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 components and importance of food science of kitchen evs

What changes would you suggest in your home in order to be environment-friendly?

  1. Plant more trees

  2. Hazardous waste materials like paint, oil, ammonia and other strong chemical solutions should never be disposed

  3. Keep the light on

  4. Throw garbage in water bodies
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
I would suggest the following environment-friendly changes in my home:
• To ensure that there is no wastage of water, repair of all the leaky taps will be done.
• Efforts will be made to prevent wastage of water from the overflowing overhead water storage tanks.
• Instead of bulbs, fluorescent tubes which consume less electricity will be fitted.
• To save electricity fans, air conditioners, geysers, room heaters and other electronic gadgets! appliances will be used only when required. This will prevent wastage of power.
• Provision will be made to collect rainwater in such a way that the groundwater reservoir is recharged.
• Sufficient number of plants such as herbs and shrubs and if possible trees in the locality will be planted to keep the environment clean and pollution free.
Multiple choice components and importance of food science of kitchen evs

Pollution from animal excreta and organic waste from kitchen can be most profitably minimized by _________________.

  1. Storing them in underground storage tanks

  2. Using them for producing biogas

  3. Dumping them in river

  4. Using them directly as biofertilisers
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Pollution from animal excreta and organic waste from kitchen can be most profitably minimized by using them to produce biogas for domestic use. 

So, The correct answer is (B).

Multiple choice evs garbage in, garbage out preparation of compost sewage disposal solid waste management

Which of the following is the method of controlled aerobic combustion of wastes inside chambers at temperatures as high as 900$^0$-1300$^0$C?

  1. Sludge burning

  2. Pyrolysis

  3. Incineration

  4. Source reduction
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Incineration is the process of oxidation of combustible substance present in the waste (which is heterogeneous material like minerals, metals etc.). The waste is treated to reduce its volume, convert that into useful form of energy. At a temperature of 900 to 1300$^0$ C, the organic substances in the waste will burn and release energy. So, the correct answer is 'Incineration'.

Multiple choice evs garbage in, garbage out preparation of compost sewage disposal solid waste management

Which solid waste disposal method is endothermal process?

  1. Compositing

  2. Pulverization

  3. Incineration

  4. Pyrolysis
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Pyrolysis is an endothermic process, meaning it absorbs heat from the surroundings to break down organic materials in the absence of oxygen. Incineration, by contrast, is exothermic and releases heat. Composting and pulverization are physical or biological processes that do not involve thermal decomposition.

Multiple choice evs garbage in, garbage out preparation of compost sewage disposal solid waste management

Vermi-processing toilet is 

  1. Alternative sources of energy.

  2. Alternative arrangement of sewage disposal.

  3. Alternative arrangement of sewage treatment.

  4. None of the above.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
An alternative arrangement of sewage disposal: To improve sanitation, low-cost onsite sewage disposal systems are being encouraged. Examples are septic tanks, chemical toilets, composting pits. Septic tanks are suitable for places where there is no sewerage system, for hospitals.

Vermi-processing toilet: A design of a toilet in which humans excreta is treated by earthworms has been tested in India. It has been found to be a novel, low water-use toilet for safe processing of human waste. The operation of the toilet is very simple and hygienic. The human excreta is completely converted to vermi cakes — a resource much needed for soil.

So, the correct answer is 'Alternative arrangement of sewage disposal.'.
Multiple choice evs garbage in, garbage out preparation of compost sewage disposal solid waste management

In which of the following process, human excreta is completely converted to vermi cakes?

  1. Vermicomposting

  2. Vermi-processing toilets

  3. Biogas production

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
  • Vermi-processing toilets is a design of a toilet in which humans excreta is treated by earthworms.
  • In this process, human excreta is completely converted to cake like structures called vermi cakes by earthworms. Vermi cakes are used mostly in the soil as manure and fertilizers
  • Hence Vermi-processing toilets, human excreta is completely converted vermi cakes.
  • So, the correct answer is 'Vermi-processing toilets'.
Multiple choice evs garbage in, garbage out preparation of compost sewage disposal solid waste management

Identify the low-cost onsite sewage disposal system.

  1. Septic tank

  2. Composting pits

  3. Chemical toilets

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
To improve sanitation, low cost onsite sewage disposal systems are being encouraged. Examples are septic tanks, chemical toilets, composting pits. 
  • Septic tanks are suitable for places where there is no sewerage system, for hospitals, isolated buildings or a cluster of 4 to 5 houses. 
  • Some organisations offer hygienic on-site human waste disposal technology. These toilets do not require scavenging. Excreta from the toilet seats flow through covered drains into a biogas plant. The biogas produced is used as a source of energy. (Composting pits).
  • A chemical toilet collects human excreta in a holding tank and uses chemicals to minimize odors. These toilets are usually, but not always, self-contained and movable. A chemical toilet is structured around a relatively small tank, which needs to be emptied frequently.

So, the correct answer is 'All of the above'
 

Multiple choice evs garbage in, garbage out preparation of compost sewage disposal solid waste management

Which of the following is associated with the vermi-processing toilets?

  1. Low water use toilet

  2. Electronic toilet

  3. Kid's toilet

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
  • Vermi-processing toilets is a design of a toilet in which humans excreta is treated by earthworms.
  • In this process, human excreta is completely converted to cake like structures called vermi cakes by earthworms. Vermi cakes are used mostly in the soil as manure and fertilizers.
  • The vermi-processing toilets do not use water for flushing and therefore called dry toilets. 
  • Hence vermi-processing toilets are associated with Low water use toilet because they do not use water for flushing.
  • So, the correct answer is 'Low water use toilet
Multiple choice evs garbage in, garbage out preparation of compost sewage disposal solid waste management

Composting is carried out from

  1. Sewage sludge

  2. Rubbish

  3. Garbage and sewage sludge

  4. Industrial wastes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
Compost is the nutrient rich organic matter that is formed by the decomposition of plant and animal material. The process of making compost is called composting. The microbes break down the organic matter into humus that contains nutrients beneficial to plants. Compost is used to increase the fertility of the soil and aid the growth of plants. Compost can be made from various raw materials that are biodegradable. This include vegetable peels, kitchen waste, garbage and even sewage sludge too as it contains the bacteria that carry out the decomposition of organic matter.
So, the correct answer is 'Garbage and sewage sludge'.
Multiple choice solid waste and its management conservation of environment

Action required to control soil pollution and to reduce soil pollution is called as

  1. Solid waste management

  2. Solid disposal

  3. Both A and B

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

Solid waste management is all those activities and action required to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal. This includes amongst other things, collection, transport, treatment and disposal of waste together with monitoring and regulation. 

Multiple choice solid waste and its management conservation of environment

Which of the following is not a method of source reduction?

  1. Making packages that weigh less

  2. Recycling

  3. Municipal composting

  4. Incineration
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Source reduction refers to activities that reduce the amount of waste generated at the source. Recycling, composting, and lightweight packaging are forms of source reduction or waste diversion, but incineration is a waste disposal method.

Multiple choice solid waste and its management conservation of environment

Which of the following solid waste can be easily decomposed?

  1. Nuclear waste

  2. Biodegradable

  3. Non-biodegradable

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

Biodegradable waste consists of organic materials that can be broken down by microorganisms into simpler substances.