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Glossary
Anaerobic digestion
Occurs when bacteria break down (or "digest") organic materials in the absence of oxygen.
Asbestos
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that has been used commonly in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire-retardant.
Because of its fiber strength and heat resistant properties, asbestos has been used for a wide range of manufactured goods, mostly in
building materials (roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, paper products, and asbestos cement products), friction products (automobile
clutch, brake, and transmission parts), heat-resistant fabrics, packaging, gaskets, and coatings. When asbestos containing materials are
damaged or disturbed by repair, remodeling or demolition activities, microscopic fibers become airborne and can be inhaled into the lungs,
where they can cause significant health problems.
Carbon Dioxide
(CO2), a colorless gas having a faint, sharp odor and a sour taste; it is a minor component of the Earth’s atmosphere (about 3 volumes in
10,000), formed in combustion of carbon-containing materials, in fermentation, and in respiration of animals and employed by plants in the
photosynthesis of carbohydrates. The presence of the gas in the atmosphere keeps some of the radiant energy received by the Earth from
being returned to space, thus producing the so-called greenhouse effect. Industrially, it is recovered for numerous diverse applications from
flue gases, as a by-product of the preparation of hydrogen for synthesis of ammonia, from limekilns, and from other sources.
Commercial Waste
Waste that is generated by businesses. It can include discarded materials from offices, stores, warehouses, restaurants, institutions (e.g.,
colleges) and non-hazardous industrial waste.
Construction and Demolition (C&D) Waste
The waste building materials and rubble resulting from the construction, remodeling, repair or demolition of buildings, pavements, roads or
other structures. Construction and demolition waste includes but is not limited to, concrete, bricks, lumber, masonry, road paving materials,
rebar and plaster.
Contaminated Soils
The definition for contaminated soil commonly used in contaminated soil management programs is soil that contains one or more
contaminants from an unintentional or intentional spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, or dumping of a hazardous
substance, hazardous waste, pollutant, or naturally occurring contaminant at a concentration which fails to satisfy any applicable remediation
standard. Sources of contaminated soils include manufacturers, businesses, retail establishments, government and individuals. Anyone who
stores or handles materials which could adversely impact the environment, has the potential to generate contaminated soils. Quantities vary
greatly based on site-specific situations from a few tons to hundreds of thousands of tons.
Cypress Domes
Cypress domes are forested wetlands (swamps) that are dominated by bald cypress and/or pond cypress. Generally these are depression
wetlands with a domed canopy and mucky, organic soils.
Where to Go to See Cypress in Florida
Withlacoochee State Forest (Richloam Wildlife Management Area). This forest is part of the Green Swamp, an 800-sq-mile swamp system in
west-central Florida (Larson 1995). Nature trails and camping sites are available to experience the two major swamp communities:
cypress/mixed hardwood swamps and cypress domes. The Richloam Wildlife Management Area is the best place within the state forest to see
the cypress, best observed by taking Hwy 50 (exit off I-75). The Baird tract is also a good place to see cypress, located east of Richloam
along the same highway. Maps and other information can be attained from the state forest headquarters, located on Hwy 41, seven miles
north of Brooksville.
Disposal
The final dumping, landfilling or placement of solid waste into or on any land or water or the incineration of solid waste.
Emission
The discharge of an air contaminant into the ambient air.
EPA's Clean Air Act
Originally established in 1970, The Clean Air Act is the comprehensive Federal law that regulates air emissions from area, stationary, and
mobile sources. This law authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to
protect public health and the environment. EPA Clean Air Act Website
Flatwoods
A woodland in a low-lying region having little drainage.
Floridan Aquifer
Clean, fresh water is our most precious natural resource. In Florida, fresh water comes from subsurface aquifers that are composed of
multiple layers of water-bearing limestone. Groundwater released from the aquifers sustains thousands of ecosystems, and is an essential
resource for human health, outdoor recreation, industry and agriculture. Hernando County's Groundwater Ordinance
Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels or mineral fuels are fossil source fuels, that is, hydrocarbons found within the top layer of the earth’s crust.
It is generally accepted that they formed from the fossilized remains of dead plants and animals by exposure to heat and pressure in the
Earth's crust over hundreds of millions of years.
Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse gases are chemical compounds that contribute to the greenhouse effect. When in the atmosphere a greenhouse gas allow
sunlight (solar radiation) to enter the atmosphere where it warms the Earth’s surface and is reradiated back into the atmosphere as longer-
wave energy (heat). Greenhouse gases absorb this heat and ‘trap’ it in the lower atmosphere.
