Page 1
10.1 IntroductIon We all observe how waste is generated in our homes and
neighbourhood and how it is disposed of. The disposal of
waste has been done in a haphazard manner since ages,
be it in villages, towns or cities. But today waste generation
and disposal has become a matter of concern owing to the
enormous increase in population, the changes in our lifestyles
and consumption patterns, huge expansion of industries,
transport, communication and commercial infrastructures
and unrestrained use of modern technology. In fact, waste
management has emerged as a serious challenge having major
implications not only for human health and social life but also
for the environment.
It is in this context that this
chapter deals with different
dimensions of waste management.
The focus in this chapter, is on solid
waste disposal.
10.2 SolId WaSte What do we mean by solid waste?
Almost everything that we use
degenerates and loses its utility
over a period of time. Many things
become unusable after we use them
only once. We then throw them
away. Everything that we discard
after it loses its usability is known
as solid waste or garbage. There
are different sources from where
solid waste or garbage is generated
everyday from individual households
(domestic waste), and from industries
and commercial establishments.
However, all such wastes are not
uniform in nature. Broadly speaking,
solid wastes can be divided into two
distinct categories biodegradable
and non-biodegradable waste.
Waste Management
10
a ctIvIty 10.1
Bring some waste materials from home. This
can be kitchen waste (for example, vegetable
peels, used tea leaves, some food leftovers) and
discarded articles of use, such as empty jars
of plastic or/and glass, used paper, torn cloth
etc.
• Bury those items in the school garden, or
in a bucket or flower pot, and cover them
with sufficient soil.
• Leave the items buried for about three
weeks after which take those items out
for review.
• You will find that certain materials
have changed their form, i.e. they have
decayed, decomposed or are in the
process of decomposition. On the other
hand, some other materials are almost in
the same form.
• Those materials that have decayed or
decomposed are biodegradable materials,
whereas, those in which there was no
change are non-biodegradable materials.
• Think about the reasons of this variation
and write.
Page 2
10.1 IntroductIon We all observe how waste is generated in our homes and
neighbourhood and how it is disposed of. The disposal of
waste has been done in a haphazard manner since ages,
be it in villages, towns or cities. But today waste generation
and disposal has become a matter of concern owing to the
enormous increase in population, the changes in our lifestyles
and consumption patterns, huge expansion of industries,
transport, communication and commercial infrastructures
and unrestrained use of modern technology. In fact, waste
management has emerged as a serious challenge having major
implications not only for human health and social life but also
for the environment.
It is in this context that this
chapter deals with different
dimensions of waste management.
The focus in this chapter, is on solid
waste disposal.
10.2 SolId WaSte What do we mean by solid waste?
Almost everything that we use
degenerates and loses its utility
over a period of time. Many things
become unusable after we use them
only once. We then throw them
away. Everything that we discard
after it loses its usability is known
as solid waste or garbage. There
are different sources from where
solid waste or garbage is generated
everyday from individual households
(domestic waste), and from industries
and commercial establishments.
However, all such wastes are not
uniform in nature. Broadly speaking,
solid wastes can be divided into two
distinct categories biodegradable
and non-biodegradable waste.
Waste Management
10
a ctIvIty 10.1
Bring some waste materials from home. This
can be kitchen waste (for example, vegetable
peels, used tea leaves, some food leftovers) and
discarded articles of use, such as empty jars
of plastic or/and glass, used paper, torn cloth
etc.
• Bury those items in the school garden, or
in a bucket or flower pot, and cover them
with sufficient soil.
• Leave the items buried for about three
weeks after which take those items out
for review.
• You will find that certain materials
have changed their form, i.e. they have
decayed, decomposed or are in the
process of decomposition. On the other
hand, some other materials are almost in
the same form.
• Those materials that have decayed or
decomposed are biodegradable materials,
whereas, those in which there was no
change are non-biodegradable materials.
• Think about the reasons of this variation
and write.
Health and Physical Education — Class IX
10.2.1 Biodegradable and Non-biodegradable Waste
Let us understand how biodegradable wastes
are different from non-biodegradable wastes by
conducting the following activity.
