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 business organisation and correspondence issues of the environment international efforts for conserving biodiversity effects of pollution on environment government efforts in pollution control

Biomedical waste if not handled properly can be a potential source of diseases like

  1. AIDS

  2. Tuberculosis

  3. Small pox

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

Improper handling of biomedical waste can lead to the transmission of various infectious diseases, including viral and bacterial pathogens.

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence issues of the environment international efforts for conserving biodiversity effects of pollution on environment government efforts in pollution control

Which of the following is considered as a method of abatement of pollution?

  1. Greater use of compost

  2. Use of CNG

  3. Recycling of plastics

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

Recycling of metals ,plastics and glass materials and incineration (burning)of non recyclable waste are some of the methods uses for abatement of pollution.

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence issues of the environment international efforts for conserving biodiversity effects of pollution on environment government efforts in pollution control

What changes can you make in your habits to become more environment-friendly?

  1. Segregating the waste before disposal

  2. Recycle glass and newspapers

  3. Plant a tree

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
Segregating degradable and non-biodegradable wastes is an important step for better disposal of wastes. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle are the three Rs for green environment. Afforestation, that is the planting of trees are a very important step to be taken to reduce global warming and for reducing pollution. Thus, the correct answer is option D.
Multiple choice biology wastewater story basics of water pollution sewage treatment wastewater treatment - need and methods personal and public cleanliness who will do this? water borne disease hygiene - a key to healthy life

Which is first stage of waste treatment plant?

  1. Preliminary Treatment

  2. Primary Treatment

  3. Secondary Treatment

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

Preliminary treatment is the first stage of a wastewater treatment plant, involving processes like screening and grit removal to protect downstream equipment.

Multiple choice biology wastewater story basics of water pollution sewage treatment wastewater treatment - need and methods personal and public cleanliness who will do this? water borne disease hygiene - a key to healthy life

What does sewage consist of?

  1. Fuel waste

  2. Faeces

  3. Paper waste

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

Sewage is wastewater that contains various contaminants, including human waste or faeces. While it may contain paper or nutrients, faeces is the primary defining component of domestic sewage.

Multiple choice commercial studies striving for a better environment soil and its conservations soil pollution-control protecting our environment

How can recycling materials help in reducing soil pollution?

  1. It decreases the volume of refuse

  2. It increases the volume of refuse

  3. It decreases reuse

  4. It reduces natural conservation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Recycling reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills or as litter, thereby decreasing the volume of refuse that could potentially contaminate the soil.

Multiple choice commercial studies striving for a better environment soil and its conservations soil pollution-control protecting our environment

Read the given statements and select the correct option.


Statement 1: Open landfilling refers to the throwing waste on an uncovered area, which is periodically burnt or compressed.
Statement 2: In sanitary landfilling, the waste is compacted and covered by layer of dirt.

  1. Both statements 1 and 2 are correct.

  2. Statement 1 is correct but statement 2 is incorrect.

  3. Statement 1 is incorrect but statement 2 is correct.

  4. Both statements 1 and 2 are incorrect.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Open dumping or open landfilling is throwing of waste on uncovered low lying area. The waste is piled as high as the equipment can easily do. The waste is periodically burnt or compressed at intervals to reduce its bulk. In sanitary dumping or sanitary landfilling the waste is pulverised, compacted and covered over by a layer of dirt.

Multiple choice commercial applications management of natural resources unequal distribution of resources protecting our environment rules are for everyone

Which of the following yields more energy?

  1. Direct burning of cow dung

  2. Burning of biogas derived from cow dung

  3. Burning of manure derived from cow dung

  4. Burning of semi-decayed cow dung
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Biogas production through anaerobic digestion of cow dung is more energy-efficient and provides a cleaner fuel than direct burning, which is inefficient and releases pollutants.

Multiple choice commercial applications management of natural resources unequal distribution of resources protecting our environment rules are for everyone

Biogas plant is more useful than burning of dung cakes because

  1. It is non-pollutant.

  2. It yields manure as well as fuel gas.

  3. It yields important biochemicals.

  4. Both A and B.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
Biogas plant produces both biogas and manure from the decomposition of waste material or organic matter. Biogas has a high calorific value than cow dung cakes. Calorific value of methane is about 5.5 KJ/g while for cow dung cakes is about 3.1 KJ/g. Moreover, biogas does not produce any pollutant like cow dung cakes produce carbon dioxide on burning. Neither biogas leaves any ash or soot after burning. Hence, biogas is a non pollutant.
So, the correct answer is 'Both A and B'.
Multiple choice commercial applications management of natural resources unequal distribution of resources protecting our environment rules are for everyone

The incorrect statement regarding biogas is

  1. It predominantly contains methane

  2. Production involves anaerobic digestion of organic wastes

  3. Dung can be used for generation of biogas

  4. It does not contain hydrogen sulphide
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Biogas is a type of fuel. It is a mixture of different gases produced when organic matter breaks down in the absence of oxygen. The organic wastes release many gases primarily methane and carbon-dioxide. It is produced by anaerobic fermentation. It is counted as eco-friendly gas.

So, the correct option is 'It does not contain hydrogen sulphide'.

Multiple choice commercial applications management of natural resources unequal distribution of resources protecting our environment rules are for everyone

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. Vermiculture

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

Biogas is a mixture of methane, carbon dioxide and other trace gases which can be converted to heat, electricity or light. Small-scale biogas reactors are designed to produce biogas at the household or community level in rural areas. 

Animal manure and kitchen waste contain a lot of organic matter and generally, the process produces enough biogas for the family to cover at least cooking requirements. Humans produce less excreta, which contains less material that can be converted to biogas than animal dung (e.g., cows). 
However, toilets, if available can directly be linked to the biogas plant, where human faeces are digested together with the other wastes. This option provides a safe treatment of human excreta and thus improves the hygienic situation of the family. 
The availability of a renewable green energy source reduces the use of firewood for cooking and indoor air pollution. Thus, biogas digesters have the potential to minimize health risks and environmental pollution by using human excreta as a resource for producing energy and fertilizer.

Multiple choice commercial applications management of natural resources unequal distribution of resources protecting our environment rules are for everyone

There is a high accumulation of garbage in the past recent days in Bangalore. What would you suggest to the government as to how could the garbage be converted into cooking gas by decomposing. Which organism is involved in the process of conversion?

  1. Klebsiella

  2. Yeast

  3. Methanogen

  4. Clostridium
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
Methanogens convert organic products to methane and carbon dioxide. The methanogenic archaea populations play an indispensable role in anaerobic wastewater treatments. It is used as part of the process to treat biodegradable waste and sewage sludge. As part of an integrated waste management system, anaerobic digestion reduces the emission of landfill gas into the atmosphere. 
Therefore, the correct answer is option C.
Multiple choice chemistry occurrence of carbon compounds in nature substances, objects and energy alternative fuels and energy sources alternative sources of energy

Sewage gases are produced by by the decomposition of :

  1. organic household

  2. industrial wastes

  3. both A and B

  4. none of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Sewer gas is a complex mixture of toxic and nontoxic gases produced and collected in sewage systems by the decomposition of organic household or industrial wastes, typical components of sewage. Sewer gases may include hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, methane, esters, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.