Environmental Studies · General Awareness

Waste Management and Pollution

2,230 Questions

Waste management and pollution control address waste-to-energy technologies, hazardous disposal, and organic recycling methods. The questions cover landfilling, bioremediation, and marine debris indicators. This topic holds significant weight in UPSC, State PSC, and SSC general studies and environmental exams.

Waste-to-energy technologiesHazardous waste disposalBiogas storage methodsOrganic waste compostingPlastic pollution

Waste Management and Pollution Questions

Multiple choice social science waste generation and management origin of waste products e-wastes waste generation waste and its types

Select the correct statement out of the following.

  1. Electrostatic precipitators $ \left( { ESP } _{ s } \right) $ can remove over 99% particulate matter present in the exhaust from a thermal power plant.
  2. Over half of the e-wastes generated in developed countries are exported to developing countries, mainly to China, India and Pakistan, where metals like Cu, Fe, Si, Ni, etc., are recovered during recycling process.

  3. Use of nuclear energy has two very serous inherent problems first is accidental leakage and the second is safe disposal of radioactive wastes.

  4. All of these

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
  • An electrostatic precipitator($ESP _s$) is a device that removes suspended dust particles from a gas or exhaust by applying a high-voltage electrostatic charge and collecting the particles on charged plates. It can remove 99% of particulate matter from thermal power plant exhaust.
  • e-waste is discarded electronic appliances such as mobile phones, computers, and televisions. Over half of the e-waste generated in developed countries are exported to developing countries, mainly to China, India, and Pakistan, where metals like Cu, Fe, Si, Ni, etc., are recovered during the recycling process.
  • Nuclear waste is the radioactive waste material, for example from the use or reprocessing of nuclear fuel. Hence Use of nuclear energy has two very serious inherent problems first is accidental leakage and the second is the safe disposal of radioactive wastes. Hence It has been recommended that storage of nuclear waste after sufficient pretreatment should be done in suitably shielded containers buried within rocks about 500m deep to prevent its harmful effects.
  • So, the correct answer is 'All the above',
Multiple choice social science waste generation and management origin of waste products e-wastes waste generation waste and its types

Waste is said to be

  1. Subjective

  2. Destructive

  3. Objectively inaccurate

  4. Both A and C

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The term waste is often subjective (because waste to one person is not necessarily waste to another) and sometimes objectively inaccurate (for example, to send scrap metals to a landfill is to inaccurately classify them as waste, because they are recyclable). 

Multiple choice social science waste generation and management origin of waste products e-wastes waste generation waste and its types

Waste are of two types, biodegradable and non-biodegradable.

  1. True

  2. False

  3. Either

  4. Neither

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

According to natural disposal, the pollutants may be biodegradable or nonbiodegradable.

1. Biodegradable Pollutants: These are quickly degraded by natural means. Sewage and heat are pollutants of this category. These pollutants are disposed of by microbial action and radiation respectively.

2. Nondegradable Pollutants: These are not degraded or are degraded slowly in nature. DDT, arsenic salts of heavy metals, glass or tin containers, radioactive materials, and plastics are the pollutants of this category. These pollutants accumulate and may get biologically magnified as they pass through the food chains.

So, the correct answer is 'True'.

Multiple choice geography land use urban land use and urban problems and solutions urban settlements land use patterns

Solid waste management and control involves source reduction. Rule the odd one out for solid waste source reduction.

  1. Composting

  2. Gobar gas plants

  3. Manure

  4. Recycling

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Source reduction is also known as waste prevention or pollution prevention.It is the elimination of waste before it is created. Recycling is the last process which is done after waste is created and need to be managed.

Multiple choice zoology environmental pollution primary air pollutants air pollution - types and sources not for breathing not for drinking

The following table summarises the differences between biodegradable and non-biodegradable pollutants. Pick out the wrong differences and select the correct answer.

Biodegradablepollutants Non-biodegradablepollutants
(i) These are the pollutants that can be easily degraded by micro-organisms. These are the pollutants that can not be degraded into harmless materials.
(ii) These can be used to produce energy (through biogas), compost, manure, etc. These are difficult to manage as a natural method of degradation is absent.
(iii) These usually do not enter biogeochemical cycles. These become a part of rapid turnover in biogeochemical cycles.
(iv) Examples: DDT, BHC, plastics, polyethylene, glass, etc. Examples: Sewage, garbage, animal waste, etc.
  1. (i) and (iv)

  2. (ii) and (iv)

  3. (iii) and (iv)

  4. (ii), (iii) and (iv)

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Biodegradable pollutants become part of rapid turnover in biogeochemical cycles. The examples of biodegradable pollutants are sewage, garbage, animal waste and livestock. Most non-biodegradable pollutants do not enter biogeochemical cycle e. g., DDT, BHC, plastics, polyethylene, cans, glass, etc.

Multiple choice waste management - need for management of waste sanitation and solid waste management pollution, sources, effects and preventive measures man and environment geography treatment and disposal of waste waste generation and management - methods of safe disposal of waste

All of the following are methods that can be used to reduce the amount of hazardous waste except:

  1. Microchemistry

  2. Substitution with a non-hazardous substance

  3. Mixing hazardous with non-hazardous waste to dilute the mixture

  4. Using the Chemical Exchange program

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

 Micro-chemistry, substitution with a non-hazardous substance and using chemical exchange program can be used to reduce the amount of hazardous waste except mixing hazardous with non-hazardous waste to dilute the mixture.

Multiple choice waste management - need for management of waste sanitation and solid waste management pollution, sources, effects and preventive measures man and environment geography treatment and disposal of waste waste generation and management - methods of safe disposal of waste

Identify the waste for segregation of safe disposal of waste.

  1. Wet Waste

  2. Dry Waste

  3. Hazardous Waste

  4. All of these

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Waste is segregated into dry, wet and hazardous categories by using different dust bins for different wastes.

Dry waste includes wood and related products, metals and glass etc.

Wet waste typically refers to the wastes that contain moisture or wetness. These are heavy in weight due to dampness.

Hazardous waste include biomedical wastes like pathogen infected needles, radio-active chemicals and explosive wastes.

Multiple choice waste management - need for management of waste sanitation and solid waste management pollution, sources, effects and preventive measures man and environment geography treatment and disposal of waste waste generation and management - methods of safe disposal of waste

Containers should be labeled:

  1. After the container has been filled with waste

  2. Never

  3. As soon as the first drop of waste is added to the container

  4. When the waste is brought to EHS for disposal

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Containers should be labeled as soon as the first drop of waste is added to the container.

Multiple choice waste management - need for management of waste sanitation and solid waste management pollution, sources, effects and preventive measures man and environment geography treatment and disposal of waste waste generation and management - methods of safe disposal of waste

E-waste is identify as

  1. Electronic waste

  2. Electrical waste

  3. Email waste

  4. Easy waste

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

E-Waste describes discarded electronic devices. Used electronics which are meant to be recycled are also included in this category. Used computers, office electronic equipment, entertainment device electronics, mobile phones, television sets, and refrigerators are the examples of e-waste

E-waste contain lead, cadmium, beryllium etc. which are potentially harmful. Recycling and disposing of e-waste poses a high risk to the workers.