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Glossary
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abiotic: non-living parts of an ecosystem, such as rocks, air, soils and water
aboriginal: the first people to inhabit an area, such as the Ojibwa, Cree and First Nations of North America.
acid rain: rainfall with a pH of less than 7.0. One source is the combining of rain and nitrogen and sulphur oxides, which are by-products of burning of fossil fuels in industry and in transportation.
aerobic: requiring air or oxygen in order to exist (for an organism) or occur (for a process).
aerosols: tiny solid or liquid particles suspended in the air. Aerosol particles play an important role in the climate system because they interact directly (through absorption and scattering) with radiation from the sun and the Earth, and influence cloud processes.
algae: simple rootless plants that grow in sunlit waters, depending on the amount of nutrients available. Algae are usually very tiny, but large quantities in a marsh or pond can turn the water greenish or brownish. They can affect water quality adversely by lowering the dissolved oxygen in the water. They are food for fish and small aquatic animals.
algae bloom: rapid growth of algae on the surface of lakes, streams or ponds; stimulated by nutrient enrichment.
alien species: a species that did not originally occur in an area in which it is now found, but that arrived as a direct or indirect result of human activity (see also exotic species).
alkaline: of or like an alkali. Alkali can neutralize acids and increase the pH of a solution. Examples include baking soda, ammonia, potash, etc., that are soluble in water. An alkaline substance has a pH greater than 7.0.
anaerobic: capable of existing or occurring in the absence of air or oxygen.
anthropocentric: idea that everything on Earth is for human use.
anthropogenic: human-induced or human-caused. Derived from the Greek word anthropos meaning man.
aquatic: living in water.
aquifer: the underground layer of water-soaked sand and rock that acts as a water source for a well; described as artesian (confined) or water table (unconfined).
archaeology: the study of past human cultures, largely done through the material remains found preserved in former sites.
artifact: any material object that has historic value, such as tools and sculptures, and that shows human workmanship or modification (see also cultural resource, material culture).
atmosphere: the envelope of air surrounding the Earth. Most of the total mass of the atmosphere lies within the troposphere and the stratosphere. Most weather events are confined to the troposphere, the lower 8 to 12 km of the atmosphere. The ozone layer is found in the stratosphere which typically extends from 10 to 35 km above the Earth.
atom: the smallest unit of matter which can exist by itself and still retain its chemical properties.
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biocentric: view that everything on Earth has intrinsic value and that people are in no way "superior" to other species.
biodegradable: something that, after it is thrown away, can be broken down over time by living organisms into inorganic compounds. The rate of biodegradation depends on specific conditions such as the amount of air and moisture.
biodiversity (biological diversity): the rich diversity of genes, species and ecosystems that exist on Earth
biomagnification (biological magnification): cumulative increase in the concentrations of a persistent substance in successively higher levels of the food chain.
biomass: total amount or mass of living organisms in a given area.
biosphere: total of all areas of the planet that contain and support life, including the air, land and water.
biotechnology: the use of living organisms, their parts or products to produce goods and services. For example, using the combination of sugar, fruit and yeast to make wine.
biotic: the living parts of an ecosystem such as plants and animals.
blizzard: severe winter weather condition characterized by low temperatures, strong winds above 40 km/h, visibility of less than 1 km due to blowing snow and lasting three hours or more.
bog: a type of wetland that accumulates appreciable peat deposits. It depends primarily on precipitation for its water source and is usually acidic and rich in plant matter. It has a conspicuous mat of living green moss.
bottom ash: unburned or partially burned material that falls through, or is discharged from, the burning grate of an incinerator.
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CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons): synthetic compounds used as coolants in refrigerators and air conditioners, as solvents, and as a blowing agent to produce foam. Composed of chlorine, fluorine and carbon. CFCs are suspected of causing ozone depletion in the stratosphere.
camouflage: the ability to blend into surroundings because of colouring or shape.
carnivore: flesh-eating animal, such as fox, owl or snake.
climate: the synthesis of day-to-day weather variations in a locality. The climate of a specified area is represented by the statistical collection of its weather conditions during a specified interval of time. It usually includes the following weather elements: temperature, precipitation, humidity, sunshine and wind velocity.
climate change: slow variations of climatic characteristics over time at a given place.
