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 economics environment pollution strategies to control environmental pollution strategies to control pollution strategies to control environmental pollution and green chemistry

Which of the following statements is/are correct for generating non-biodegradable waste?

  1. Thermal power plants producing fly ash

  2. Iron and steel plants producing blast furnace slag

  3. Metal industries producing mud and tailings

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

Non-biodegradable waste is a type of waste that can not be broken down into its base compounds by micro-organisms, air, moisture or soil in a reasonable amount of time. Non-biodegradable waste is an environmental concern, as it threatens to overwhelm landfills and create disposal problems. Almost all industries generate some amount of non biodegradable waste for eg fly ash,slag,mud which are major concern for the environment.

Multiple choice zoology pollution - a rising environmental problem sources of water pollution marine life water pollution

One of the best solutions to manage non-biodegradable wastes is

  1. Burning

  2. Dumping

  3. Burying

  4. Recycling
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
  • There are wastes that are generated on an everyday level, classified as non-biodegradable wastes because they cannot be degraded by microbial activity.
  • These wastes cannot be burned because they release harmful gases and result in air pollution. 
  • Dumping and burying of this wastes may cause leaching of the chemicals which causes soil pollution. 
  • Recycling is the best way to manage these waste forms. 
  • Recycling will help in the reduction of the wastes and the waste will be transformed into useful forms.
  • Thus, the correct answer is option D. 
Multiple choice biology excretion in living organisms excretion - plants excretion in plants excretion - animals

The stored waste product in plants can be in the form of

  1. Latex

  2. Resins

  3. Gums

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

The plants secrete many materials as the by-products of reactions and metabolic processes.

Sometimes these are stored in old and ageing tissues like xylem, eg. Resins and gums.
Latex is a yellowish, brown coloured liquid which is an emulsion and used in wound healing. It is secreted from the plants.
So, the correct option is 'All of the above'

Multiple choice zoology garbage in, garbage out plastic waste recycling of paper thermocol

The ill effect of plastic on health is 

  1. Cancer

  2. Typhoid

  3. Cholera

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

Plastic waste, particularly microplastics and chemical additives, is linked to various health risks including cancer. Other diseases like typhoid, cholera, and hepatitis are primarily waterborne or foodborne bacterial/viral infections, not direct effects of plastic.

Multiple choice zoology garbage in, garbage out plastic waste recycling of paper thermocol

Plastic affects the health of animal because it

  1. Blocks the mouth of animals

  2. Blocks the gut of animals

  3. Causes diseases in animals

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

Animals often ingest plastic waste, which cannot be digested. This material accumulates in the digestive tract, causing blockages that prevent food intake and lead to starvation.

Multiple choice ancient world history world history general knowledge

The first recorded landfills were found in $3000 BC$ which comprised waste that was placed in a pit and covered with dirt at different levels. Name the country in which it was found.

  1. Pakistan

  2. Greece

  3. Italy

  4. Egypy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
  • A landfill is an area that is used to dispose off solid waste material.
  • Archaeological evidence of first landfills dates back to 3000 BC at Crete in Greece where waste was deposited in pits that were subsequently covered up with earth when full.
Multiple choice geography urbanisation urbanisation and people urbanisation : causes and consequences industrialisation and urbanisation population and settlement

Unusable electronic goods are called as an _____ waste.

  1. Electrical

  2. Electronic

  3. Radio-active

  4. Noise
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
  • "Electronic waste" or "E-Waste" may be defined as discarded or unusable computers, office electronic equipment, entertainment device electronics, mobile phones, television sets, and refrigerators.  
Multiple choice biology wastewater story origin of waste products waste generation waste and its types

______ is a water-carried waste, in solution or suspension, that is intended to be removed from a community.

  1. Pollutant

  2. Sewage

  3. Aerosol

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

Sewage is a water-carried waste, in solution or suspension, that is intended to be removed from a community. Also known as domestic or municipal wastewater, it is more than 99% water and is characterized by volume or rate of flow, physical condition, chemical and toxic constituents and its bacteriologic status (which organisms it contains and in what quantities). It consists mostly of grey water (from sinks, tubs, showers, dishwashers, and clothes washers), black water (the water used to flush toilets, combined with the human waste that it flushes away); soaps and detergents; and toilet paper (less so in regions where bidets are widely used instead of paper). Whether it also contains surface runoff depends on the design of sewer system.

Multiple choice biology wastewater story origin of waste products waste generation waste and its types

Why is it necessary to set up the sewage treatment plants?

  1. The health of the aquatic life is affected

  2. The waterbodies are getting polluted

  3. There is agricultural runoff contaminating the water

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

Sewage treatment is necessary to prevent the pollution of water bodies and to protect aquatic life from the harmful effects of untreated waste.