WBBSE 10th Class Social Science Solutions Geography & Environment Chapter 4 Waste Management

WBBSE 10th Class Social Science Solutions Geography & Environment Chapter 4 Waste Management

West Bengal Board 10th Class Social Science Solutions Geography & Environment Chapter 4 Waste Management

WBBSE 10th Class Geography & Environment Solutions

Short Explanatory Answer Type Questions

1. Solid wastes: Solid wastes can be sub-divided into two types-
   1. Biodegradable solid wastes: Wastes like food leftovers, vegetable peels, old clothes, old newspapers, old calenders or used tea leaves that can be decomposed by microorganisms are biodegradable.
   2. Non-biodegradable solid wastes: Obsolete televisions, damaged mobile phones, Solid wastes broken cameras, broken utensils, broken glass items and damaged plastic furniture are some of the non-biodegradable solid wastes that cannot be decomposed by microorganisms.
2. Liquid wastes: Used water of bathrooms and kitchens, water disposed after washing of clothes and liquids of other types that are no more necessary are called liquid wastes.
3. Gaseous wastes: Smoke coming out of kitchen chimneys, fuel wood, incense sticks and perfume sprays, CFCs emitted by various electrical appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners are some of the gaseous wastes.
   

1. Some citizens have a tendency of throwing litter on the streets from their windows or verandahs. This spreads the litter all over the streets.
2. The municipality and corporation dumps the solid wastes collected from the urban centres beside the roads before they are finally disposed or treated. This causes spread of bad odour.
   
3. Litter and garbage are seen in parks, markets and street corners. Flies and insects sitting on them may cause infectious diseases.
4. Sometimes the sewage lines may get blocked and the open drains may overflow. Sewage water will then flood the roads and cause unhealthy conditions.
5. The factories and mills around the cities emit smoke throughout the day. This causes suffocation when we travel through those areas.

1. Household wastes: These wastes are generated due to daily works in households, like cooking, gardening and cleaning.
   
2. Industrial wastes: These wastes produced by big and small industries.
3. Agricultural wastes: This includes items produced during and after agricultural activities. Example-Husks, hay, roots of harvested crops.
4. Urban wastes: Such wastes are generated in urban areas. Example-Obsolete computers, damaged mobiles, furniture and old fashioned clothes.
5. Organic wastes: This includes wastes coming from biotic materials like agricultural wastes, food leftovers, old jute bags, etc.
6. Medical wastes: Used injection syringes, bandages, cotton, tablet foils and catheters are some of the medical or hospital wastes.
7. Mining wastes: The wastes produced during mining activities are called mining wastes.
8. Radioactive wastes: Wastes produced in atomic research centres are called radioactive wastes.

1. Infectious medical wastes: About 10-12% of medical. wastes are infectious. They include- (1) Used needles, syringes, knives, scissors, blades, catheters, etc. (2) pathological and surgical wastes, (3) used cottons, bandages, amputated body parts, plasters, etc. (4) Medicines used in treatment.
2. Non-infectious wastes: About 90% of the medical wastes is non-infectious. They include- (1) Plastic packets, plates, packets of medicines, (2) Leftover food of patients, (3) Office wastes, used and old papers, foils of medicines.

1. Household wastes: Household solid wastes include vegetable peels, food leftovers, plastic packets, old clothes, discarded blankets, dry flowers, old calenders, broken utensils, old shoes, old newspapers, broken glass and many more things.
2. Industrial wastes: The solid wastes coming from industries include discarded machineries, used plastic items, tyres, tubes, fly ash, chemical wastes, mineral wastes, etc.
3. Agricultural wastes: Solid wastes from agricultural activities include husk, sugarcane fibre, hay, wooden pieces, jute stems, animal wastes, dung, etc.
4. Pathological wastes: Pathological and medical wastes include used syringes, needles, knives, scissors, cotton, bandages, etc.

1. Household wastes: Water used for washing utensils and clothes, used water coming out of bathrooms and toilets, detergent water and the water left after wiping and mopping are some of the liquid wastes generated in households.
2. Industrial wastes: Water left after cleaning of instruments, washing of ores and minerals, hot water from boilers, water saturated with chemicals and, oils are some of the liquid wastes that come out of industries.
3. Agricultural wastes: The fertilisers and insecticides used in agriculture are washed away by rainwater and added to the rivers or nearby waterbodies. This leads to production of liquid wastes from agriculture.

