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Biodegradable vs Non-Biodegradable Waste

This document provides information about waste management and recycling. It defines key terms like biodegradable waste, non-biodegradable waste, and landfill. It discusses the different types of waste and how to segregate them. Methods of waste management are described like composting, reducing, reusing, and recycling materials like paper, plastics, and electronics. The importance of proper waste disposal to the environment is emphasized.

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mohinder
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49 views5 pages

Biodegradable vs Non-Biodegradable Waste

This document provides information about waste management and recycling. It defines key terms like biodegradable waste, non-biodegradable waste, and landfill. It discusses the different types of waste and how to segregate them. Methods of waste management are described like composting, reducing, reusing, and recycling materials like paper, plastics, and electronics. The importance of proper waste disposal to the environment is emphasized.

Uploaded by

mohinder
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

GRADE- VI

SCIENCE - WORKSHEET
TERM-2 CH-15-AIR AROUND US
Name: ___________________ Date: ____________________
Class: VI

Important Terms:
Waste material: Every person creates rags and throws all those things which he has
used once and does not use it again. These things are commonly called waste materials.

Organic materials: The materials that are made of plants or animals.

Biodegradable waste: The organic waste materials which are decomposed by


microorganisms naturally is called biodegradable waste.

Non-biodegradable waste: The inorganic waste matter which is not decomposed by


micro-organisms is called non-biodegradable waste.
Polythene and plastics are very useful in our lives but are non-biodegradable.

Landfill: Waste material, faeces of animals, kitchen waste, garden waste, etc., are
collected in trucks and dumped on land is called landfill. Garbage buried inside landfills
stays there for a long time as it decomposes very slowly. After a landfill is full, it can be
converted into a park.

Compost: The manure made up by kitchen wastes and garden wastes is called compost
manure. It increases the fertility of the soil..

1. What are the sources of wastes?


Ans: The four main sources of wastes are
• Domestic waste: Various waste that are generated in the house during cooking
or household work is called domestic waste.
• Commercial waste: Wastes produced at commercial places like shops, offices,
etc.
• Industrial waste: Wastes that are generated in the industries like smoke, gas,
other liquids are called industrial waste.
GRADE- VI
SCIENCE - WORKSHEET
TERM-2 CH-15-AIR AROUND US
• Agricultural waste: Wastes that are generated in agricultural fields like husk,
weed, cattle waste.

2. What are the two type of wastes?


Ans: The wastes can be divided into two major types
• biodegradable and
• non-biodegradable.

Biodegradable Wastes: Wastes that are degraded or broken down by the action of
decomposers (micro-organisms) are called biodegradable wastes. Dead plants and
animals and their products (e.g., fruit and vegetable peels, paper, wood, leaves, etc.)
decay very easily. These wastes mix with the soil and produce manure.

Non-biodegradable Wastes: Wastes that do not rot or cannot be degraded by the


action of decomposers are called non-biodegradable wastes. For example, glass,
plastic, and metals. Many of them can be recycled to produce new things.

3. How is segregation of waste done?


Ans: Garbage or waste may be in the form of fruit or vegetable peels, discarded
objects, wrapping materials, wasted food as household garbage, or discarded
chemicals and fertilizers washed into rivers, domestic sewage, etc.

Depending on the type of wastes, they are segregated into two garbage bins -
• Green bin is used for discarding wet or biodegradable wastes like fruit and
vegetable peel, spoiled food, tea leaves, egg shells, tissue paper, etc.
• Blue bin is used for discarding dry or non-biodegradable wastes like plastic
wrappers, papers, old batteries, glass bottles, etc. This will help in easy sorting
and recycling of wastes to make beneficial products.

4. Explain the process of vermicomposting with a neat labelled diagram.


Ans: Vermicomposting is a process where decomposition of biodegradable waste is
done by using earthworms. As this type of composting is done by worms so we create
an environment which is suitable for earthworms for their survival.

