Waste management is essential in today’s society. Due to an increase in population, the generation of waste is getting doubled day by day. Moreover, the increase in waste is affecting the lives of many people. Waste management is the management of waste by disposal and recycling of it. Moreover, waste management needs proper techniques keeping in mind the environmental situations. For instance, there are various methods and techniques by which the waste is disposed of. You must have come across 5 R’s to save the environment: refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle.
12.1 Choose the waste management strategy that is matched with correct example.
(a) |
Refuse |
Choose products that use less packaging |
(b) |
Reduce |
Give unwanted toys and books to hospitals or schools |
(c) |
Reuse |
Not using single use plastic |
(d) |
Repurpose |
Making flower pot from used plastic bottle |
Answer
12.1 d) Repurpose → Making flower pot from used plastic bottle
Reusing a waste material to make something that is useful is called repurposing. Using a plastic bottle to make a flower pot is thus repurposing.
12.2 Recycling of paper is a good practice but recycled paper should not be used as food packaging because
a) recycled papers take lots of space
b) recycled papers can’t cover food properly
c) recycled papers can cause infection
d) recycled papers are costly
Answer
12.2 - c) recycled papers can cause infection
Decomposition of paper produces methane which may cause infection
12.3 According to the ‘Solid Waste Management Rule 2016’, the waste should be segregated into three categories. Observe the table below and select the row that has correct information
Wet waste |
Dry waste |
Hazardous waste |
|
(a) |
Cooked food Vegetables Peels |
Used bulbs, fluorescent lamps |
Plastic carry bags, bottles, newspaper, cardboard |
(b) |
Coffee and tea powder, garden waste |
Plastic carry bags, bottles, newspaper, cardboard |
Expired medicines, razors, paint cans |
(c) |
Leftover food, vegetable peels |
Coffee and tea powder, garden waste |
Insect repellents, cleaning solutions |
(d) |
Uncooked food, tea leaves |
Old crockery, frying pans |
Coffee and tea powder, garden waste |
Answer
12.3 - b)
Wet waste |
Dry Waste |
Hazardous waste |
Coffee and tea powder, garden waste |
Plastic carry bags, bottles, newspaper, cardboard |
Expired medicines, razors, paint cans |
12.4 Effective segregation of wastes at the point of generation is very important. Select the appropriate statements giving the importance of waste segregation.
i) less waste goes to the landfills
ii) better for public health and the environment
iii) help in reducing the waste
iv) resulting in deterioration of a waste picker’s health
a) both i) and ii)
b) both i) and iii)
c) both ii) and iii)
d) both i) and iv)
Answer
12.4 - a) both i and ii
Segregation of waste is based on;
Less waste goes to the landfills and better for public health and the environment
12.5 The given graph shows the amount of waste generated, dumped and treated in percentage. Identify the reason for the low success rate of the waste management process.
a) only 15% of urban India’s waste is processed
b) less than 60% of waste is collected from households
c) more than 60% of waste is collected from households
d) both a and b
Answer
12.5 d) both a and b
Only 15% of urban India’s waste is processed
Less than 60% of waste is collected from households