We define biodegradable materials as those
substances made of organic matter, such as plant
and animal matter, that can be easily broken down
by nature. For example, vegetable peels and other
kitchen waste, vegetables, fruits, tea leaves, paper,
wood, etc.
Non-biodegradable materials are those materials,
which cannot be broken down easily, and retain their
form for a long period of time. For example, metals,
tin, glass, plastics etc.
10.3 SolId WaSte d ISpoSal
The garbage that we generate every day has not only increased
in volume phenomenally, but has also changed its composition
due to changes in our lifestyles and consumption patterns. For
instance, there is now an increasing use of non-biodegradable
materials such as plastics, metals and glass, specifically in
urban areas.
Technological advancement has further brought in an
increasing use of electronic items and gadgets. These are useful
for us, but when discarded (known as E-Waste) they can be
harmful to the environment and human health, particularly
for the workers associated with this occupation.
In addition, we seem to have lost our aesthetic and civic
sense, and carelessly litter garbage around on the roads, in the
market-place, in open drains, ponds, rivers, seas, and so on.
In fact, we keep throwing a lot of garbage everyday. Have you
ever thought what will happen if the garbage is not removed
from our homes and surroundings? Where does this garbage
ultimately go and what is done with it? If proper measures
for disposal and sanitation are not followed, how will garbage
affect our environment and health?
10.3.1 Consequences of Solid Waste Disposal
In the cities and towns, collection of garbage is the responsibility
of the respective municipalities. The garbage then goes through
a process of segregation, treatment and final disposal in the
landfills. This process of segregation in our country is still
done manually by rag pickers. (See Fig. 10.1). In this process,
materials that can be recycled are separated, while toxic wastes
are sorted out and kept separately. This process of segregation
ensures that the amount of solid waste, which is ultimately
disposed of in the landfills, is reduced substantially.
Box 10.1
In your history textbook
you must have studied how
archaeologists record the lives
of ancient societies through the
material remains left behind
by them. These materials give
us a glimpse of how people
lived, what they ate and other
aspects of their lives. Why do
you think these materials have
still retained their form?
Box 10.2
As a reference, you
can look into the
Science textbook
(Class VII), for the
decomposition
period of both bio-
degradable and
non-biodegradable
materials.
Page 3
10.1 IntroductIon We all observe how waste is generated in our homes and
neighbourhood and how it is disposed of. The disposal of
waste has been done in a haphazard manner since ages,
be it in villages, towns or cities. But today waste generation
and disposal has become a matter of concern owing to the
enormous increase in population, the changes in our lifestyles
and consumption patterns, huge expansion of industries,
transport, communication and commercial infrastructures
and unrestrained use of modern technology. In fact, waste
management has emerged as a serious challenge having major
implications not only for human health and social life but also
for the environment.
It is in this context that this
chapter deals with different
dimensions of waste management.
The focus in this chapter, is on solid
waste disposal.
10.2 SolId WaSte What do we mean by solid waste?
Almost everything that we use
degenerates and loses its utility
over a period of time. Many things
become unusable after we use them
only once. We then throw them
away. Everything that we discard
after it loses its usability is known
as solid waste or garbage. There
are different sources from where
solid waste or garbage is generated
everyday from individual households
(domestic waste), and from industries
and commercial establishments.
However, all such wastes are not
uniform in nature. Broadly speaking,
solid wastes can be divided into two
distinct categories biodegradable
and non-biodegradable waste.
Waste Management
10
a ctIvIty 10.1
Bring some waste materials from home. This
can be kitchen waste (for example, vegetable
peels, used tea leaves, some food leftovers) and
discarded articles of use, such as empty jars
of plastic or/and glass, used paper, torn cloth
etc.
• Bury those items in the school garden, or
in a bucket or flower pot, and cover them
with sufficient soil.
• Leave the items buried for about three
weeks after which take those items out
for review.
