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 solid waste and its management conservation of environment

Waste hierarchy gives information about

  1. Waste minimization

  2. Incineration

  3. Recycle

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

Answer is option A i.e. "Waste minimization"
Waste Hierarchy is based on the principle that it is better to not to create waste. It helps in managing waste according to best for the environment. The aim of the waste hierarchy is to extract the maximum practical benefits from products and to generate the minimum amount of waste.

Multiple choice solid waste and its management conservation of environment

Tipping is a technique of

  1. Sewage disposal

  2. Waste disposal

  3. Smoke treatment

  4. Effluent
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
A. Sewage disposal is the process of transport of sewage to the sewage treatment plant where harmful contaminants are removed from it so that it can be discharged into water bodies.
B. Waste disposal is the management of different types of wastes generated from the community of people.
C. Smoke treatment is the technique of reducing exhaust smoke that is produced from the burning of fuels in vehicles.
D. Effluent is the liquid or waste water discharged in water bodies after its treatment in sewage treatment plants.
Tipping, also known as sanitary landfilling, is a technique of waste disposal in which solid waste is dumped into land pits and then covered by layers of soil so that flies and other vectors are not attracted there.
So, the correct answer is 'Waste disposal'.
Multiple choice solid waste and its management conservation of environment

Which sentence is not true in context with house hold waste management?

  1. Buy loose fruits and vegetables to avoid packaging

  2. Throwing waste in garbage

  3. Increase the use of polythene

  4. Use rechargeable batteries
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Waste management includes activities that are required to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal. Household waste management includes separating household wastes in different parts and proper disposal of it or converting it into useful resources. There are several ways in which this can be achieved.

1. Buy loose fruits and vegetables to avoid packaging.
2. Throwing waste in garbage.
3. Use rechargeable batteries.
4. Decrease or stop the use of polythene. Using cloth bag instead of plastic bag.
5. Do vermicomposting.
6. Reduce paper usage.
7. Reuse containers.
Thus, the correct answer is 'Increase the use of polythene.'

Multiple choice solid waste and its management conservation of environment

How many categories are there in solid waste?

  1. Two

  2. Three

  3. Five

  4. Four
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Solid waste is generally classified into three main categories: municipal waste, industrial waste, and hazardous waste. These categories help in managing waste disposal and treatment processes effectively.

Multiple choice solid waste and its management conservation of environment

In which waste disposal method large areas of low lying waste lands are available?

  1. Pulverization

  2. Landfilling

  3. Incineration

  4. Sea Disposal
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Landfilling is the method of disposing of waste by burying it in low-lying areas or depressions in the ground. It is specifically suitable for large areas of low-lying land that require reclamation.

Multiple choice perfect competition and monopoly market structure and pricing economics

Newspapers, used bottles, magazines, carry bags, aluminum foils, plastics, metal, glass, old exercise books, oilcans, etc., are called _________. 

  1. Wet waste

  2. Dry waste

  3. Waste disposal

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

Dry waste refers to non-biodegradable or recyclable materials like paper, plastic, metal, and glass. Wet waste refers to biodegradable organic matter like food scraps.

Multiple choice perfect competition and monopoly market structure and pricing economics

On the basis of degradation, waste can be segregated as biodegradable and nonbiodegradable. 

  1. True

  2. False
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

 

The basic difference between biodegradable and non-biodegradable is that biodegradable items decompose or break down naturally whereas Non-biodegradable wastes are those who cannot be decomposed or dissolved by natural agents.

Biodegradable waste can be commonly found in municipal solid waste as green waste, food waste, paper waste, and biodegradable plastics. Other biodegradable wastes include human waste, manure, sewage, slaughterhouse waste.

Non-biodegradable waste includes Plastic products like grocery bags, plastic bags, water bottles, etc. Metals, metal cans, tins, metal scraps, etc. Construction waste, rubber tires, man-made fibers like nylon etc. Computer hardware like glass, CDs, DVDS, cellophane, processed woods, cable wires, Styrofoam etc.

Multiple choice perfect competition and monopoly market structure and pricing economics

Toxic waste includes old medicines, paints, chemicals, bulbs, spray cans, fertilizers and pesticide containers, batteries, shoe polish, etc.

  1. True

  2. False
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Toxic waste includes substances that are harmful to health or the environment, such as chemicals, batteries, and pesticides, which require special handling.

Multiple choice perfect competition and monopoly market structure and pricing economics

Kitchen waste, vegetables, fruits, flowers, leaves from the garden, and paper are called ____________.

  1. Organic waste

  2. Recyclable waste

  3. Toxic waste

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

Organic waste is one which is biodegradable. It can undergo decomposition by the microbes aerobically or anaerobically to form compost which can be used as a fertilizer or it can just become a part of the soil.

Multiple choice perfect competition and monopoly market structure and pricing economics

Different treatments which are given to the waste for avoiding environmental and health hazards are known as ___________.

  1. Methods of waste disposal

  2. Methods of segregation

  3. Methods of dumping

  4. Treatment of effluents
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Waste disposal methods encompass various techniques like landfilling, incineration, and composting used to manage waste safely and minimize environmental impact.

Multiple choice perfect competition and monopoly market structure and pricing economics

Waste segregation is the process of dividing garbage and waste products in an effort to _________ materials.

  1. Reduce

  2. Reuse

  3. Recycle

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

Waste segregation facilitates the recovery of materials by separating them into categories, which allows for easier reduction, reuse, and recycling.

Multiple choice perfect competition and monopoly market structure and pricing economics

Biodegradable waste includes inorganic waste.

  1. True

  2. False
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Inorganic wastes (also known as non-biodegradable waste) are chemical substances of mineral origin which cannot be decomposed or dissolved by natural agents.

Biodegradable items decompose or break down naturally.

Multiple choice perfect competition and monopoly market structure and pricing economics

Leftover foodstuff, vegetable peels, etc., is __________.

  1. Wet waste

  2. Dry waste

  3. Waste disposal

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

The waste generated from food establishment is called wet waste. It is heavier than dry waste due to the weight of the dampness contained in it. This waste is generally bio-degradable.