composting: a way of decaying organic waste materials, such as vegetables and kitchen garbage, in order to speed the natural process of biodegradation. The final product is a soil-like material called compost or humus.
condensation: the change of a gas or a vapour into a liquid or solid. The opposite of evaporation. In meteorological use, this term is applied only to the transformation from vapour to liquid: water droplets in the form of fog, clouds and dew.
conservation: the protection and careful management of the environment and its natural resources. Keeping nature from being destroyed, injured or wasted to ensure that use is sustainable.
consumers: in nature, an animal that eats plants or other animals in order to obtain energy. Animals such as rabbits that feed on plants are called primary consumers. Secondary consumers are animals like foxes that feed on the primary consumers. People who use things, like food, products and services are also consumers.
contaminants: in the context of recycling, contaminants are undesired substances in a load of recyclable material. Plastic bags mixed in with recyclable paper, or ceramics mixed in with recyclable glass, would be contaminants. Contaminants interfere with recycling machinery and processes.
corrosive: capable of chemically eating away metals such as steel. Corrosive chemicals can also damage human tissue.
curbside collection: a method of collecting recyclable materials from generators such as households. Generators keep recyclable materials separate from their other wastes, and place them at the curb for pickup by a designated collection vehicle.
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DDT: an organochloride used as an insecticide. It has been banned in North America since 1969 because it is a possible cause of cancer, but it is still used in developing countries.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid): large molecules that carry genetic information in living organisms.
decompose: the natural decay and breaking down of something.
degradable: capable of being broken down into smaller elements under specific conditions. A biodegradable product can be broken down by micro-organisms such as bacteria under specific conditions. A photodegradable product will break down in the presence of light. Degradability is not considered an environmental benefit for items destined for landfill, since wastes in a sanitary landfill are deprived of air, moisture and light.
depot: a facility where generators can drop off materials for reuse or recycling. Depots can range from single containers that are serviced on a regular basis, to fully-staffed facilities.
diffusion: the movement and spreading out of a substance, such as the movement of gases between aquatic leaves and the water; radiation scattered and reflected by water vapour, clouds, and other atmosphere gases.
dissolved materials: substances that are mixed into a liquid so that they become a part of the liquid and are not visible any more. For example, sugar dissolves in water and is no longer visible.
Dobson Unit (DU): the unit used to measure the column of ozone above a given location. If all the ozone in the atmosphere was compressed at the pressure found at the ground it would be 1 to 6 millimetres (mm) thick. One hundred Dobson Units (100 DU) - 1 mm thickness of ozone at sea level.
dredging: the scooping out of the bottom or sides of an area of water or wetland with machines so that the body of water becomes deeper or wider and all of the bottom vegetation is removed.
drought: an extended period of dry weather that lasts longer than expected or than normal, and leads to measurable losses, such as crop damage or water supply shortages.
dump: a land disposal site where there is little or no control over the disposal of wastes.
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ecological integrity: a property of ecosystems that are healthy and that have not been subject to stress, such as pollution, the removal of vegetation, etc.
ecology: the study of plants and animals in relation to each other and the environments in which they live.
EcoLogo: the official mark of the Environmental Choice Program.
ecosphere: the entire global ecosystem that comprises atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere as inseparable components.
ecosystem: a community of organisms together with the environment they depend on to exist. It is an integrated and stable association of living and non-living resources functioning within a defined physical location. The term may be applied to a unit as large as the entire ecosphere. More often it is applied to a smaller division.
ecosystem diversity: the variability in types of ecosystem.
electromagnetic radiation: energy from the sun that exhibits both electrical and magnetic properties.
endangered spaces: threatened natural areas, such as tall-grass prairie, old growth forests and wetlands, that provide valuable wildlife habitats.
endangered species: animal or plant species in danger of extinction or extirpation.
enhanced greenhouse effect: See definition for "greenhouse effect" below Today, humankind is contributing significant amounts of heat-trapping gases to the atmosphere. The increased concentrations of these gases are adding to the natural greenhouse effect. It is the "enhanced greenhouse effect" that is expected to cause a large and rapid rise in average global temperatures.
environment: everything that surrounds an organism or organisms, including both natural and human-built elements: wilderness, city or town, mammals, birds, the air you breathe and the water you drink.