• You will find that certain materials
have changed their form, i.e. they have
decayed, decomposed or are in the
process of decomposition. On the other
hand, some other materials are almost in
the same form.
• Those materials that have decayed or
decomposed are biodegradable materials,
whereas, those in which there was no
change are non-biodegradable materials.
• Think about the reasons of this variation
and write.
Health and Physical Education — Class IX
10.2.1 Biodegradable and Non-biodegradable Waste
Let us understand how biodegradable wastes
are different from non-biodegradable wastes by
conducting the following activity.
We define biodegradable materials as those
substances made of organic matter, such as plant
and animal matter, that can be easily broken down
by nature. For example, vegetable peels and other
kitchen waste, vegetables, fruits, tea leaves, paper,
wood, etc.
Non-biodegradable materials are those materials,
which cannot be broken down easily, and retain their
form for a long period of time. For example, metals,
tin, glass, plastics etc.
10.3 SolId WaSte d ISpoSal
The garbage that we generate every day has not only increased
in volume phenomenally, but has also changed its composition
due to changes in our lifestyles and consumption patterns. For
instance, there is now an increasing use of non-biodegradable
materials such as plastics, metals and glass, specifically in
urban areas.
Technological advancement has further brought in an
increasing use of electronic items and gadgets. These are useful
for us, but when discarded (known as E-Waste) they can be
harmful to the environment and human health, particularly
for the workers associated with this occupation.
In addition, we seem to have lost our aesthetic and civic
sense, and carelessly litter garbage around on the roads, in the
market-place, in open drains, ponds, rivers, seas, and so on.
In fact, we keep throwing a lot of garbage everyday. Have you
ever thought what will happen if the garbage is not removed
from our homes and surroundings? Where does this garbage
ultimately go and what is done with it? If proper measures
for disposal and sanitation are not followed, how will garbage
affect our environment and health?
10.3.1 Consequences of Solid Waste Disposal
In the cities and towns, collection of garbage is the responsibility
of the respective municipalities. The garbage then goes through
a process of segregation, treatment and final disposal in the
landfills. This process of segregation in our country is still
done manually by rag pickers. (See Fig. 10.1). In this process,
materials that can be recycled are separated, while toxic wastes
are sorted out and kept separately. This process of segregation
ensures that the amount of solid waste, which is ultimately
disposed of in the landfills, is reduced substantially.
Box 10.1
In your history textbook
you must have studied how
archaeologists record the lives
of ancient societies through the
material remains left behind
by them. These materials give
us a glimpse of how people
lived, what they ate and other
aspects of their lives. Why do
you think these materials have
still retained their form?
Box 10.2
As a reference, you
can look into the
Science textbook
(Class VII), for the
decomposition
period of both bio-
degradable and
non-biodegradable
materials.
Waste Management
However, with the enormous volume of waste that is being
generated now-a-days, the concerned authorities are finding it
difficult to deal with this problem. Most often we find that all
sorts of solid wastes are dumped together in the landfills, which
in many places, have already overreached its accumulation
level. Moreover, groundwater in the immediate vicinity of such
landfill sites is prone to contamination through continuous
contact with the deposited waste. (Details of the structure of
landfills have already been given in the Science textbook of
Class VI).
In most of the rural areas, people have to deal with the
disposal of household wastes themselves. A common method
is the burning of solid wastes. This may be a convenient
method, but is not conducive either to the environment or to
our health, as it causes air pollution. Many of the villages do
practise composting which is the desirable method.
10.3.2 Effects of Undisposed or Unattended Garbage
Open and unattended garbage is a common sight in the
market, streets or in the vicinity of our homes. Most often, it
Fig. 10.1 : A rag picker segregating materials from garbage dump
Page 4
10.1 IntroductIon We all observe how waste is generated in our homes and
neighbourhood and how it is disposed of. The disposal of
waste has been done in a haphazard manner since ages,
be it in villages, towns or cities. But today waste generation
and disposal has become a matter of concern owing to the
enormous increase in population, the changes in our lifestyles
and consumption patterns, huge expansion of industries,
transport, communication and commercial infrastructures
and unrestrained use of modern technology. In fact, waste
management has emerged as a serious challenge having major
implications not only for human health and social life but also
for the environment.
