Waste Management — II Safe Disposal of Waste

Which of the following is a cause for increase in waste production?

1. Population growth
2. Economic growth
3. Change in Consumption pattern
4. All of them.

Answer

All of them.

Reason — Population growth, economic growth, and changing consumption patterns have all led to an increase in the quantity of waste generated. Hence, all of these are responsible for the increase in waste production.

Dry waste consists of waste that is ............... .

1. biodegradable
2. non-biodegradable
3. non-toxic
4. organic

Answer

non-biodegradable

Reason — Dry waste consists of non-biodegradable materials that do not decay naturally. It includes items such as plastic products, aluminium foils, tetra packs, glass, broken crockery, steel utensils, timber, and sawdust.

Assertion (A): With the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, India aims for a cleaner and more sustainable future.

Reason (R): To ensure a sustainable future India needs long-term waste management strategies.

1. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
2. Both A and R are true but R does not explain A.
3. A is true but R is false.
4. A is false but R is true.

Answer

Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

Explanation — India requires long-term waste management strategies to achieve a cleaner and more sustainable future. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is one such initiative, so the reason correctly explains the assertion.

Wet waste is the waste that is ............... in nature.

1. non-biodegradable
2. organic
3. recyclable
4. toxic

Answer

organic

Reason — Wet waste is organic in nature and is biodegradable, meaning it can be decomposed by living organisms. It includes vegetable and fruit peels, stale food, and rotten fruits and vegetables.

Assertion (A): The waste is segregated before it is disposed of.

Reason (R): Segregation reduces the volume of waste that reaches landfills.

1. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
2. Both A and R are true but R does not explain A.
3. A is true but R is false.
4. A is false but R is true.

Answer

Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

Explanation — Waste is segregated before disposal so that recyclable and biodegradable waste can be processed separately. This reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills, making the reason the correct explanation of the assertion.

Biodegradable waste can be converted into ............... .

1. soil
2. humus
3. rubber
4. compost

Answer

compost

Reason — Biodegradable waste is organic in nature and can be decomposed by living organisms. Households can convert biodegradable waste into other useful products like compost or gobar gas.

............... is a way of disposing waste on land without causing health hazards or public safety.

1. Dumping
2. Sanitary landfill
3. Recycling
4. Incineration

Answer

Sanitary landfill

Reason — A sanitary landfill is a method of disposing of waste on land without causing hazards to public health or safety. It ensures minimal environmental damage and is often carried out in areas already spoiled or needing restoration.

Assertion (A): Open Dumping is not environment friendly.

Reason (R): The burning of waste material in the open dumps pollutes the air.

1. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
2. Both A and R are true but R does not explain A.
3. A is true but R is false.
4. A is false but R is true.

Answer

Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

Explanation — Open dumping is not environmentally friendly because the burning of waste in open dumps releases smoke and harmful pollutants, causing air pollution. Hence, the reason correctly explains the assertion.

The organic waste from households undergo ............... to form compost.

1. reduction
2. burning
3. decomposition
4. churning

Answer

decomposition

Reason — The organic waste from households undergoes decomposition by the action of bacteria and other microorganisms, producing a safe, clean, soil-like material called compost.

Compositing rejuvenates poor soils by adding ............... .

1. nutrients
2. manure
3. humus
4. oxygen

Answer

humus

Reason — Composting rejuvenates poor soils by adding humus, which improves the soil's fertility and structure.

Assertion (A): Incineration is a useful technology to deal with large quantities of organic hazardous wastes.

Reason (R): Vacant areas for disposal sites are not very many.

1. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
2. Both A and R are true but R does not explain A.
3. A is true but R is false.
4. A is false but R is true.

Answer

Both A and R are true but R does not explain A.

Explanation — Incineration is an effective method for disposing of large quantities of organic hazardous waste. Although the shortage of vacant land encourages the use of incineration, it does not explain why incineration is particularly suitable for hazardous wastes.

Namami Gange Programme is a comprehensive project that implements measures for pollution abatement as well as conservation and rejuvenation of the river Ganga. Under this project sewerage treatment plants have been constructed ............... .

1. to reduce pollution.
2. for river water treatment.
3. for bio-diversity conservation.
4. to increase tourism.

Answer

to reduce pollution.

Reason — Under the Namami Gange Programme, sewerage treatment plants have been constructed to reduce pollution by treating sewage before it is discharged into the River Ganga.

What do you mean by segregation of waste? How does it ensure safe waste disposal?

Answer

Segregation of waste means dividing waste into different categories such as dry and wet or biodegradable and non-biodegradable.

It ensures safe waste disposal by reducing the volume of waste reaching landfills, reducing air and water pollution, and making it easier to adopt suitable methods of waste disposal such as composting, recycling, and incineration.

What is meant by open dumping of waste? Why is open dumping not considered as an environment friendly method?

Answer

What is meant by open dumping of waste? Why is open dumping not considered as an environment friendly method?

Answer

Open dumping is the method of disposing of waste by dumping it in open low-lying areas away from the city.

