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 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.

Multiple choice perfect competition and monopoly market structure and pricing economics

Organic waste i.e. food waste, manure, leaves, grass trimmings, paper, wood, feathers, crop residue, etc., are dumped in large pits called _________.

  1. Landfill Pit

  2. Compost Pit

  3. Drainage Pit

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

Organic waste is decomposed in compost pits to create fertilizer, distinguishing these pits from landfills or drainage systems.

Multiple choice perfect competition and monopoly market structure and pricing economics

Which type of waste must be disposed of with utmost care?

  1. Toxic

  2. Soiled

  3. Organic

  4. Options A and B
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Both toxic waste (hazardous chemicals) and soiled waste (potentially infectious medical waste) require specialized handling and disposal to prevent environmental and health risks.

Multiple choice perfect competition and monopoly market structure and pricing economics

Hospital waste such as discarded syringe needles, bandages, swabs, plasters, cloth soiled with blood and other body fluids are termed as ___________.

  1. Organic waste

  2. Recyclable waste

  3. Soiled

  4. Toxic waste
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Soiled waste refers to medical or biological waste contaminated with body fluids, which requires specific disposal protocols to prevent infection.

Multiple choice perfect competition and monopoly market structure and pricing economics

Nonbiodegradable waste can be further segregated into ________________.

  1. Recyclable waste

  2. Toxic waste

  3. Soiled

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

Non-biodegradable waste is a broad category that includes materials that do not break down naturally, such as recyclables, toxic materials, and soiled items that require specific disposal methods.

Multiple choice perfect competition and monopoly market structure and pricing economics

In ________ process, solid wastes are dumped in a low lying area and as a result of bacterial action, refuse decreases considerably in volume and are converted gradually into humus.

  1. Segregation

  2. Dumping

  3. Composting

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

Dumping in low-lying areas involves the decomposition of solid waste through bacterial action, which reduces its volume and turns it into humus over time.