Hardwood Swamps
Hardwood swamps occur along rivers in north Florida and in strands along sloughs in south Florida. Sloughs are broad shallow channels that
contain flowing water. They often correspond to linear depressions in the underlying limestone (Florida Natural Area Inventory 1990). In
south Florida, hardwood swamps consist of a dense mix of oaks, black gum, willow, cypress, and red maple as well as palms. Within the
strand, the soil is very rich, but is usually covered by a few inches to several feet of water. This in combination with the dense forest canopy
limits the amount of food available to white-tailed deer. Water also limits the presence of wild hogs in hardwood swamps. Raccoons and a
wide variety of amphibians, reptiles, and birds are found in hardwood swamps.
Haulers
Private businesses that pick up solid waste from residents and businesses, and take it to a recycling facility, transfer station or disposal
facility.
Leachate
Landfill leachate is water (usually from rain) that percolates through waste material in a landfill. As the water moves through the waste, it
picks up contaminants from the waste material, and it must be collected and properly disposed of, to avoid transferring the contaminants to
groundwater. This liquid may either exist already in the landfill, or it may be created after rainwater mixes with the chemical waste. Modern
landfills are often designed to try and prevent liquid from leaching out and entering the environment; however, more than often the leachate
is at risk for mixing with groundwater near the site, which can have dire effects.
Methane
Methane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas that remains in the atmosphere for approximately 9-15 years. Methane is over 20 times more effective in
trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 100-year period and is emitted from a variety of natural and human-
influenced sources. Human-influenced sources include landfills, natural gas and petroleum systems, agricultural activities, coal mining,
stationary and mobile combustion, wastewater treatment, and certain industrial process.
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
Trash that is discarded by residents, businesses, institutions, and municipalities. It does not include hazardous waste or industrial by-
products.
Non-Biodegradable
Non-biodegradable waste will NOT break down (or won't for many years). Examples are plastics, metal and glass. Dangerous chemicals and
toxins are also non-biodegradable, as are plastic grocery bags, Styrofoam (polystyrene), and other similar materials.
Sinkhole - Check out the Water Issues page for more info
Sinkholes are common where the rock below the land surface is limestone, carbonate rock, salt beds, or rocks that can naturally be dissolved
by ground water circulating through them. As the rock dissolves, spaces and caverns develop underground. Sinkholes are dramatic because
the land usually stays intact for a while until the underground spaces just get too big. If there is not enough support for the land above the
spaces then a sudden collapse of the land surface can occur. These collapses can be small, as this picture shows, or they can be huge and
can occur where a house or road is on top.
Sludge
The solid material that is suspended in wastewater, and remains after wastewater has been disposed of.
Tipping Fees
A gate fee (or tipping fee) is the charge levied upon a given quantity of waste received at a waste processing facility. In the case of a landfill
it is generally levied to offset the cost of opening, maintaining and eventually closing the site. It may also include any landfill tax which is
applicable in the region. The gate fee differs from the waste removal fee which is the charge levied on people in areas, such as Ireland,
where waste collection is not covered as part of local taxes.
With the Croom C&D Landfill - the County removed the requirement from the Original Settlement which required the landfill operator to pay
the County a Tipping Fee for use and maintenance of Wildlife Lane.
Transfer Stations
Facilities that receive, temporarily store, and ship loads of recyclables and solid wastes for transport to a Material Recovery Facility, recycling
processor or final disposal site
Wetlands
Generally, wetlands are lands where saturation with water is the dominant factor determining the nature of soil development and the types
of plant and animal communities living in the soil and on its surface. Wetlands vary widely because of regional and local differences in soils,
topography, climate, hydrology, water chemistry, vegetation, and other factors, including human disturbance.
Wildlife Management Area
Florida's Wildlife Management Area (WMA) system is managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to sustain the
widest possible range of native wildlife in their natural habitats. These lands are more rugged than parks, with fewer developed amenities.
Withlacoochee River
The Withlacoochee River (South) originates in central Florida's Green Swamp, east of Polk City. It flows west, then north, and then turns
northwest and finally west again before it empties into the Gulf of Mexico near Yankeetown. The river is 86 miles (138 kilometers) long and
has a drainage basin of 1,170 square miles (3,030 square kilometers). It is believed to have been named after the river to the north. The
Withlacoochee is the most notable waterway which flows through the Withlacoochee State Forest among several other waterways.