It is not environment friendly because it becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes, flies, and insects, gives out foul odour, and the burning of waste pollutes the air. Rainwater can also carry harmful substances to nearby water bodies or pollute groundwater through seepage.

Give a reason for each of the following:

(i) Vehicles used for transporting waste should be covered.

(ii) Waste segregation is key to waste management.

(iii) Roads from plastic waste are environment friendly.

Answer

(i) Vehicles used for transporting waste should be covered as this prevents the wastes from being scattered. Waste should not be visible to public, nor exposed to open environment.

(ii) Waste segregation reduces the volume of waste reaching landfills, decreases air and water pollution, and makes it easier to adopt suitable methods such as composting, recycling, and incineration.

(iii) Roads from plastic waste are environment friendly because of the following reasons-

1. It overcomes the growing problem of plastic waste disposal in the country. Since a large amount of plastic waste is required for a small stretch of road, the amount of waste plastic strewn around gets tremendously reduced.
2. This road construction process is eco-friendly with no toxic gases being released.

(i) What is a sanitary landfill?

(ii) How is waste disposed of in a sanitary landfill?

Answer

(i) Sanitary landfill is a way of disposing refuse on land without creating nuisances or hazards to public health and safety. The waste disposal is carried out with minimal environmental damage and in areas already spoiled or in need of restoration.

(ii) In sanitary landfill, the waste undergoes the following five phases for safe disposal-

1. In the first phase of operation, aerobic bacteria depletes the available oxygen and causes the temperature to rise.
2. In the second phase, anaerobic conditions get established and lead to the evolution of hydrogen and carbon dioxide.
3. Phase three establishes population of bacteria and the beginning of methanogenic activity, i.e., production of methane from the decomposition of organic matter.
4. In the fourth phase, the methanogenic activity becomes stabilised.
5. The fifth phase depletes the organic matter, and the system returns to aerobic state.

What is biodegradable waste? Name two useful products which can be made from biodegradable domestic waste.

Answer

Waste which is organic in nature and can be decomposed or broken down by living organisms is called biodegradable waste. For example- stale food, rotten fruits and vegetables etc.

Two useful products which can be made from biodegradable domestic waste are compost and biogas.

What service is indirectly done by the rag-pickers for the disposal of waste?

Answer

The poor rag pickers make a living by sorting out reusable and recyclable items from discarded solids. They do a good job by removing much of the waste from the garbage dumps. Pieces of metal, glass, rubber, plastics etc., are removed to be recycled to get finished products. Thus, they segregate the waste and make waste disposal easier.

State three steps that should be taken by the municipal authorities for the safe disposal of solid waste.

Answer

The following three steps should be taken by the municipal authorities for the safe disposal of solid waste-

1. Organising house to house collection of municipal solid wastes.
2. Biomedical waste and industrial waste should not be mixed with municipal solid waste. The waste should be segregated into biodegradable and non-biodegradable.
3. Stray animals should not be allowed to move around waste storage facilities.

What is composting? Give two advantages of using compost.

Answer

Composting of waste is an aerobic method of decomposing solid wastes. The organic wastes from households are made to undergo decomposition in such a way that bacteria and other micro-organisms break them down and produce a safe, clean and soil-like material called compost.

Two advantages of using compost are-

1. It enhances soil nutrients and water retention capacity of soil.
2. It suppresses plant diseases.

What are the three R's of waste management?

Answer

The three R's of waste management are-

1. Reducing the waste
2. Reusing the waste
3. Recycling the waste

Explain how reusing waste can reduce the burden of waste disposal.

Answer

Reusing waste means using discarded products again instead of throwing them away. It prevents waste generation, provides useful products to those who need them, and reduces the use of water, energy, timber, petroleum, and other natural resources required to manufacture new products.

Thus, reusing products reduces the burden of waste disposal by avoiding the generation of additional waste.

Give a reason for each of the following:

(i) Recycling of waste to produce paper can reduce deforestation.

(ii) Sugarcane waste can be recycled into useful products.

(iii) We should avoid using polythene carry bags.

Answer

(i) Recycling waste paper reduces the need to cut down trees for making fresh paper. It also saves energy and water, thereby helping to reduce deforestation.

(ii) Bagasse, the waste from the sugar industry, is used to manufacture paper pulp and packaging material for dairy products. This helps to save trees used for making paper.

(iii) Polythene carry bags are made from recycled plastic. During recycling, some polymer chains break into smaller units, which are harmful. Plastic is also non-biodegradable, so its use should be avoided.

What is meant by recycling of waste effectively? Give one example.

Answer

Recycling is the process of converting waste into reusable products, thereby reducing the use of raw materials and energy and controlling air, water, and soil pollution.

Recycling waste effectively means recycling an item repeatedly until it can no longer be recycled or utilised.

Example: Paper can be recycled several times until its fibres become too short to be reused.

Governments all over the world are promoting 'zero waste generation' by continuously reusing resources. The key concepts (or R's) of zero waste are Refuse the use of waste generating products; Reduce the amount of wastes; Reuse; Recycle and Rot or compost organic waste. With reference to zero-waste answer the following questions:

(a) Write a note on using 'Rot' as a method of household waste management.