Environmental Choice Program: a voluntary eco-labelling program created in 1988 by Environment Canada, to help Canadians identify products and services that place a much smaller burden on the environment than other similar products and services.
environmental citizen: someone who accepts the responsibilities of caring for the environment and acts on them by becoming informed and involved.
erosion: the wearing away of a land surface by agents such as wind, water, glaciers, chemicals and exposure to the atmosphere. Erosion occurs naturally but can be intensified by land-clearing practices for farming, residential or industrial development, road building or timber cutting.
eutrophication: the natural process by which lakes and ponds become enriched with dissolved nutrients, resulting in increased growth of algae and other microscopevaporation
evaporation: the physical process by which a liquid changes to vapour Water is Earth's surface from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere through the evaporation of water or ice into water vapour, and through transpiration from plants.
exotic species: species that was not originally found in a given area but is now found there as a direct or indirect consequence of human activity (see also alien species).
extinct species: a species that no longer survives anywhere in the world.
extirpated species: species no longer found in the wild in Canada, although it may exist elsewhere.
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fen: a type of wetland that accumulates peat deposits. Fens are less acidic than bogs, deriving most of their water from groundwater rich in calcium and magnesium.
feral species: domestic species that has "gone wild".
flammable: easily set on fire.
flash flood: a very rapid rise of water with little or no advance warning. It happens most often when an intense thunderstorm drops a huge rainfall on a fairly small area in a very short period of time.
flood: the temporary inundation of normally dry land areas resulting from the overflowing of the natural or artificial confines of a river or other body of water.
floodplain: any normally dry land area that is susceptible to being inundated by water from any natural source. This area is usually lowland adjacent to a stream or lake.
food chain: a sequence of organisms, each of which uses the next, lower member of the sequence as a food source. Plants are at the bottom of the food chain and carnivores are at the top.
food web: a model of who eats what. A complex network of relationships between organisms that depend on one another for food. All the food chains in a community make up the food web.
fresh water: water that generally contains less than 1000 milligrams per litre of dissolved solids such as metals, nutrients, etc.
fossil fuels: fuels from natural substances such as coal, petroleum and natural gas. They are made of fossilized, carbon-rich plant and animal remains, that were buried in sediments and compressed over geologic time, slowly being converted to fuel. Fossil fuels are extracted from the sediment million of years after being deposited. When burned, the stored energy can be used as fuel.
four R's: reduce (at source); reuse; recycle and recover (resources from waste).
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generator: anybody or organization that generates waste or recyclable materials.
genetic diversity: the infinite variation of possible genetic combinations among individuals that enables a species to adapt to changes in the environment.
glacier: a huge mass of ice formed on land by the compaction and re-crystallization of snow that moves very slowly downslope or outward due to its own weight.
global radiation: total solar radiation coming from the sun and all of the sky. It includes the direct beam from the unclouded sun and diffuse radiation arriving indirectly as scattered or reflected sunlight from the sky and clouds.
global warming: strictly speaking, global warming and global cooling refer to the natural warming and cooling trends that the Earth has experienced all through its history. Today, it is also what we call the climate change brought about by an unnatural increase in the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere caused by human activity (see greenhouse effect).
greenhouse effect: Earth's warming of the Earth's atmosphere caused by certain heat-trapping gases present in the atmosphere: water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane. The Earth acts as a natural greenhouse. The sun's rays pass through the Earth's atmosphere and the rays are absorbed by the Earths surface, which heats up and releases the energy back to space. Some of this heat energy is now trapped by increased levels of atmospheric "greenhouse gas" and partly returned to Earth, trapping the heat close to the surface. It is believed that the result of this increase is a changing world climate.
ground-level ozone (tropospheric ozone): ozone (03) that occurs near the surface of the Earth. It is a pollutant of concern in smog because of its toxic effects.
groundwater: supply of fresh water found underground. It occurs in the thin spaces between soil particles or in cracks in rock. The underground areas of soil or rock where substantial quantities of groundwater are found are called aquifers. Groundwater is often used to supply wells and springs.
growing season: the part of the year when the growth of natural and cultivated vegetation is made possible by sufficiently high temperatures, usually when the average daily temperature remains above 50 degrees C.
