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

Biodegradable waste material can be made harmless by ___________.

  1. mixing them with chemicals

  2. the action of certain bacteria on them

  3. boiling them in water

  4. recycling them

  5. all of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Biodegradable waste material can be made harmless by the action of certain bacteria on them. Biodegradable waste can be decomposed by the action of bacteria on them,  and hence they do not remain in the same physical form that they were in, when they were chucked out.

Multiple choice

The US Army Corps of Engineers demonstrated that windrowing and aeration of petroleum-contaminated soils helped in neutralising pollutants from a contaminated site.

Which of the following best describes the situation in reference to waste management?

  1. Bioleaching

  2. Mycoremediation

  3. Bioremediation

  4. Biosurfactants

  5. Biodegradation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Bioremediation is a waste management technique that involves the use of organisms to remove or neutralise pollutants from a contaminated site.

Multiple choice

The present disposal method of industrial effluents has enhanced the problem of pollution of environments.

Directions: A passage is given below which is followed by several possible inferences that can be drawn from the facts states in the passage. You have to examine each inference separately in the context of the passage and decide upon its degree of truth or falsity. 

The management of hazardous wastes is a very important problem area relating to environment arising out of the rapid industrial development of India.  If has resulted, in particular, from the development of petrochemicals, chemicals, electronics, heavy engineering and automobile industry. This development has led to the formation of poisonous and hazardous wastes. As a consequence, the residue left as a result of treatment of material of drainage and industrial effluents has created a very and land resources/ Today the world of industry and the government are facing the challenge of hazards wastes, safe transport and the disposal of the industrial wastes. The lack of adequately scientific method of treatment, collection and disposal has created a pressure in the field of industry. This problem is being accentuated by shape of badly managed and designed disposal measures. They are providing a great problem of environments.

  1. If the inference is 'Definitely True' i.e. it properly follows from the given facts.

  2. If the inference is 'Probably True' though not 'definitely true' in the light of facts given.

  3. If the 'Data are Inadequate' i.e. from the facts given you cannot say whether the inference is likely to be true or false.

  4. If the inference is 'Probably False' though not 'definitely false' in the light of the facts given.

  5. If the inference is 'Definitely False' i.e. it cannot possibly be drawn from the facts given or it contradicts the given facts.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The passage explicitly states that badly managed and designed disposal measures 'are providing a great problem of environments' and that hazardous waste residues 'has created a very [problem] and land resources.' This directly supports that present disposal methods have enhanced pollution problems.

Multiple choice

India has developed an Ullia-modern method of pollution free transports.

Directions: A passage is given below which is followed by several possible inferences that can be drawn from the facts states in the passage. You have to examine each inference separately in the context of the passage and decide upon its degree of truth or falsity. 

The management of hazardous wastes is a very important problem area relating to environment arising out of the rapid industrial development of India.  If has resulted, in particular, from the development of petrochemicals, chemicals, electronics, heavy engineering and automobile industry. This development has led to the formation of poisonous and hazardous wastes. As a consequence, the residue left as a result of treatment of material of drainage and industrial effluents has created a very and land resources/ Today the world of industry and the government are facing the challenge of hazards wastes, safe transport and the disposal of the industrial wastes. The lack of adequately scientific method of treatment, collection and disposal has created a pressure in the field of industry. This problem is being accentuated by shape of badly managed and designed disposal measures. They are providing a great problem of environments.

  1. If the inference is 'Definitely True' i.e. it properly follows from the given facts.

  2. If the inference is 'Probably True' though not 'definitely true' in the light of facts given.

  3. If the 'Data are Inadequate' i.e. from the facts given you cannot say whether the inference is likely to be true or false.

  4. If the inference is 'Probably False' though not 'definitely false' in the light of the facts given.

  5. If the inference is 'Definitely False' i.e. it cannot possibly be drawn from the facts given or it contradicts the given facts.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The passage discusses hazardous waste management challenges and mentions 'safe transport' as a challenge being faced. It provides no information about India developing any 'ultra-modern method of pollution free transport.' The term 'ultra-modern' and specific claims about such a system are not addressed in the passage.

Multiple choice

Incineration is a waste treatment process involving the combustion of organic substances contained in waste materials. Which among the following incineration plants is the most suitable for municipal solid waste?

  1. Burn pile

  2. Burn barrel

  3. Moving grate incinerator

  4. Fixed grate

  5. Fluidised bed
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The typical incineration plant for municipal solid waste is a moving grate incinerator. The moving grate enables the movement of waste through the combustion chamber to be optimised to allow a more efficient and complete combustion.

Multiple choice

Bio-gas is produced from�

  1. Animal dung

  2. Human excreta

  3. Crop residues

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

Biogas production is a versatile anaerobic process that can utilize various organic feedstocks. Animal dung, human excreta, and crop residues all contain organic matter that bacteria can break down to produce methane-rich biogas.

Multiple choice

Garbage is also known as _____________.

  1. Liquid waste

  2. Solid waste

  3. Waste from drains

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

Garbage - is the food waste from kitchen, any discarded or useless material. Solid waste management is also known as garbage management.

Multiple choice

What is a mixture of organic wastes that have been allowed to rot called?

  1. Garbage

  2. Compost

  3. Sludge

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

Organic waste - organic means related to living things. Organic wastes include human waste, animal waste, oil, urea (urine), fruit & vegetable waste. Organic waste does not have to be thrown away. It may be reused as a fertilizer through a process called compositing & the mixture is known as compost. Composting - is done by putting organic waste in a bin & leaving some space for air to circulate. As heat and steam build up, the waste decomposes over time into a nutrient rich substance called compost. The compost is then applied to plant as manures. Hence (2) is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

In how many categories can waste be classified?

  1. Two

  2. Three

  3. Five

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

Wastes can be classified into three types: Biodegradable waste - It is the waste that will decay and decompose into the soil. All waste derived from living matter is biodegradable. For example, food waste such as fruits and vegetable peels, meat and bones, leaves, flowers, paper, etc. Non-biodegradable waste – It is the waste that will not decay and decomposed into the soil. This includes plastics (for example, bags and packaging material), metals (cold drink cans) and glass (old bottles, broken glass pieces, bulbs), etc. Toxic (poisonous) Waste - Wastes such as medicines, batteries, dried paint and dried shoe polish, etc. are toxic. These are much more difficult to dispose.

Hence, option (2) is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

The indicator(s) of completely rotten garbage is/are

  1. black colour and foul smell

  2. black colour and no foul smell

  3. only black colour

  4. only foul smell
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

If the rotting is complete, the colour of the garbage turns black and there will be no foul smell. If the garbage has not changed at all or there is foul smell, it means garbage is not rotten completely. If the rotting is not complete, cover the bags again with soil and allow bacteria to act on them.

Hence, option (2) is the correct answer.