(b) 'Refuse' empowers customers to choose eco-friendly products. Comment.

(c) The fashion industry is placing tremendous stress on resources with the rapidly changing fashion trends. Briefly explain how this industry can make itself sustainable.

(d) On June 5, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a tree plantation campaign to honour mothers: Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam. How would this campaign aid in sustainability?

Answer

(a) 'Rot' means composting of waste. It is an aerobic method of decomposing solid waste in which bacteria and other microorganisms break down organic household waste to produce a safe, clean, soil-like material called compost. Compost rejuvenates poor soils by adding humus.

(b) 'Refuse' means refusing to buy products that generate waste or are harmful to the environment, such as single-use plastics. By choosing eco-friendly products, consumers help reduce waste generation and conserve natural resources.

(c) The fashion industry can become sustainable by following the 3Rs:

1. Reduce unnecessary production and consumption.
2. Reuse clothes instead of discarding them after limited use.
3. Recycle used textiles into new products to reduce waste and conserve resources.

(d) Planting trees helps in:

1. Increasing green cover.
2. Absorbing carbon dioxide and improving air quality.
3. Conserving soil and water.
4. Maintaining ecological balance and supporting biodiversity.
5. Promoting a cleaner and more sustainable environment.

How can segregation of waste into biodegradable and non-biodegradable reduce the quantity of waste and can be utilised for generating sustainable energy?

Answer

Segregation of waste into biodegradable and non-biodegradable categories helps reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and enables proper treatment of each type.

1. Composting — Biodegradable waste such as food scraps and garden waste is converted into nutrient-rich compost, reducing landfill waste and improving soil fertility.
2. Biogas production — Organic biodegradable waste undergoes anaerobic decomposition to produce biogas (mainly methane), which can be used for cooking, heating, and electricity generation.
3. Recycling and waste-to-energy — Non-biodegradable waste like plastics, metals, and glass can be recycled. Non-recyclable combustible waste can be used in waste-to-energy plants to generate electricity or heat, reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
4. Reduced pollution — Proper segregation prevents mixing of waste, improves recycling efficiency, lowers landfill use, and reduces soil, air, and water pollution.

Waste segregation minimizes the quantity of waste requiring disposal, promotes recycling and composting, and enables the production of renewable energy such as biogas and electricity, contributing to sustainable waste management.

Bio-fuels should be developed on a large scale as an alternative to fossil fuels and to reduce generation of waste. State your views.

Answer

Developing biofuels on a large scale as an alternative to fossil fuels and to reduce waste generation can be beneficial for several reasons:

1. Climate Change Mitigation — Biofuels have lower carbon emissions, reducing greenhouse gas impact. Their production and combustion release CO₂, but the CO₂ is offset by the absorption of CO₂ during biomass growth.
2. Waste Reduction — Utilizing organic waste for biofuel production helps reduce waste accumulation and promotes a circular economy by converting waste into a valuable resource.
3. Energy Independence — Biofuels decrease reliance on fossil fuel imports, enhancing energy security. It provides an alternative and domestically sourced fuel option.
4. Rural Development and Job Creation — Biofuel production supports agricultural activities and creates employment opportunities in farming, biomass supply chains, and biofuel production facilities.
5. Technological Advancements — Investment in biofuel research drives innovation for more efficient and sustainable production processes.

Find out recent innovations by which waste has been used to form useful products.

Answer

Recent innovations by which waste has been used to form useful products are as follows:

1. Waste-to-Energy — Advanced technologies convert waste into electricity, heat, or biofuels, reducing waste accumulation and generating renewable energy.
2. Upcycling — Innovative approaches transform waste materials into valuable products, such as building materials or clothing, through recycling and upcycling techniques.
3. Circular Economy — Companies adopt circular economy models, where waste from one process becomes a resource for another, such as converting food waste into compost for agricultural use.
4. Bioplastics — Researchers develop bioplastics from organic waste, offering biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastics.
5. Carbon Capture and Utilization — Innovations capture carbon emissions and convert them into useful products, like using CO₂ in the production of construction materials.

What are eco-bricks? Make a list of items that you can make using eco-bricks.

Answer

Eco bricks or ecological bricks or plastic bricks, are building blocks made by stuffing plastic waste tightly into plastic bottles. These bricks provide an eco-friendly solution to manage plastic waste.

Eco bricks can be used to make the following items:

1. Furniture — They can be used in making chairs, benches, tables, and shelves.
2. Garden and landscaping structures — They can be used to build garden walls, raised garden beds, planters, and decorative structures like trellises and sculptures.
3. Pavements and pathways — Eco bricks can be used to construct durable and sustainable pavements and pathways in outdoor areas.
4. Partition walls — They can be used to build interior partition walls in homes or other buildings.
5. Playgrounds and recreational structures — Eco bricks can be used to create play structures, such as slides, climbing walls, and seating areas, in parks and playgrounds.
6. Art installations — Eco bricks can be incorporated into artistic installations and sculptures, showcasing creativity while promoting environmental awareness.