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HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons): organic substances composed of hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine and carbon atoms. These chemicals are less stable than CFCs, and are therefore less damaging to the ozone layer
HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons): chemicals with fluorine but no chlorine, and therefore likely not damaging to the ozone layer. However, HFCs are potent greenhouse gases.
habitat: place where a species, plant or animal, naturally lives and grows.
halons: chemical compounds developed from hydrocarbons by replacing atoms of hydrogen with atoms of halogens, such as fluorine, chlorine or bromine. CFCs are halons (see above). Halons are widely used as fire extinguishing agents.
hazardous waste: waste that poses a risk to human health or the environment and requires special disposal techniques to make it harmless or less dangerous.
hazardous waste incinerator: a special facility for the controlled burning of hazardous wastes. Hazardous waste incinerators operate at extremely high temperatures and have sophisticated emission control systems.
heat island: region of warm air over a city where temperatures are higher than in surrounding rural areas.
heat wave: period with more than three consecutive days of maximum temperatures at or above 32 degrees C.
herbivore: an animal that feeds on plants, such as a rabbit.
heritage: the set of all things, places and ideas we have inherited from the past that are special to a community, including both natural and human-built elements, and that are important to protect for future generations.
history: the story we tell of what happened in the past. Also the modern scholarly study of historical records.
household hazardous wastes: discarded residues and containers from hazardous household products. Environmental citizens can assume a product is potentially hazardous if it bears signal words such as "danger", "poison", "caution" or "warning", or if it bears one or more of the symbols for corrosive, toxic, reactive or flammable products.
human ecology: the study of how people interact with their environment.
hydroelectricity: electric energy produced by water-powered turbine generators,
hydrologic cycle: the constant circulation of water from the sea, through the atmosphere, to the land, and back to the sea by over-land, underground, and atmospheric routes.
hydrology: the science of waters of the Earth: water properties, circulation, principles and distribution.
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incineration: the burning of waste in a special facility.
indicator species: a species whose progress is monitored by people as an indication of what is happening to the environment as a whole.
indigenous species: a species native to Canada.
industrial halocarbons: a group of synthetic chemical compounds containing carbon and one or more of chlorine, fluorine or bromine. Only those industrial halocarbons containing chlorine or bromine pose a threat to the ozone layer.
Industrial Revolution: changes that began in the early 1800s and heralded the birth of the "modern times". Work that was formerly done by hand could now be done by machines. it was the era of the steam engine, cotton gin, sewing machine, paper, telegraph and railroad, and the beginnings of many of our present industries.
infiltration: the movement of water into soil or porous rock. Infiltration occurs as water flows through the larger pores of rock or between soil particles under the influence of gravity or as a gradual wetting of small particles by capillary action.
inorganic: matter other than plant or animal, and not containing a combination of carbon/hydrogen/oxygen as in living things.
insectivorous: insect-eating plant or animal. Pitcher plants and shrews are insectivorous organisms.
integrated resource planning: the management of two or more resources in the same general area; commonly includes water, soil, timber, grazing land, fish, wildlife and recreation.
integrated waste management: a planned approach to managing waste which includes a number of techniques, usually with an emphasis on minimizing the amount of waste requiring disposal.
invasive species: a species that has moved into an area and reproduced so aggressively that it has replaced some of the original species (see exotic species).
irrigation: the controlled application of water to crop land, hay land, and/or pasture to supplement that supplied through nature.
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lagoon: (i) a shallow pond where sunlight, bacterial action and oxygen work to purify wastewater. (ii) A shallow body of water, often separated from the sea by coral reefs or sandbars.
lake: any inland body of standing water, usually fresh water, larger than a pool or pond; a body of water filling a depression in the Earth's surface.
landfill: an area of land used for the controlled disposal of wastes. The waste is compacted and covered with materials.
landfill gas: a mixture of gases produced when organic matter in wastes decomposes in a land disposal facility in the absence of air.
leachate: water that is contaminated as it trickles through waste, agricultural pesticides or fertilizers. In land disposal sites, leachate is formed when moisture percolates through layers of waste and dissolves and carries away various chemicals.
leaching: the removal (or moving) of soluble organic and inorganic substances from the topsoil downward by the action of percolating water.
life-cycle analysis: a comprehensive approach to examining the environmental impacts of a product or package.