Anaerobic digestion
Occurs when bacteria break down (or "digest") organic materials in the absence of oxygen.
Asbestos
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that has been used commonly in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire-retardant.
Because of its fiber strength and heat resistant properties, asbestos has been used for a wide range of manufactured goods, mostly in
building materials (roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, paper products, and asbestos cement products), friction products (automobile
clutch, brake, and transmission parts), heat-resistant fabrics, packaging, gaskets, and coatings. When asbestos containing materials are
damaged or disturbed by repair, remodeling or demolition activities, microscopic fibers become airborne and can be inhaled into the lungs,
where they can cause significant health problems.
Carbon Dioxide
(CO2), a colorless gas having a faint, sharp odor and a sour taste; it is a minor component of the Earth’s atmosphere (about 3 volumes in
10,000), formed in combustion of carbon-containing materials, in fermentation, and in respiration of animals and employed by plants in the
photosynthesis of carbohydrates. The presence of the gas in the atmosphere keeps some of the radiant energy received by the Earth from
being returned to space, thus producing the so-called greenhouse effect. Industrially, it is recovered for numerous diverse applications from
flue gases, as a by-product of the preparation of hydrogen for synthesis of ammonia, from limekilns, and from other sources.
Commercial Waste
Waste that is generated by businesses. It can include discarded materials from offices, stores, warehouses, restaurants, institutions (e.g.,
colleges) and non-hazardous industrial waste.
Construction and Demolition (C&D) Waste
The waste building materials and rubble resulting from the construction, remodeling, repair or demolition of buildings, pavements, roads or
other structures. Construction and demolition waste includes but is not limited to, concrete, bricks, lumber, masonry, road paving materials,
rebar and plaster.
Contaminated Soils
The definition for contaminated soil commonly used in contaminated soil management programs is soil that contains one or more
contaminants from an unintentional or intentional spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, or dumping of a hazardous
substance, hazardous waste, pollutant, or naturally occurring contaminant at a concentration which fails to satisfy any applicable remediation
standard. Sources of contaminated soils include manufacturers, businesses, retail establishments, government and individuals. Anyone who
stores or handles materials which could adversely impact the environment, has the potential to generate contaminated soils. Quantities vary
greatly based on site-specific situations from a few tons to hundreds of thousands of tons.
Cypress Domes
Cypress domes are forested wetlands (swamps) that are dominated by bald cypress and/or pond cypress. Generally these are depression
wetlands with a domed canopy and mucky, organic soils.
Where to Go to See Cypress in Florida
Withlacoochee State Forest (Richloam Wildlife Management Area). This forest is part of the Green Swamp, an 800-sq-mile swamp system in
west-central Florida (Larson 1995). Nature trails and camping sites are available to experience the two major swamp communities:
cypress/mixed hardwood swamps and cypress domes. The Richloam Wildlife Management Area is the best place within the state forest to see
the cypress, best observed by taking Hwy 50 (exit off I-75). The Baird tract is also a good place to see cypress, located east of Richloam
along the same highway. Maps and other information can be attained from the state forest headquarters, located on Hwy 41, seven miles
north of Brooksville.
Disposal
The final dumping, landfilling or placement of solid waste into or on any land or water or the incineration of solid waste.
Emission
The discharge of an air contaminant into the ambient air.
EPA's Clean Air Act
Originally established in 1970, The Clean Air Act is the comprehensive Federal law that regulates air emissions from area, stationary, and
mobile sources. This law authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to
protect public health and the environment. EPA Clean Air Act Website
Flatwoods
A woodland in a low-lying region having little drainage.
Floridan Aquifer
Clean, fresh water is our most precious natural resource. In Florida, fresh water comes from subsurface aquifers that are composed of
multiple layers of water-bearing limestone. Groundwater released from the aquifers sustains thousands of ecosystems, and is an essential
resource for human health, outdoor recreation, industry and agriculture. Hernando County's Groundwater Ordinance
Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels or mineral fuels are fossil source fuels, that is, hydrocarbons found within the top layer of the earth’s crust.
It is generally accepted that they formed from the fossilized remains of dead plants and animals by exposure to heat and pressure in the
Earth's crust over hundreds of millions of years.
Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse gases are chemical compounds that contribute to the greenhouse effect. When in the atmosphere a greenhouse gas allow
sunlight (solar radiation) to enter the atmosphere where it warms the Earth’s surface and is reradiated back into the atmosphere as longer-
wave energy (heat). Greenhouse gases absorb this heat and ‘trap’ it in the lower atmosphere.
