Classification and management of wastes - class-IX

In reuse strategy for saving the environment, things are used again and again. Many items found around the home can be used for different purposes. So before you throw those items away, think about how they can be reused.

Non-biodegradable pollutants refer to toxic pollutants that are not degraded or decomposed naturally into less harmful compounds. Humans are the primary source of producing non-biodegradable pollutants. These pollutants include heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury and lead, polythene, synthetic fibres and DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane).

The substance which can be easily decomposed by natural decomposers is called as biodegradable wastes such as humans and animal excreta, plant wastes. Whereas the substance that cannot be decomposed by the natural decomposers and harm the environment is called as non biodegradable such as plastics, nuclear wastes or radioactive wastes, chemical wastes like DDT. Abiotic is the nonliving component of the ecosystem which consists air, water sunlight etc. Biotic is the component of an ecosystem which consists all living things like animals and plants. Thus, the correct answer is option B.

• Non-Biodegradable wastes are those that cannot break down or degrade for many years. These are waste that cannot change into manure and they pile up causing pollution. Burning these fuels causes more pollution in the environment. The non-biodegradable wastes become useful when they can be recycled.

Egg shell and leather belt are obtained naturally from living organisms and are made of biodegradable components.

Urine, Human feces and pesticides consist or compounds made up of carbon and other organic constituents and accumulate as organic waste. While phosphates are the compounds considered as inorganic and they are the inorganic impurity in nature. 

Non-biodegradable wastes are those that cannot be decomposed or dissolved by microbes or any natural agents. They remain on earth for thousands of years without any degradation.

Wet deposition refers to the process where acid pollutants are removed from the atmosphere and deposited on the earth's surface through rain, snow, or fog. Acid rain is the phenomenon itself, while wet deposition is the mechanism of delivery.

Volatile solids are the portion of total solids that are driven off as gas during ignition at a specific temperature, typically 550 degrees Celsius. This fraction represents the organic matter present in the sample.

DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) is a synthetic pesticide that does not break down easily in the environment. Because it persists in soil and water and accumulates in organisms, it is classified as non-biodegradable.

Waste that cannot be broken down by other living organisms is called as non-biodegradable. Non-biodegradable substances affect the environment. They may enter the food chain and harm the organisms in the higher trophic levels (by biomagnification), e.g., pesticides, like DDT, non-biodegradable substances like radioactive wastes, lead, mercury etc., affect the health of all living organisms. 

Wastes are of two types biodegradable and non-biodegradable. Biodegradable waste is an organic matter which can be broken down into simple organic molecules by micro-organisms using composting or digestion. Biodegradable products include paper, clothes, fruit, cardboard, vegetables.

The correct answer is 'nylon'

The term biodegradable is used to describe materials that decompose through the actions of bacteria, fungi, and other living organisms. Organic substances are carbon containing substances. Thus, garbage can be biodegradable organic substance.

The substance which cannot be broken down easily like pesticides, insecticides (DDT), mercury, glass particles etc. These remains as such in environment for a very very long time. 

Electronic waste or e-waste describes discarded electrical or electronic devices. Used electronics which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling or disposal are also considered e-waste.

Non-biodegradable wastes can not be broken down by decomposes because they do not have enzymes for the same. They are commonly man made. They are not degraded by micro organism. They pile up and accumulate in nature. 

Biodegradable wastes are naturally degraded by microbes they can also be disposed of thoughts waste treatment plants or converted into an agriculture resources of nature and compost. 

Biomagnification is the accumulation or increasing bioconcentration of lipophilic pesticides in the top members of the food chain. During biomagnification, the concentration of pesticides goes on increasing according to the food chain and highest values occur in the consumers of the top trophic level. So, the value of pesticide will go on increasing from the soil, to the plant and to the bird. 

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is an organochlorine compound used as an insecticide in agricultural fields. The major disadvantage of DDT is bioaccumulation or not easily degrading nature, due to fat solubility it is accumulated in living tissues. The human body is not able to break it which cause its build up in the food chain and causing poisoning in the animals. Its effects can be seen in birds as the production of thin eggshells vulnerable to damage.