It is in this context that this
chapter deals with different
dimensions of waste management.
The focus in this chapter, is on solid
waste disposal.
10.2 SolId WaSte What do we mean by solid waste?
Almost everything that we use
degenerates and loses its utility
over a period of time. Many things
become unusable after we use them
only once. We then throw them
away. Everything that we discard
after it loses its usability is known
as solid waste or garbage. There
are different sources from where
solid waste or garbage is generated
everyday from individual households
(domestic waste), and from industries
and commercial establishments.
However, all such wastes are not
uniform in nature. Broadly speaking,
solid wastes can be divided into two
distinct categories biodegradable
and non-biodegradable waste.
Waste Management
10
a ctIvIty 10.1
Bring some waste materials from home. This
can be kitchen waste (for example, vegetable
peels, used tea leaves, some food leftovers) and
discarded articles of use, such as empty jars
of plastic or/and glass, used paper, torn cloth
etc.
• Bury those items in the school garden, or
in a bucket or flower pot, and cover them
with sufficient soil.
• Leave the items buried for about three
weeks after which take those items out
for review.
• You will find that certain materials
have changed their form, i.e. they have
decayed, decomposed or are in the
process of decomposition. On the other
hand, some other materials are almost in
the same form.
• Those materials that have decayed or
decomposed are biodegradable materials,
whereas, those in which there was no
change are non-biodegradable materials.
• Think about the reasons of this variation
and write.
Health and Physical Education — Class IX
10.2.1 Biodegradable and Non-biodegradable Waste
Let us understand how biodegradable wastes
are different from non-biodegradable wastes by
conducting the following activity.
We define biodegradable materials as those
substances made of organic matter, such as plant
and animal matter, that can be easily broken down
by nature. For example, vegetable peels and other
kitchen waste, vegetables, fruits, tea leaves, paper,
wood, etc.
Non-biodegradable materials are those materials,
which cannot be broken down easily, and retain their
form for a long period of time. For example, metals,
tin, glass, plastics etc.
10.3 SolId WaSte d ISpoSal
The garbage that we generate every day has not only increased
in volume phenomenally, but has also changed its composition
due to changes in our lifestyles and consumption patterns. For
instance, there is now an increasing use of non-biodegradable
materials such as plastics, metals and glass, specifically in
urban areas.
Technological advancement has further brought in an
increasing use of electronic items and gadgets. These are useful
for us, but when discarded (known as E-Waste) they can be
harmful to the environment and human health, particularly
for the workers associated with this occupation.
In addition, we seem to have lost our aesthetic and civic
sense, and carelessly litter garbage around on the roads, in the
market-place, in open drains, ponds, rivers, seas, and so on.
In fact, we keep throwing a lot of garbage everyday. Have you
ever thought what will happen if the garbage is not removed
from our homes and surroundings? Where does this garbage
ultimately go and what is done with it? If proper measures
for disposal and sanitation are not followed, how will garbage
affect our environment and health?
10.3.1 Consequences of Solid Waste Disposal
In the cities and towns, collection of garbage is the responsibility
of the respective municipalities. The garbage then goes through
a process of segregation, treatment and final disposal in the
landfills. This process of segregation in our country is still
done manually by rag pickers. (See Fig. 10.1). In this process,
materials that can be recycled are separated, while toxic wastes
are sorted out and kept separately. This process of segregation
ensures that the amount of solid waste, which is ultimately
disposed of in the landfills, is reduced substantially.
Box 10.1
In your history textbook
you must have studied how
archaeologists record the lives
of ancient societies through the
material remains left behind
by them. These materials give
us a glimpse of how people
lived, what they ate and other
aspects of their lives. Why do
you think these materials have
still retained their form?
Box 10.2
As a reference, you
can look into the
Science textbook
(Class VII), for the
decomposition
period of both bio-
degradable and
non-biodegradable
materials.