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market: in recycling, an end user willing to purchase and recycle a material. Recyclable materials are not truly recycled until they have been delivered to end-use markets and used for new purposes.
marsh: a type of wetland that is dominated by herbaceous vegetation and does not accumulate appreciable peat deposits. Marshes may be either fresh or salt water and tidal or non-tidal. Water is up to two metres deep with soft-stemmed, emergent vegetation such as cattails and reeds.
methane: a colourless, odourless, flammable gas with the chemical formula CH4. Methane is a component of landfill gas.
mineral: a type of chemical substance that exists naturally but is not animal or vegetable. Quartz is an example of a mineral. Rocks are formed from minerals that are clumped together
mobius loop: the symbol for recycling used by many recycling groups and industries across North America. It represents the use and reuse of materials. Its three arrows represent the three classes of materials that are recycled: solids, liquids and gases.
model: a simulation, by descriptive, statistical or other means, of a process or project that is difficult or impossible to observe directly.
molecules: a group of atoms held together by chemical forces.
monitoring: the process of checking, observing or keeping track of something for a specified period of time or at specified intervals.
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NOx (nitrogen oxides): compounds formed of nitrogen and oxygen produced by soil bacteria, lightning, volcanoes, forest fires and burning of fossil fuels. A component of ground level ozone.
National Packaging Protocol: a set of policies and targets regarding packaging, which was adopted in Canada in 1990 to reduce waste and other environmental impacts from packaging.
natural resources: raw materials found in nature.
non-renewable: something that cannot be replaced by nature once it is used up. Coal, crude oil and metal ores are some examples.
nutrient: as a pollutant, any element or compound such as phosphorous or nitrogen that fuels abnormally high organic growth in aquatic ecosystems. For example, eutrophication of a lake.
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oligotrophic lake: deep clear lakes with low nutrient supplies. They contain little organic matter and have a high dissolved oxygen level.
organic: (i) something that is alive or was once alive. (ii) in chemistry, any compound containing carbon
organic chemicals: natural and synthetic chemicals that contain compounds of carbon.
organic gardening: a term for ways of raising plants without using chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
organic wastes: wastes that are biodegradable under natural conditions, such as food, paper and yard wastes.
organism: a living thing or being, including bacteria, fungi, animals and plants.
ozone: formed in stratosphere when ultraviolet radiation splits oxygen molecules (O2) into separate atoms that can recombine as ozone (O3). In the process, ultraviolet radiation is absorbed. Ozone is a desirable gas in the stratosphere, but concentrated at ground level, it is toxic to living organisms. (See ground level ozone).
ozone depletion: ozone is continuously being created and destroyed. in an unpolluted atmosphere, a natural balance is maintained so that ozone concentration remains relatively constant. Depletion happens when this balance is upset by pollution.
ozone depletion potential (ODP): a measure of the capacity of a particular chemical to destroy ozone. It is measured against a standard: CFC-11 (chlorofluorocarbon), which has an ozone depletion potential of 1.0.
ozone layer (stratospheric ozone): a thinly scattered layer of ozone molecules that is formed in the stratosphere from the conversion of oxygen molecules by solar radiation. Ozone absorbs much ultraviolet radiation and prevents it from reaching the Earth.
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PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls): groups of chemicals found in industrial waste. Synthetic chemical compounds consisting of chlorine, carbon and hydrogen which were used in cooling and insulating fluids and in consumer products between 1930 and the 1970s.
packaging: material or items used to protect, contain or transport a commodity or product. A package can also be a material or item that is physically attached to a product or its container to provide information about the product.
parts per million (PPM): the number of "parts" by weight of a substance per million parts of water. This unit is used to represent pollutant concentrations. Large concentrations are expressed in percentages.
peat: partially decomposed organic matter In a bog, peat is mainly composed of decaying sphagnum mosses and can be several metres deep.
percolation: the movement of water downward through the sub-surface of the ground to the zone of saturation.
periglacial river: a river in the periglacial zone: the area adjacent to the margin of a glacier.
permafrost: a layer of permanently frozen soil and rock, found in alpine, arctic, and antarctic regions. The active layer of frost refers to that portion of the ground that freezes in winter and thaws in summer, usually less than one metre in depth.