1. Chemical Wastes: The floor cleaning liquids, rat and pest killing chemicals, insecticides which are harmful chemicals, that degrade environmental quality when disposed in the environment.
2. Radioactive Wastes: The radioactive wastes emit harmful radiations that can result in cell damage and genetic disorders in animals, plants and human beings. They are emitted from X-rays, atomic energy centres and atomic explosions.
3. Medical wastes: Catheters, used needles, syringes, scissors, amputated body parts, used cotton and bandages are some of the medical wastes. They are highly infectious and may cause harm.

1. Poisonous wastes: Chemical products, paints, bulbs, tubes, spray cans, insecticides, lead batteries and medicine bottles are some of the poisonous non- biodegradable wastes.
2. Recyclable wastes: Items like plastic goods, broken glass utensils, polythene packets or electric wires can be recycled and reused. Hence, they are called recyclable non-biodegradable wastes.
3. Solid wastes: Hospital wastes like used syringes, saline bottles, used plasters, household wastes like old shoes, obsolete electronic goods are some of the solid wastes that are non-biodegradable.

1. The garbage and wastes get washed away rain water and flow in to the nearby waterbodies polluting them.
2. The garbage and pollutants lie open on the ground and spread very bad odour.
3. They attract rats, moles, flies and insects which carry the dirt with them and spread diseases.
4. Burning of these wastes cause air pollution.
   

1. OH leakage or oily products deliberately disposed in oceans create a layer of oil on the ocean water. This disables the oceanic animals from breathing and may cause their death. The layer of oil also prevents sunlight from penetrating into the water. This hampers the process of photosynthesis of oceanic plants and reduces growth of planktons and corals.
2. The poisonous wastes disposed in oceans are consumed by fishes and other oceanic animals. This poisons the fishes and when we consume those fishes, the harmful chemicals spread in our bodies and cause health problems.
3. The wastes disposed in the oceans reduces the oxygen content of the water. This affects the marine animals like seals, dolphins, sharks and fishes and may cause their death.
4. Small items like bottle caps, machine parts and other chocking items cause death when marine animals confuse them with food materials.

1. The detergents, pesticides and chemical fertilisers disposed in the soil tend to degrade the quality and fertility of soil. They also tend the quality and fertility of soil. They also tend to kill the useful bacteria and small animals and insects present in the soil.
2. Compounds of lead molybdenum and other poisonous elements reduce the quality and fertility of soil and cause high levels of soil pollution.
3. Non-biodegradable items like plastic, polythene and broken glass change the soil character.
4. Atomic explosions and wastes coming from atomic research centres damage the fertility of soil permanently. The damage may be of such a scale that the soil remains poisonous for thousands of years.
5. Acid rain as a result of smoke emitted by vehicles and industries directly reach the soil and release toxic substances in the soil and thus pollute it.

1. The numerous factories located on the banks of the Bhagirathi-Hooghly river discharge their solid, liquid and poisonous wastes directly into the river.
2. Pesticides, chemical fertilisers, biotic wastes and eroded soil are washed by rainwater and accumulated in the river.
3. Disposal of dry flowers, plastics and other household wastes, dead bodies of animals and immersion of idols pollute the river.
4. The garbage collected from the adjacent urban areas is often directly disposed into the river.
5. Leakage of fuel, burnt motor oil and lubricants from water vessels (boats, ships, etc.) also cause a lot of pollution of the river.
6. Ash from burning ghats are often dumped into the river which causes high levels of pollution.

1. Expenses of purifying the river water to make it drinkable will increase manifolds.
2. The polluted water used for agriculture will pollute the soil and harm the crops.
3. Aquatic animals like fishes, crabs and insects as well as aquatic plants will die in the polluted water.
4. Deposition of wastes in the river bed will decrease the depth of the river and increase the chances of flood in the adjacent areas.
5. The load of wastes in the river will result in collapse of the river banks, causing a loss of huge areas of agricultural fields.
6. Wastes also hamper navigation and movement of water transport.

1. Heavy metals: Lead, zinc, arsenic, etc.
2. Petrochemical products: Grease, gasoline, lubricating oils.
3. Artificial organic compounds: DDT, aldrin.
4. Acids: Hydrogen chloride, hydrogen sulphide.
5. Biotic elements: Bacteria, plant toxins.
6. Radioactive elements: Radium, uranium.

1. Visual pollution: Dumping of garbage and wastes here and there pollute the place and looks displeasing. This causes sight pollution.
2. Effect of poisonous wastes: Poisonous wastes coming from factories pollute the water, soil as well as air. They damage the ecosystem and cause various diseases in plants and animals.
3. Reduction of soil fertility: The wastes coming from households, agriculture, hospitals and industries disposed in the soil cause pollution and reduce the fertility of soil.
4. Effect on water: Wastes disposed in waterbodies pollute the water and cause life risks to aquatic plants and animals. Their reproductive capabilities are also reduced.
5. Effect on air: Mixing of gaseous wastes in the air cause air pollution. This increases the air temperature gradually and adds up to the causes of global warming. Open dumping of wastes also produce a foul smell.
6. Destruction of biodiversity: Poisonous and harmful wastes cause destruction of biodiversity of wetlands, forests and waterbodies.
7. Effect on human beings: Solid wastes are responsible for diseases like typhoid, jaundice, diarrhoea, skin diseases, lungs diseases, etc.

