Environmental Studies · General Awareness

Waste Management and Pollution

2,184 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

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. 

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

This includes used menstrual cloth, sanitary napkins, disposable diapers, bandages and any material that is contaminated with blood or
other body fluids.

  1. Biomedical Waste

  2. Dry Waste

  3. Wet Waste

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Biomedical waste includes used menstrual cloth, sanitary napkins, disposable diapers, bandages and any material that is contaminated with blood or other body fluids.

Medical wastes are classified as infectious wastes and non-infectious waste. Most of the biomedical waste is toxic in nature.

Non-infectious waste: It is not harmful and do not result in spread of any infection. Examples include: catheters, colostomy bags etc.

Infectious waste: Needles with pathogens, blood containing swabs etc. are the source of infections.

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

The maximum amount of hazardous waste that can be held in a satellite

accumulation site (excluding acutely hazardous waste) would be?

  1. 55 gallons

  2. 5 gallons

  3. 2 quarts

  4. 10 kilograms
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The maximum amount of hazardous waste that can be held in a satellite accumulation site (excluding acutely hazardous waste) would be 55 gallons.

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

A hazardous waste can be a:

  1. Solid

  2. Liquid

  3. Sludge

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Hazardous wastes are wastes with properties that make them dangerous or potentially harmful to human health or the environment. Hazardous wastes  can be liquids, solids, contained gases, or sludges.

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

When labeling a vessel that contains hazardous waste which statement is correct:

  1. Only the hazardous substance present in greatest volume need appear on the label

  2. Only flammable, corrosive and reactive substances need to be listed

  3. List all hazardous components and their concentrations

  4. List only the liquids color, taste and general smell
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

When labeling a vessel that contains hazardous waste one must list all hazardous components and their concentrations.