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is an organochlorinated chemical used as an insecticide. This compound is highly stable in the environment. It readily stays in the adipose tissues of the living organisms and accumulates at the successive trophic level to cause the biomagnification. In soil, it is not acted upon by the decomposing bacteria so it remains persistent for years. Due to its nonbiodegradable nature, it became a major pollutant of the agricultural soil. Its use was banned by the Stockholm Convention of 2001.

A non-biodegradable pollutant is the one that could not be broken down or decomposed by the decomposing fungi and bacteria present in the water and soil. DDT is an organochlorinated compound used as an insecticide that is chemically stable. It does not dissolve in water rather it mixes with the adipose tissue in the living organisms and persists in the food chain, causing biomagnification. In the soil, it destroys the microbial fauna. 

Lead is a heavy metal that does not break down through biological processes in the environment. Sewage, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides can be processed or absorbed by natural systems, whereas lead persists as a toxic pollutant.

Animal dung is organic matter derived from biological sources. It is easily broken down by microorganisms into simpler substances, making it biodegradable.

biodegradable wastes are those wastes which easily gets degraded into simpler molecules over a period of time by microorganisms. Biodegradable wastes include human organic wastes, nutrients wastes etc.whereas nonbiodegradable substances accumulate in the environment and causes pollution. These wastes also sometimes accumulate in an organism when the feed upon them and through biomagnification reaches the higher concentration in higher groups.

Bioaccumulation is the process by which substances, such as pesticides, build up in the tissues of an individual organism over time. Biomagnification refers to the increase in concentration of these substances as they move up the food chain.

Biomedical waste, if not handled properly is a potent source of diseases like AIDS, TB, Hepatitis and other bacterial disease causing serious threat to human health. Therefore this waste needs prime attention for its safe and proper disposal. So the Government of India published Biomedical waste (Management and Handling) Rules on July 27, 1998.

Non biodegradable wastes are non-decomposable in nature. They are not degraded by microbes. They pile up and accumulate in nature. 

Wastes can be distinguished as decomposable and non decomposable waste. Ash is decomposable while rest are non decomposable.

One of the side effects of developing civilisation can be observed in the form of presence of non-biodegradable material which cannot be broken down into simple, harmless substance by the action of bacteria. They are lethal to land where they are dumped and last for centuries, burning of them release poisonous gases injurious to human and animals health in various possible ways. Entry of such substances pollute water bodies because of their non-depleting nature they occupy space in water bodies and consumed by animals causing severe health condition and death. Polythene, plastic is some deadly non-biodegradable waste.

The pollutants which cannot be broken down into simpler, harmless substances in nature, are called non-biodegradable pollutants. DDT, plastics, polythene, bags, insecticides, pesticides, mercury, lead, arsenic, metal articles like aluminium cans, synthetic fibres, glass objects, iron products, and silver foils are non-biodegradable pollutants.

DDT is an organochlorine pollutant used as insecticides and has several environmental impacts. Chemicals in DDT do not degrade easily and remain in the soil for a long time after its application because it cannot be broken down by the action of microorganism and thus persists and is lethal to human and animal life.

Composite waste is a heterogeneous mix of trash composed of different types of materials. Composite waste includes waste clothing, Tetra Packs, waste plastics such as toys.

The three R's - reduce, reuse and recycle - saves our environment and they all help to cut down on the amount of waste generated in the environment.

Reduce the consumption of various resources wherever possible. For example- we can reduce the consumption of electricity by switching off lights and other appliances when they are not required. 
Recycle- There are many items which can be recycled again and again. Recycling is another way of reducing the demand for natural resources. For example- by recycling paper, we reduce the demand for wood and thus, help in saving the forest.
Reuse- Many items can be reused, many times. For example, the old newspaper can be used for packing many items. We can use one side printed sheets for our rough work at home/work.