1. Households: Food leftovers, packets of spices, vegetable peels, old newspapers, plastic containers, glass bottles, old beddings, clothes, broken electronic devices, fans, shoes, etc., are wastes generated in households.
2. Agriculture: Wastes generated from agriculture include husks of grains, fibre of sugarcane, jute, animal dung, dry leaves, DDT, containers of pesticides, empty bags of fertilisers and seeds.
3. Industries: Industrial wastes include discarded metallic items, fly ash from thermal power plants, sludge, packing boxes, harmful chemicals and gases.
4. Hospitals: Hospitals and medical centres generate wastes like medicine bottles, tablet foils, syringes, blades, scissors, used cotton and bandages and amputated body parts.
5. Construction: Wastes like broken bricks, wood, sand, cement, pieces of iron, plastic, tiles and rubbish come from constructional works.

1. Medical wastes: Infectious diseases like tetanus, diarrhoea, hepatitis and skin diseases, AIDS, lungs diseases and worm related problems may occur even at the slightest contact with contaminated medical wastes.
2. Agriculture: Agricultural wastes cause destruction of the ecosystem of both soil and water. Plastics and containers disposed in the soil pollute it and hamper plant growth. Worms, dysentery, lungs diseases, stomach problems may occur.
3. Industries: Industrial wastes disposed in rivers or on the ground cause water and soil pollution. They cause many health problems and diseases.
4. Construction: Cement, sand, paints and varnishes used in constructional works cause soil pollution. They reduce soil fertility. They also cause several lungs and stomach diseases.
5. Radioactive wastes: Radioactive wastes are the most harmful wastes of all. They pollute the soil and water. They may cause genetic diseases in both plants and animals as they emit radiations.

1. Rats, moles, flies and insects sit on the garbage and wastes dumped openly, thereby spreading diseases.
2. Open garbage and wastes spread bad odour and cause air pollution.
3. Burning of these wastes also cause air pollution.
4. The dumpyards also occupy a lot of space, which can be put to other uses.

1. During the first phase, steps were taken to purify the sewage water of 25 Class I cities of India.
2. Steps have taken to ensure that polluted and contaminated water is not disposed directly into the Ganga.
3. Measures have been taken to ensure perennial flow of water in the river Ganga. Steps have been taken to improve water quality to acceptable standards and prevent pollution load from reaching the river. In the second phase of the plan, river cleaning was extended to other rivers as well.
4. Growth of brick fields and such allied factories have been restricted along the banks of the river.
5. Steps have been taken to ensure that no. industry lying on the banks of the river dispose their solid and liquid wastes directly into the river.

1. Depth of the river: The solid wastes dumped into the river Bhagirathi-Hooghly gets accumulated on the river bed, thereby reducing the depth of the river. This is one of the major causes of flood on its adjacent banks. If the disposal of such wastes can be controlled, the depth of the river can be maintained. This may help to control floods.
2. Ecosystem: Pollution of water causes harm to aquatic ecosystem. As a result, many species of plants and animals may get extinct. If the pollution of water in this river can be controlled, the aquatic plants and animals can also survive and balance of the ecosystem can also be maintained.
3. Drinking water: A huge number of people residing along the banks of the Bhagirathi- Hooghly river use the water for drinking. If the water can be made pollution free, people can get safe and pure drinking water from this river.
4. Soil pollution: The polluted water of river used in agriculture lead to soil pollution indirectly. If the level of pollution of the Bhagirathi-Hooghly river can be controlled, soil pollution will be controlled automatically. This will help in better crop production.
5. Agriculture and Irrigation: If pollution of the Bhagirathi-Hooghly river can be controlled, the water can be safely used for irrigation and agriculture, dams can be constructed where necessary and the water can be put to various uses.
   

1. Primary Purification: The first step towards purification of waste water is removal of floating and suspended materials with the help of a strainer. Then the strained water is passed through several layers of pebbles, stones and sand to filter the impurities.
2. Secondary purification with the help of biotic medium: In this phase, the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) of water is reduced with the help of organic medium. In this process, the reaction of organic medium with the polluted water produce a lot of sludge that float over the water. This is removed to purify the water.
3. Final stage of purification: In this phase, the water is transferred into a huge reservoir for few weeks. During this time, the nitrogen, phosphorus and other harmful compounds are removed and the water is finally purified.