Waste Management
However, with the enormous volume of waste that is being
generated now-a-days, the concerned authorities are finding it
difficult to deal with this problem. Most often we find that all
sorts of solid wastes are dumped together in the landfills, which
in many places, have already overreached its accumulation
level. Moreover, groundwater in the immediate vicinity of such
landfill sites is prone to contamination through continuous
contact with the deposited waste. (Details of the structure of
landfills have already been given in the Science textbook of
Class VI).
In most of the rural areas, people have to deal with the
disposal of household wastes themselves. A common method
is the burning of solid wastes. This may be a convenient
method, but is not conducive either to the environment or to
our health, as it causes air pollution. Many of the villages do
practise composting which is the desirable method.
10.3.2 Effects of Undisposed or Unattended Garbage
Open and unattended garbage is a common sight in the
market, streets or in the vicinity of our homes. Most often, it
Fig. 10.1 : A rag picker segregating materials from garbage dump
Health and Physical Education — Class IX
emits such a foul smell that we have to
cover our noses with a cloth. Have you
ever stopped to think how unattended
garbage can affect our health and our
environment? If you observe carefully,
you will notice that when garbage is
allowed to collect in the open for a
long time, it attracts flies, cockroaches
and other insects. It also attracts
rats and stray dogs. In fact, moist or
fermenting garbage, particularly when
organic waste such as kitchen waste
is thrown, becomes a perfect breeding
place for flies. When we eat the food,
which has been contaminated by these
flies, we are likely to fall ill. Water and
food borne diseases such as dysentery,
cholera and gastroenteritis are some of
the diseases that can be transmitted
by flies. Moreover, since accumulated
garbage emits foul smell, it also causes
air pollution.
Table 10.1 Types of waste
Toxic Waste E-Waste Hospital Waste or
Soiled Waste
Toxic waste
causes
serious
problem to
our health
and to the
environment.
Examples:
dried paint,
old bulbs, old
batteries.
E-waste consists of
dismantled parts of
computers, electronic
appliances, mobile
phones, TV, floppy
discs, pen drives. In
India E-wastes are
dumped into unsafe
and unauthorised
dumping yards
where they are
dismantled manually
and unscientifically,
causing great
environmental and
health risks as they
contain dangerous
contaminants.
Consists of various
components
containing infected
human tissues or
body fluids and are
called bio-hazardous.
The needles, surgical
knives, and other
surgical instruments
called ‘sharps’ have
to be disposed of
carefully, but many a
time we find this does
not happen. Being
pricked with infected
needles can transmit
diseases like HIV,
Hepatitis B and C.
Indiscriminate use and disposal of plastic can clog the
drains (Fig 10.2). Moreover, during the rainy season, the waste
may flow along with the rainwater to nearby rivers and other
Fig. 10.2 : Discarded plastic bottles in an open drain
Page 5
10.1 IntroductIon We all observe how waste is generated in our homes and
neighbourhood and how it is disposed of. The disposal of
waste has been done in a haphazard manner since ages,
be it in villages, towns or cities. But today waste generation
and disposal has become a matter of concern owing to the
enormous increase in population, the changes in our lifestyles
and consumption patterns, huge expansion of industries,
transport, communication and commercial infrastructures
and unrestrained use of modern technology. In fact, waste
management has emerged as a serious challenge having major
implications not only for human health and social life but also
for the environment.
It is in this context that this
chapter deals with different
dimensions of waste management.
The focus in this chapter, is on solid
waste disposal.
10.2 SolId WaSte What do we mean by solid waste?
Almost everything that we use
degenerates and loses its utility
over a period of time. Many things
become unusable after we use them
only once. We then throw them
away. Everything that we discard
after it loses its usability is known
as solid waste or garbage. There
are different sources from where
solid waste or garbage is generated
everyday from individual households
(domestic waste), and from industries
and commercial establishments.
However, all such wastes are not
uniform in nature. Broadly speaking,
solid wastes can be divided into two
distinct categories biodegradable
and non-biodegradable waste.
