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 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 method where waste materials are dumped in open low lands are known as ______________.

  1. segregation

  2. open dumping

  3. sanitary landfill

  4. composting

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

Open dumping means dumping of waste in an open site or low lands or barren stretch of lands. It is harmful to the environment and is prone to burning, pronr to being carried away by air and eaten by stray animals. It is an illegal method of dumping waste which can be seen in many places in developing countries like India.

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

Which of the following are the advantages of sanitary landfill?

  1. It is free from air pollution from burning

  2. The health problems are minimised since flies, rats and other pests cannot breed

  3. It is mostly free from fire hazards

  4. All of the above

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

The landfill is an area of land used to dump the solid waste. It has its advantage as the dumping of waste material prevents the burning of it which is the major cause of air pollution. Rats, pests and other animals cannot breed in it due to the absence of air and decomposing of waste by microorganisms which reduce health problems and it is safe from hazards caused due to fires.

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

Which method is considered an unacceptable (illegal) means of disposing of hazardous waste?

  1. Pouring down the sink

  2. Placing in the regular trash

  3. Pouring down the storm sewer

  4. All methods above are unacceptable

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

Following method is considered an unacceptable (illegal) means of disposing of hazardous waste:-

  • Pouring down the sink
  • Placing in the regular trash
  • Pouring down the storm sewer

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

Where does municipal waste come from?

  1. Hospitals and medical facilities.

  2. Businesses and offices.

  3. Households and local councils.

  4. All of the above

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

Municipal waste consists of everyday items we use and then throw away, such as product packaging, grass clippings, furniture, clothing, bottles, food scraps, newspapers, appliances, paint, and batteries. These wastes  comes  from our homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses.

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 statements about hazardous waste containers are true, except for the following:

  1. Containers must be closed except when removing or adding waste.

  2. Containers must be clean on the outside.

  3. Contents must be compatible with the type of waste containers.

  4. Any type of container, including food containers, can be used to contain hazardous waste.

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

 Any type of containers, including food containers, cannot be used to contain any hazardous 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

What percent of the moisture content is beneficial for biological breakdown of the waste?

  1. 40%

  2. 45%

  3. 50%

  4. 55%

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

The moisture content of the waste is considered as a single critical parameter for evaluating the efficiency of the bio-drying process. The moisture content influences microbial activity and biodegradation of the organic component during the bio-drying process. Despite the fact this technology is considered as a zero leachate approach, it is likely that a limited amount of free water may seep through the waste matrix and collected at the bottom of the bioreactor as leachate. Bio-drying has mostly been studied for MSW (municipal solid waste pulp and paper and, garbage residues and sewage sludge with 50–70% as the optimal initial moisture content range for the bio-drying process.

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 method by which the waste is packed and dumped at the site and is covered with earth is called __________.

  1. segregation

  2. sanitary landfill

  3. composting

  4. open dumping

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

Sanitary landfill is a process of isolating the waste from the environment. The solid waste is buried in the land with proper regard that it does not dissipate in the groundwater for which synthetic sheet is used below. Then it is systematically dumped and covered by earth to prevent its effects on topsoil.

Multiple choice zoology garbage in, garbage out plastic waste thermocol ways to reduce non degradable garbage recycling of paper

What is the best method to avoid pollution by using plastic bags?

  1. Bury the plastic bags in the soil

  2. Use biodegradable plastic bags

  3. Throw the plastic bags into the river

  4. Burn the plastic bags in a rubbish dump

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

The plastics are the non-biodegradable wastes because they are synthetic polymers which cannot be acted upon by the microbes. The plastics should not be dumped in the soil, river or rubbish dump. The biodegradable plastics should be used which will reduce the pollution and the problems created by the use of plastics. 

Thus, the correct answer is option B. 

Multiple choice physics sources of energy biomass and biogas biogas conventional sources of energy
Choose the correct statement(s):
(1) Sewage can be used with gobar and agricultural waste to produce bio gas in biogas plant.
(2) The largest composition in biofuel is of methane. 
  1. (1) only

  2. (2) only

  3. Both (1) and (2)

  4. None of the above

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

Organic material is used as a substrate for the production of a biogas. Organic matters encompasses sewage, kitchen waste, animal and human excreta, etc.

Biofuel produced from biomass consists of methane, hydrogen, nitrogen etc. Largest component is of methane (50%-75%).

Multiple choice biology wastewater story sewage treatment wastewater treatment - need and methods conservation

Cooking oil should not be thrown down the drain because

  1. They do not allow free flow of oxygen.

  2. They do not allow bacteria to decompose waste.

  3. They block the drainage pipes.

  4. None of the above.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
  • All the cooking oils should not be thrown in drains because it can harden and block the pipes. In an open drain, the fats clog the soil pores reducing its effectiveness in filtering water. 
  • Throw oil and fats in the dustbin.
  • Hence Cooking oil should not be thrown down the drain because they block the drainage pipes.
  • So, the correct answer is 'They block the drainage pipes'.
Multiple choice biology waste generation and management disposal of waste safe disposal of waste solid waste and its management

What does soild waste management include?

  1. Dumping process

  2. Disposal process

  3. Throwing process

  4. Removing process

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

Solid waste management encompasses the entire process of collecting, treating, and disposing of waste. Among the choices, disposal is the most comprehensive term for the final management stage.