permeability: the quality of something that allows water or another substance to flow through it. if water flows through soil quickly, the soil is highly permeable.
pesticide: a chemical substance that is used to control unwanted organisms or pests. Pesticides can accumulate in the food chain and/or contaminate the environment if misused.
pH scale: a way to show acidity and alkalinity on a scale of 0-14, with 7 representing neutrality. Numbers less than 7 indicate increasing acidity and numbers greater than 7 indicate increasing alkalinity.
photosynthesis: the process by which green plants use sunlight (solar energy) to combine water from the soil and carbon dioxide from the air in order to produce sugars that help the plants grow Oxygen is released in the process.
phytoplankton: microscopic aquatic plants living in both fresh and salt water; plant portion of plankton that floats free and contains many species of algae and diatoms. Phytoplankton are the creatures that form the basis of food for all other forms of aquatic life.
plankton: tiny plants and animals that live in open water of lakes and oceans.
pollution: the release by humans, directly or indirectly of substances (including gases) or energy into the environment, which results or is likely to result in harmful effects, such as harm to living resources and life; human health hazards; hindering human activities, or impairing the quality of environmental resources and reducing amenities.
pond: a small natural body of standing fresh water filling a surface depression, usually smaller than a lake.
post-consumer material: material or item generated by households and commercial and institutional facilities, which has served its intended purpose and can no longer be used by the generator.
post-use material: material generated by industry, commercial and institutional facilities, and households, which has served its intended purpose and can no longer be used by the generator. This does not include materials generated within an industrial plant that can be reused within the processes that generated them.
precipitation: any and all forms of water - liquid or solid, that fall from the atmosphere and reach the Earths surface. Measurable precipitation is a day when water from precipitation is equal to or greater than 0.2 mm.
predator: an animal that feeds on another animal.
preservation: keeping something in its present state.
prey: an animal that is eaten by another animal.
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rain: water falling to Earth in drops that are condensed from moisture in the atmosphere.
rare: any species of flora or fauna that is found in low numbers or only in a restricted area, but not declining.
reactive: capable of reacting chemically with air or other common materials to produce an explosion or toxic fumes.
receiving waters: a river, ocean, stream or other watercourse into which wastewater or treated effluent is discharged.
reclamation: the reprocessing of a recovered substance into a "new product".
recovery: the collection and storage of substances from machinery, equipment, containment vessels, etc., during servicing or prior to disposal.
recyclable: products and packages made from materials (such as paper, glass, plastic, used oil and metals) which, after use, can be diverted from the waste stream and recycled into new products or packages. A material is only truly recyclable if there are readily accessible systems to collect the material and direct it to a recycling facility.
recycling: the process of using the material from an old product to make a new product. What makes recycling different from reuse is that the product must be reprocessed.
reforestation: the renewal of a forest by natural or artificial means such as sowing or planting
renewable resource: natural resource, such as tree biomass, fresh water or fish whose supply can essentially never be exhausted, usually because it is continuously produced.
reservoir: a pond, lake or basin (natural or artificial) that stores, regulates or controls water.
resin: a plastic type. Plastics are made from fossil fuels and chemical additives. Different resins contain different additives and have different properties.
resource recovery: extraction or recovery of valuable components, usually energy from a waste stream.
respiration: the process whereby green plants take in oxygen and give off carbon dioxide in the dark. Respiration is the opposite of photosynthesis.
restoration: returning a degraded ecosystem or population to its original condition. Retaining and renewing the original elements of a cultural resource to represent it as it was in a different era. This can involve extensive research, professional expertise and cost.
retrofit: upgrading of existing equipment or facilities for different or additional uses.
reuse: repeated use of an item in its original form.
river: a natural stream of water of substantial volume.
river basin: the area drained by a river and its tributaries.
ruminant: animals with a three or four chamber stomach that regurgitate and rechew their food: "Chew the cud". Cattle, sheep, camels, goats and deer are ruminants.
run-off: the surface water that flows over the ground and enters bodies of water, sometimes carrying soil and nutrients.