Waste Management
10
a ctIvIty 10.1
Bring some waste materials from home. This
can be kitchen waste (for example, vegetable
peels, used tea leaves, some food leftovers) and
discarded articles of use, such as empty jars
of plastic or/and glass, used paper, torn cloth
etc.
• Bury those items in the school garden, or
in a bucket or flower pot, and cover them
with sufficient soil.
• Leave the items buried for about three
weeks after which take those items out
for review.
• You will find that certain materials
have changed their form, i.e. they have
decayed, decomposed or are in the
process of decomposition. On the other
hand, some other materials are almost in
the same form.
• Those materials that have decayed or
decomposed are biodegradable materials,
whereas, those in which there was no
change are non-biodegradable materials.
• Think about the reasons of this variation
and write.
Health and Physical Education — Class IX
10.2.1 Biodegradable and Non-biodegradable Waste
Let us understand how biodegradable wastes
are different from non-biodegradable wastes by
conducting the following activity.
We define biodegradable materials as those
substances made of organic matter, such as plant
and animal matter, that can be easily broken down
by nature. For example, vegetable peels and other
kitchen waste, vegetables, fruits, tea leaves, paper,
wood, etc.
Non-biodegradable materials are those materials,
which cannot be broken down easily, and retain their
form for a long period of time. For example, metals,
tin, glass, plastics etc.
10.3 SolId WaSte d ISpoSal
The garbage that we generate every day has not only increased
in volume phenomenally, but has also changed its composition
due to changes in our lifestyles and consumption patterns. For
instance, there is now an increasing use of non-biodegradable
materials such as plastics, metals and glass, specifically in
urban areas.
Technological advancement has further brought in an
increasing use of electronic items and gadgets. These are useful
for us, but when discarded (known as E-Waste) they can be
harmful to the environment and human health, particularly
for the workers associated with this occupation.
In addition, we seem to have lost our aesthetic and civic
sense, and carelessly litter garbage around on the roads, in the
market-place, in open drains, ponds, rivers, seas, and so on.
In fact, we keep throwing a lot of garbage everyday. Have you
ever thought what will happen if the garbage is not removed
from our homes and surroundings? Where does this garbage
ultimately go and what is done with it? If proper measures
for disposal and sanitation are not followed, how will garbage
affect our environment and health?
10.3.1 Consequences of Solid Waste Disposal
In the cities and towns, collection of garbage is the responsibility
of the respective municipalities. The garbage then goes through
a process of segregation, treatment and final disposal in the
landfills. This process of segregation in our country is still
done manually by rag pickers. (See Fig. 10.1). In this process,
materials that can be recycled are separated, while toxic wastes
are sorted out and kept separately. This process of segregation
ensures that the amount of solid waste, which is ultimately
disposed of in the landfills, is reduced substantially.
Box 10.1
In your history textbook
you must have studied how
archaeologists record the lives
of ancient societies through the
material remains left behind
by them. These materials give
us a glimpse of how people
lived, what they ate and other
aspects of their lives. Why do
you think these materials have
still retained their form?
Box 10.2
As a reference, you
can look into the
Science textbook
(Class VII), for the
decomposition
period of both bio-
degradable and
non-biodegradable
materials.
Waste Management
However, with the enormous volume of waste that is being
generated now-a-days, the concerned authorities are finding it
difficult to deal with this problem. Most often we find that all
sorts of solid wastes are dumped together in the landfills, which
in many places, have already overreached its accumulation
level. Moreover, groundwater in the immediate vicinity of such
landfill sites is prone to contamination through continuous
contact with the deposited waste. (Details of the structure of
landfills have already been given in the Science textbook of
Class VI).
In most of the rural areas, people have to deal with the
disposal of household wastes themselves. A common method
is the burning of solid wastes. This may be a convenient
method, but is not conducive either to the environment or to
our health, as it causes air pollution. Many of the villages do
practise composting which is the desirable method.