Hardwood Swamps
Hardwood swamps occur along rivers in north Florida and in strands along sloughs in south Florida. Sloughs are broad shallow channels that
contain flowing water. They often correspond to linear depressions in the underlying limestone (Florida Natural Area Inventory 1990). In
south Florida, hardwood swamps consist of a dense mix of oaks, black gum, willow, cypress, and red maple as well as palms. Within the
strand, the soil is very rich, but is usually covered by a few inches to several feet of water. This in combination with the dense forest canopy
limits the amount of food available to white-tailed deer. Water also limits the presence of wild hogs in hardwood swamps. Raccoons and a
wide variety of amphibians, reptiles, and birds are found in hardwood swamps.
Haulers
Private businesses that pick up solid waste from residents and businesses, and take it to a recycling facility, transfer station or disposal
facility.
Leachate
Landfill leachate is water (usually from rain) that percolates through waste material in a landfill. As the water moves through the waste, it
picks up contaminants from the waste material, and it must be collected and properly disposed of, to avoid transferring the contaminants to
groundwater. This liquid may either exist already in the landfill, or it may be created after rainwater mixes with the chemical waste. Modern
landfills are often designed to try and prevent liquid from leaching out and entering the environment; however, more than often the leachate
is at risk for mixing with groundwater near the site, which can have dire effects.
Methane
Methane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas that remains in the atmosphere for approximately 9-15 years. Methane is over 20 times more effective in
trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 100-year period and is emitted from a variety of natural and human-
influenced sources. Human-influenced sources include landfills, natural gas and petroleum systems, agricultural activities, coal mining,
stationary and mobile combustion, wastewater treatment, and certain industrial process.
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
Trash that is discarded by residents, businesses, institutions, and municipalities. It does not include hazardous waste or industrial by-
products.
Non-Biodegradable
Non-biodegradable waste will NOT break down (or won't for many years). Examples are plastics, metal and glass. Dangerous chemicals and
toxins are also non-biodegradable, as are plastic grocery bags, Styrofoam (polystyrene), and other similar materials.
Sinkhole - Check out the Water Issues page for more info
Sinkholes are common where the rock below the land surface is limestone, carbonate rock, salt beds, or rocks that can naturally be dissolved
by ground water circulating through them. As the rock dissolves, spaces and caverns develop underground. Sinkholes are dramatic because
the land usually stays intact for a while until the underground spaces just get too big. If there is not enough support for the land above the
spaces then a sudden collapse of the land surface can occur. These collapses can be small, as this picture shows, or they can be huge and
can occur where a house or road is on top.
Sludge
The solid material that is suspended in wastewater, and remains after wastewater has been disposed of.
Tipping Fees
A gate fee (or tipping fee) is the charge levied upon a given quantity of waste received at a waste processing facility. In the case of a landfill
it is generally levied to offset the cost of opening, maintaining and eventually closing the site. It may also include any landfill tax which is
applicable in the region. The gate fee differs from the waste removal fee which is the charge levied on people in areas, such as Ireland,
where waste collection is not covered as part of local taxes.
With the Croom C&D Landfill - the County removed the requirement from the Original Settlement which required the landfill operator to pay
the County a Tipping Fee for use and maintenance of Wildlife Lane.
Transfer Stations
Facilities that receive, temporarily store, and ship loads of recyclables and solid wastes for transport to a Material Recovery Facility, recycling
processor or final disposal site
Wetlands
Generally, wetlands are lands where saturation with water is the dominant factor determining the nature of soil development and the types
of plant and animal communities living in the soil and on its surface. Wetlands vary widely because of regional and local differences in soils,
topography, climate, hydrology, water chemistry, vegetation, and other factors, including human disturbance.
Wildlife Management Area
Florida's Wildlife Management Area (WMA) system is managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to sustain the
widest possible range of native wildlife in their natural habitats. These lands are more rugged than parks, with fewer developed amenities.
Withlacoochee River
The Withlacoochee River (South) originates in central Florida's Green Swamp, east of Polk City. It flows west, then north, and then turns
northwest and finally west again before it empties into the Gulf of Mexico near Yankeetown. The river is 86 miles (138 kilometers) long and
has a drainage basin of 1,170 square miles (3,030 square kilometers). It is believed to have been named after the river to the north. The
Withlacoochee is the most notable waterway which flows through the Withlacoochee State Forest among several other waterways.