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saltwater intrusion: the invasion of salt water into fresh surface water or groundwater.
sanitary landfill: a specially designed and operated land disposal site for solid wastes, where precautions are taken to minimize environmental hazards. These precautions include spreading solid waste in thin layers, compacting them to the smallest practical volume, and applying and compacting cover material at the end of each operating day. Additional measures may also be taken to control leachate and landfill gas.
sanitary sewers: underground pipes that carry off only domestic or industrial waste, not storm water.
secure chemical landfill: a specially designed and operated land disposal site for residue from hazardous waste treatment. A secure landfill has special liners and leachate control systems to ensure that residues are contained safely, and that leachate does not contaminate groundwater or surface water.
sediment: fragmented organic or inorganic material produced by the weathering of soil, alluvial and rock materials; removed by erosion and transported by water, wind, ice, and gravity.
sedimentation: the depositing of sediment from a state of suspension in water or air.
septic tank: used to hold domestic wastes when a sewer line is not available to carry them to a treatment plant. Part of a rural on-site sewage treatment system.
sewage: the waste and wastewater produced by residential and commercial establishments and discharged into sewers.
sewage system: pipelines or conduits, pumping stations, force mains and all other structures, devices and facilities used for collecting or conducting wastes to a point for treatment or disposal.
sewage treatment plant: a facility for treating wastes disposed of through drains and sewers. Depending on its sophistication, a sewage treatment plant may provide as manyas tmany asevels of treatment. Primary treatment involves the settling and removal of solids only. Secondary treatment involves aerating the wastes to encourage the growth of micro-organisms that convert organic matter into carbon dioxide and sludge. Tertiary treatment removes certain dissolved chemicals as well as additional solids. Most sewage treatment plants in Canada provide either primary or primary and secondary treatment.
sewer: a pipe or channel that carries wastewater and storm water runoff from the source to a treatment plant or receiving stream.
silt: fine particles of sand or rock that can be picked up by the air or water and deposited as sediment.
sink: a process that removes greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, either by destroying them through chemical processes or storing them in some other form. Carbon dioxide is often stored in ocean water, plants, or soils, from where it can be released at a later time. In this sense, oceans are a sink for carbon dioxide.
smog (photochemical smog): literally, the words "smoke" and "fog" combined; the colloquial term used for photochemical fog, which includes ozone and numerous other contaminants. It tends to provide a brownish haze to the atmosphere.
solar radiation: the total solar radiation coming from the sun and all of the sky. it includes the direct beam from the unclouded sun as well as the diffuse radiation arriving, indirectly as scattered or reflected sunlight from the sky and clouds.
solid waste: garbage, refuse, sludges slugser discarded non-hazardous solid materials resulting from households, institutions, commercial operations and industries.
solid waste incinerator: a facility for the controlled burning of solid wastes. Modem solid waste incinerators burn large quantities of solid waste at high temperatures under carefully regulated conditions.
solvent: substances (usually liquid) capable of dissolving or dispersing one or more other substances.
source reduction: the reduction or elimination of waste at the point of generation. For consumers, source reduction involves buying only what is necessary, and choosing products with minimal packaging. For manufacturers, it involves using less material to produce and package goods.
spaces: all the places from wilderness forests to backyards that are home to the millions of species of plants and animals in the world, including the places that people have created: buildings, special sites, monuments.
species: a group of individuals that share certain physical characteristics and are capable of producing fertile offspring.
species diversity: different types of plants, animals and micro-organisms that live in a region.
spring: an area where groundwater flows naturally onto the land surface.
stabilization: intervention with just enough repair to prevent further deterioration.
stewardship: the concept of an individual, company or institution taking responsibility for, and reducing the impact of, its actions on the environment.
storm sewer: a system of pipes (separate from sanitary sewers) that carry only water runoff from building and land surfaces.
stratosphere: the layer of the atmosphere between about 10 and 35 km above the Earth's surface which contains 90 percent of the atmosphere's ozone (O3).
stream: any body of running water moving under gravity flow through clearly defined natural channels to progressively lower levels.
subspecies: population of species with distinctive traits not typical of the species as a whole.
sun protection factor (SPF): a number assigned to sunscreen products, which refers to the ability of a product to protect skin from burning caused by UV-B radiation. If it normally takes your skin 10 minutes to become reddened without protection from the suyfs rasun'sd you apply a lotion with SPF 15, you should have approximately 150 minutes of protection before burning.
sustainable development: development that ensures that the use of resources and the environment today does not damage prospects for their use by future generations.
