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

What according to the passage can be done to regulate overwhelming increase of garbage?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question on the basis of the content of the passage.
  
Waste management systems and market conditions, even at their best, are incapable of handling the growing amounts of waste globally. So, unless a new paradigm of global cooperation and governance is adopted, a tsunami of uncontrolled dumpsites will be the prevailing waste management method, especially in Asia. Despite the development of 'easy-to-repair' product design, long-lasting products or enhancement of reuse; a clear de-linking of economic growth from waste generation will still only be in its infancy. Even if sorting and recycling technologies are significantly improved and mechanised, a separation at source will be an inevitable prerequisite for an economic recycling schedule.

  1. Increasing awareness

  2. Proper waste management

  3. Global collaboration

  4. Cooperation of the government
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

 It is stated here, "So, unless a new paradigm of global cooperation and governance is adopted, a tsunami of..." in the passage. 

Multiple choice

According to the passage, what cannot be separated easily?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question on the basis of the content of the passage.
  
Waste management systems and market conditions, even at their best, are incapable of handling the growing amounts of waste globally. So, unless a new paradigm of global cooperation and governance is adopted, a tsunami of uncontrolled dumpsites will be the prevailing waste management method, especially in Asia. Despite the development of 'easy-to-repair' product design, long-lasting products or enhancement of reuse; a clear de-linking of economic growth from waste generation will still only be in its infancy. Even if sorting and recycling technologies are significantly improved and mechanised, a separation at source will be an inevitable prerequisite for an economic recycling schedule.

  1. Economic growth and waste generation

  2. Economic recycling schedules

  3. Sorting and recycling technologies

  4. Reusing and recycling technologies
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The line, '....a clear de-linking of economic growth from waste generation will still only be in its infancy" states that these two cannot be separated easily.

Multiple choice

What does the phrase ‘easy to repair’ in the passage mean?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question on the basis of the content of the passage.
  
Waste management systems and market conditions, even at their best, are incapable of handling the growing amounts of waste globally. So, unless a new paradigm of global cooperation and governance is adopted, a tsunami of uncontrolled dumpsites will be the prevailing waste management method, especially in Asia. Despite the development of 'easy-to-repair' product design, long-lasting products or enhancement of reuse; a clear de-linking of economic growth from waste generation will still only be in its infancy. Even if sorting and recycling technologies are significantly improved and mechanised, a separation at source will be an inevitable prerequisite for an economic recycling schedule.

  1. Recycled

  2. Renewable

  3. Healed

  4. Restorable
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

‘Easy to repair’ means 'the products can be restored to sound condition after getting damaged’ in order to avoid waste.

Multiple choice

Because metal of all kinds is the biggest single component of industrial waste, many companies have tried recycling to reduce the cost of waste disposal.

  1. Because metal of all kinds is the biggest single component of industrial waste, many companies have tried recycling to reduce the cost of waste disposal.

  2. Because metal of all kinds is the biggest single component in industrial waste, many companies tried to recycle so that the cost of waste disposal is reduced.

  3. Because metal of all kinds are the biggest single components in industrial waste, many companies have tried to recycle to reduce the cost of waste disposal.

  4. All kinds of metal are the biggest single components of industrial waste, and so many companies have tried recycling to reduce the cost of waste disposal.

  5. All kinds of metal is the biggest single component of industrial waste, so many companies have tried to recycle so that the cost of waste disposal could be reduced.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

‘Metal of all kinds' is singular so ‘are’ cannot be used making options (3) and (4) incorrect. ‘have tried recycling’ - present perfect tense is the correct construct as recycling started in the past and is still continuing. Hence (1).

Multiple choice

Baggase is the waste from

  1. Tanneries

  2. Sugar factories

  3. Electroplating industry

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

Bagasse is the fibrous residue that remains after sugarcane stalks are crushed to extract their juice in sugar factories.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an inorganic waste?

  1. Phosphates

  2. Fruits waste

  3. Vegetables waste

  4. Nitrogen

  5. Bacteria
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option, as phosphates are an inorganic waste. Inorganic wastes are chemical substances of mineral origin.

Multiple choice

The body tissue that helps in the elimination of waste products is:

  1. connective tissue

  2. muscle tissue

  3. nerve tissue

  4. epithelial tissue
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

It is the simplest tissue and is the protective tissue of the body. The cells of the tissue are tightly packed and it forms a continuous sheet. It covers most of the organs and cavities within the body. It also forms a barrier to keep different body systems separate. The skin and lining of the buccal cavity, blood vessels, alveoli and kidney tubules are made of epithelial tissue. It helps in elimination of waste products.

Multiple choice

Bacteria cannot decompose ___________________.

  1. fallen leaves

  2. polythene bags

  3. paper bags

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

Bacterias are capable of decomposing biodegradable substances only. Since polythene bags are non-biodegradable substances, it cannot be decomposed by bacteria.