10.3.2 Effects of Undisposed or Unattended Garbage
Open and unattended garbage is a common sight in the
market, streets or in the vicinity of our homes. Most often, it
Fig. 10.1 : A rag picker segregating materials from garbage dump
Health and Physical Education — Class IX
emits such a foul smell that we have to
cover our noses with a cloth. Have you
ever stopped to think how unattended
garbage can affect our health and our
environment? If you observe carefully,
you will notice that when garbage is
allowed to collect in the open for a
long time, it attracts flies, cockroaches
and other insects. It also attracts
rats and stray dogs. In fact, moist or
fermenting garbage, particularly when
organic waste such as kitchen waste
is thrown, becomes a perfect breeding
place for flies. When we eat the food,
which has been contaminated by these
flies, we are likely to fall ill. Water and
food borne diseases such as dysentery,
cholera and gastroenteritis are some of
the diseases that can be transmitted
by flies. Moreover, since accumulated
garbage emits foul smell, it also causes
air pollution.
Table 10.1 Types of waste
Toxic Waste E-Waste Hospital Waste or
Soiled Waste
Toxic waste
causes
serious
problem to
our health
and to the
environment.
Examples:
dried paint,
old bulbs, old
batteries.
E-waste consists of
dismantled parts of
computers, electronic
appliances, mobile
phones, TV, floppy
discs, pen drives. In
India E-wastes are
dumped into unsafe
and unauthorised
dumping yards
where they are
dismantled manually
and unscientifically,
causing great
environmental and
health risks as they
contain dangerous
contaminants.
Consists of various
components
containing infected
human tissues or
body fluids and are
called bio-hazardous.
The needles, surgical
knives, and other
surgical instruments
called ‘sharps’ have
to be disposed of
carefully, but many a
time we find this does
not happen. Being
pricked with infected
needles can transmit
diseases like HIV,
Hepatitis B and C.
Indiscriminate use and disposal of plastic can clog the
drains (Fig 10.2). Moreover, during the rainy season, the waste
may flow along with the rainwater to nearby rivers and other
Fig. 10.2 : Discarded plastic bottles in an open drain
Waste Management
surface water bodies, thereby, polluting them and affecting
aquatic life. When we drink the polluted and untreated water,
we succumb to water borne diseases.
Carelessly disposed off hospital of waste and e-waste may
also pose health problems. This is also called hazardous waste.
10.4 WaSte ManageMent and SegregatIon You must have heard the slogan, “Reuse, Recycle, Reduce
and Refuse.” This slogan is associated with the practice of
waste segregation and management. Waste segregation and
management is a process by which we categorise waste products
and garbage, on the basis
of what we can reduce,
reuse and recycle. We have
discussed earlier that the
volume of solid waste that
is generated by us, has
reached such an alarming
proportion, that government
alone cannot deal with it. We
also have to be aware of the
environmental and health
hazards associated with it.
As it is a problem that has
emanated from us, we must
make efforts to resolve it. By
practising waste segregation
and management we can
reduce the volume of solid
waste.
a ctIvIty 10.2
You may collect information on the following points.
• What method of garbage disposal is practised in your community?
• Who collects the garbage from your home?
• Do you ever lift the garbage at the community site?
• How far is this site from your home?
• Have you ever observed flies, mosquitoes, insects and stray animals around the
garbage disposal site?
• What are the methods utilised by the community for final disposal of garbage?
• On the basis of the information collected, answer the following questions.
• Do you think the method of garbage disposal in your community is appropriate?
• If yes, explain how?
• If not, what would you suggest to ensure sanitary conditions for garbage disposal
from your community?
a ctIvIty 10.3
• Make a record of all the items that were disposed of
from your home last week.
• Make a rough estimate of each item of solid waste.
This estimate can be presented in the Table 10.2.
• Quantity of waste generated at home in a month.
• Based on your estimates, give some suggestions on
how you can reduce the volume of kitchen waste to
almost zero.
• Are there any items in your waste, which can be
reused or recycled? Make a list of these items.
• Make a list of items that cannot be reused or recycled.
If there are hazardous wastes in these items how will
you dispose them of?
• You may compare your observations and suggestions
with your classmates.
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