1. Open Dumping: The solid wastes collected from towns and cities are dumped in an open space outside the town. This is a primitive method of disposing solid wastes and this causes too much of pollution.
2. Sanitary landfill: In this method, the solid wastes are spread on an open land and covered with soil. This is left for few months. The bacteria present in the soil helps to decompose the wastes and reduce their volume.
3. Manure Pit: In rural areas, the biotic wastes like vegetable peels, wasted food, leaves of trees and cow dung are disposed in a deep pit and covered with soil. Within a few months the waste is converted into biotic fertilisers that are very helpful for agriculture.
4. Compost: In this method, the biotic wastes, cow dung, etc. are converted into humus, which makes the soil fertile and helps in agriculture.
5. Burning: The wastes that are not biodegradable are usually reduced in volume by burning. But this method is not environment-friendly. Burning of plastics, polythene and other harmful solid wastes leads to too much of pollution.

1. Fly ash: Fly ash produced in thermal power plants is used as a raw material while . manufacturing cement. It is also used for filling up low lands, construction of roads, making of bricks and building low dams across rivers.
2. Bagasse: The sugarcane fibre or bagasse discarded from sugar mills is used to produce pulp needed in the manufacturing of paper.
3. Glass: Broken glass is melted and reshaped to make various items like bottles, jars or show pieces.
4. Paper: Old newspapers, used copies and books, cardboards, etc. are used to prepare pulp to make fresh paper once again.
5. Plastic: Old plastic toys, broken chairs, discarded containers can be melted to manufacture new plastic items.
6. Metals: Waste metals like iron, tin or aluminium containers, broken furniture, etc. are melted or remodelled into new items.

1. Burning of biotic wastes: Husk of grains, fibre of sugarcane, leaves and branches of trees, firewood and other biotic wastes may be burnt to produce heat. This heat can be used to generate power through advanced machines.
2. Pyrolysis: Pyrolysis is the heating of an organic material in the absence of oxygen. Because there is no oxygen, there is no chance of combustion. But the material decomposes into combustible gases and charcoal. These are used as fuels in different cases.
3. Producing combustible gas from organic wastes: The organic wastes like household wastes, agricultural wastes and leaves and branches of trees are processed through an instrument called Gasifier to produce combustible gases.
4. Producing combustible gas through biochemical methods: Combustible gases can also be produced by biochemical methods. Bacteria is used for decomposition of organic wastes, which produces methane gas. Presently, combustible gases are also produced in the landfill method of waste disposal.

1. Preventing open defecation.
2. Turning the unhygienic toilets into hygienic ones.
3. Preventing cleaning of garbage manually.
4. Recycling and reusing of solid wastes collected from urban centres.
5. Building healthy and waste-free environmental conditions and spreading awareness among the common men regarding cleanliness.
6. Helping the related organisations in total cleaning and processing of wastes collected from urban areas..

1. Producing less wastes: Students can utilise their belongings like paper, pencils and pens to the maximum and produce less amounts of wastes.
2. Keeping classrooms and households clean: The students can keep their classrooms and houses clean by not littering things here and there.
3. Helping in disposing wastes: The students can help to dispose wastes generated in school or house. They can also reuse certain wastes to make productive items. E.g.- empty cans can be used as pen stands.
4. Discussions and debates: Discussions and debates can be arranged by eco clubs in schools and localities in order to spread awareness regarding waste disposal and its effects. Poster-making, drawing competitions related to waste management can also be arranged.
5. Creativity: Workshops can be arranged where students can be taught to make useful and attractive items using simple waste materials like old newspapers, cardboard boxes, empty bottles, etc.

1. Wet Scrubbing: In this case, the poisonous gases coming out of the chimneys of industries are first brought in contact with a scrubbing liquid which helps to remove pollutants. Thus, the gas released after treatment will be free from harmful pollutants.
2. Dry scrubbing: In this case, the poisonous gases coming out of chimneys of industries are directly passed through the scrubber. The pollutants are destroyed in this process and the gases released from the scrubber are free from harmful pollutants. Usually, acidic gases are purified by the method of dry scrubbing.

1. Solid wastes lying in the soil for a long time cause soil and also water pollution if washed down to the nearby water bodies. This may cause harm to the plants and animals.
2. Solid wastes like plastics or thermocol may block the sewage lines and cause waterlogging.

1. Waste management helps in reduction and control of air, water and soil pollution.
2. Proper management of wastes help to prevent spreading of infectious diseases and other health hazards.

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