surface water: all water naturally open to the atmosphere (rivers, lakes, reservoirs, streams, seas, estuaries, etc.). It also refers to springs, wells or other collectors which are directly influenced by surface water.
swamp: a type of wetland with mainly woody plants (trees and shrubs) and often a rich variety of ground cover species. Swamps may be fresh or salt water and tidal or non-tidal. A swamp is often flooded in spring but may be surface dry by the end of the summer
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temperature: the degree of hotness or coldness.
threatened species: species likely to become endangered if pressures from human or natural causes threatening them are not reversed.
tipping fee: a fee charged at a disposal or recycling facility for accepting wastes.
topsoil: the surface layer of soil that is formed by the decomposition of organic matter at the surface.
total ozone: the ozone present in a column of Earths atmosphere. Total ozone includes both tropospheric (ground-level) and stratospheric ozone.
toxic: harmful (poisonous or lethal) to humans or other living organisms, even in small quantities.
traditional knowledge: the knowledge of indigenous and local peoples, gained through hundreds of years of direct contact with the land.
transitional substance: a chemical which can replace an ozone-depleting substance and reduce the impact on the ozone layer, but which, for some reason (e.g. toxicity or ozone depletion potential) is not ideal and is therefore considered a temporary solution HCFCs are considered transitional substances.
transpiration: the process by which water absorbed by plants (usually through the roots) and animals is given off (evaporated) through pores into the atmosphere.
tributary: a stream that contributes its water to another stream or body of water.
troposphere: bottom layer of the atmosphere that contains about 95 percent of the Earth's air extends about 15 km up from the Earth, depending upon latitude and season.
turbidity: cloudiness caused by the presence of suspended solids in water; an indicator of water quality.
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ultraviolet radiation (UV): one form of radiant energy coming from the sun. Three types: UV-A, UV-B and UV-C, are classified according to wavelength. UV-C, which is the shortest and most harmful, is blocked by the ozone layer from reaching the Earth. Some UV-B and all UV-A wavelengths get through to Earth. (Also known as ultraviolet fight).
urban runoff: storm water from city streets and adjacent domestic or commercial properties that may carry pollutants of various kinds into the sewer systems and/or receiving waters.
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volatile organic compound (VOC): organic gases and vapours that evaporate easily into the air. Released by burning of fossil fuels and evaporation of things like nafl polnailremover, barbecue fluid and gasoline. They are believed to be involved in the formation of ground-level ozone.
vapour: the gaseous phase of substances that are liquid or solid at atmospheric temperature and pressure, e.g. steam.
vermicomposting: a type of indoor composting that uses a special kind of worm, called red wigglers, to break down organic wastes, producing a rich, sweet-smelling compost.
vulnerable species: species at risk because of low numbers or restricted range; although not in immediate danger, it could be at any time.
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waste: substance or material for which the owner or generator has no further use, and which is discarded.
waste exchange: service that matches industrial, commercial and institutional waste generators with potential users of their wastes.
wastewater: water that carries wastes from homes, businesses and industries; a mixture of water and dissolved or suspended solids.
water (H20): an odourless, tasteless, colourless liquid formed by a combination of hydrogen and oxygen; forms streams, lakes, and seas, and is a major constituent of all living matter.
water conservation: the care, preservation, protection and wise use of water.
water contamination: impairment of water quality to a degree which reduces the usability of the water for ordinary purposes, or which creates a hazard to public health through poisoning or spread of diseases.
water quality: a term used to describe the chemical, physical and biological characteristics of water with respect to its suitability for a particular use.
water table: the top of the zone of saturation.
water treatment: primary treatment mechanically removes solid matter Secondary treatment uses bacteria to break down dissolved organic matter. Tertiary treatment uses chemicals to remove additional contaminants.
weather: the state or condition of the atmosphere with respect to heat or cold, wetness or dryness, calm or storm, and clearness or cloudiness for a certain period of time.
watershed: the land area that drains into a stream.
wetlands: an area of land that is regularly covered with shallow water or with water at or near the surface for all or part of the year
wildlife: all native species of plants and animals, including invertebrates and micro-organisms.
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zone of saturation: a subsurface area of the Earth in which all the pores or the material are filled with groundwater under pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.
zooplankton: tiny aquatic animals eaten by fish.
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