urban area of approximately 25,000 residents in the State of Florida. What specific kinds of information would you need to collect and consider in developing the plan and explain why?
Answer
    Solid waste management planning is not reserved for such areas which consist of a considerable population size, and massive quantity of waste stuff. Since; such planning is equally important for those areas in which comparatively less people reside, and amount of waste substances is also less than densely populated large areas. The rationale behind importance of waste management plan in all types of regions is that waste accumulation can destroy the ecosystem irrespective of its size and number of creatures living in it owing to toxic characteristics of waste if could not be managed properly. Therefore; numerous waste management plans are prepared and introduced by government as well as non-government organizations as per the requirement of the area under investigation (Chen et al., 2005).
    To understand such requirements clearly, we may take the example of a moderately sized urban area in State of Florida where approximately 25,000 people are living at present. First, we would need to monitor what the exact size of study area is as; waste management facilities must be launched in proportion of the area. Further, we should concentrate over economical and social consistency of area through evaluation of retail trade regions and commuting action as; these might assist us in development of a long-lasting waste management plan (Skordilis, 2004).
    Then investigation of geographic orientation as well as characteristics, ecological limitation of area, position, size and distance between key population and commercial cores, political limits, precedent operational associations or combined public services, waste characteristics, prediction of future waste stuff (in terms of quantity as well as quality) should be done as; it can help us in maintenance of balance between existing and planned solid waste management tasks and responsibilities (Ramachandra, 2006).
    So, it can be said that, before waste management planning, this is desirable to get an idea about present facilities as well as modifications needed in existing system because, such information can assist us in assigning planning and financing tasks. In addition to above, development of a public education plan can also become possible via evaluation and presentation of above gathered data as; probability of residents’ support might get increased considerably if people understand what the key issues and chief findings are (Chen et al., 2005).
    So, after gathering above information, a solid waste management plan can be prepared on its basis. Such planning procedure can be outlined as follows:
1. Preparation of the draft plan.
2. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) review and plan modifications.
3. Public statement period, public hearing, and adoption of the draft plan.
4. Ratification of the draft plan.
5. EPA evaluation, and approval or disapproval (Skordilis, 2004).
Question 2
As a MSW Manager, describe what major environmental issues, laws (federal), and
stakeholders concerns would you need to address at 1) a landfill disposal facility and 2) a composting facility?
Answer
Major environmental issues
1.] At Landfill disposal facility
    There might get generated several ecological issues owing to initiation and operation of a landfill disposal facility so; it’s essential to screen and assess appropriateness and relative values of probable landfill sites before setting up the same. These steps involve evaluation of site conditions such as; topography, exterior water, drainage, groundwater, geology, weather, flora and fauna, and likely effects on the surroundings. In the absence of above steps, (i) toxins (such as; electronic waste) can seep into the soil and groundwater, (ii) creation of leachate (considerably toxic liquid which might be produced owing to the breakdown of waste in landfill and filtration of water via such broken waste) may occur, and (iii) greenhouse gases (like; methane and carbon dioxide) could be released. All of above might be considered as; great threats not only for present, but also for future generations because of their longevity
2.] At Composting facility
    In the same way, a compositing facility can also introduce various environmental complications (which might depend on technical procedure used and composition of waste present in input streams) for instance; (i) heavy metal contamination, (ii) production
of leachate, (iii) release of toxic gases (like; methane) through inappropriately retained compost piles, (iv) discharge of carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds due to decomposition of waste by bacteria and fungi, and (v) creation of repulsive odors via inadequately driven composting facilities etc (Tribe et al., 2000)
Federal laws
1.] For Landfill disposal facility
    To overcome tricky situations related with a landfill disposal facility, 40 CFR Part 258 - Criteria for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills (MSWLFs) must be followed by related authorities. Besides, 1984 Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments to RCRA must also be obeyed for designing, positioning, operating, and terminating a solid waste landfill. This is also mandatory to follow regulations that have been issued under the Clean Air Act so that, non-methane organic air emissions from such facilities might be regulated. In addition to above, if such facilities are accepting Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator Waste (CESQG) then they must obey 40 CFR Part 257 Subpart B (257.5) disposal standards otherwise, 40 CFR Part 257 Subpart A (P257.1) standards should be pursued...