The process of vermicomposting step by step:


GRADE- VI
SCIENCE - WORKSHEET
TERM-2 CH-15-AIR AROUND US
1. Dig a pit of 30cm in the ground or take a big container. Make sure the container is
kept in moderate temperature, i.e., neither too hot nor too cold.
2. Add a layer of sand in order to create a home for earthworms.
3. Now, add a little amount of water in the sand to create some moisture.
4. Then, add vegetable waste, animal waste, dry leaves etc. in the container.
5. Avoid adding salt, oil, pickle, milk products etc. in it as they can harm earthworms
and promote the growth of disease-causing bacteria.
6. Add some earthworms. Now, keep adding and mixing the ingredients at regular
intervals. Cover them with an old cloth or gunny bag or layer of dry leaves or
grass.
7. Gently mix occasionally to provide air circulation. After 2-3 weeks you will notice
earthworms will be doubled by feeding on the wastes.
8. Then, place some vegetable waste in the corner of pit and as a result the entire
earthworm will shift to the vegetable waste.
9. Remove the compost from the vacated corner. Dark soil like vermicompost is
ready to use.

5. What does Reuse, Reduce and Recycle mean?


Ans:
REUSE: Using things again and again rather than throwing it away. E.g.: An empty
shoe box can be used for storing something.
GRADE- VI
SCIENCE - WORKSHEET
TERM-2 CH-15-AIR AROUND US
REDUCE: Limiting the usage of non-biodegradable materials is called reducing. This
can be done by buying what we need, what we use, how often we use.
RECYCLE: Changing waste materials into a new product is called recycling. E.g.:
Waste plastic bottles can be changed into fabric.

6. Explain various ways to reduce, reuse and recycle the waste.


Ways to Reduce-
a. Buy only what you need.
b. Buy refillable items.
c. Don’t buy heavily packaged products.
d. Don’t use disposable glasses and plates.
Ways to Reuse-
a. Use plastic bottles to make things like pen stand, bird feeder etc.
b. Use old newspapers for cleaning glass items, newspaper bags etc.
c. Use old clothes for making cushion covers etc.
d. Donate old used items in good condition to needy people.
Ways to Recycle
a. Waste plastic bottles can be recycled to make beautiful fabrics.
b. Recycling of old newspapers, glass, metal and electronic equipment’s can be
done.

7. Why should plastics be recycled?


Ans: Bucket, bottle, toy, shoe, bag, pen, and comb are a few things made of plastic.
Use of plastics has become a major concern nowadays because
• they are non-biodegradable and release harmful gases upon heating or burning.
• they can also contaminate foodstuffs.
• If eaten by animals, plastics can choke and kill them.
Therefore, one should reduce and reuse plastic items as far as possible. When
plastic items are to be discarded, they should be recycled to make new things.

Some of the ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastics are as follows:
• Paper, cotton, and jute bag should be preferred over plastic bags.
• Some disposable plastic containers and jars can be used to grow plants.
• Empty bottles can be refilled for storage of water or any other liquid stuff.
• Zip foils can be reused after cleaning thoroughly each time after storing
foodstuffs.
GRADE- VI
SCIENCE - WORKSHEET
TERM-2 CH-15-AIR AROUND US

8. Explain Recycling of paper:


Ans: Paper is made from trees and trees are essential for our survival on Earth. So,
even if paper is biodegradable, depletion of trees at a fast pace is a big concern.
Therefore, to save trees we must use paper carefully. Some of the ways to save paper
are:
• We should always write on both sides of paper sheets.
• Unused pages from old notebooks can be torn off and made into a new notebook
for doing rough work and other miscellaneous work.
• We can also reuse envelopes and covers by using stickers to write new
addresses.
• We can also make fresh paper from old newspapers.

9. What is waste management?


Ans: Waste management is an activity to manage waste by collection, transporting,
processing, recycling waste produced by human activities. Waste management
reduces the effect of waste on the environment and health. There are various types of
waste management that include the disposal of solid, liquid, gaseous or hazardous
substances. All of these different types of waste management require different
methods of disposal and are usually handled by experts in that field

Common questions

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Segregation into biodegradable and non-biodegradable categories enhances waste management by simplifying recycling and composting processes. Biodegradable waste can be composted to enrich soil, while non-biodegradable waste can be sorted for recycling, reducing landfill use and conserving resources. This separation promotes efficient resource recovery and minimizes environmental pollution .

In industrial settings, 'Reduce' applies by minimizing metal waste through optimized production processes and precision engineering. 'Reuse' involves repurposing metal scraps or components in new manufacturing processes. 'Recycle' includes re-melting metal waste for new applications, supported by policies for efficient waste collection and specialized recycling facilities to process industrial-grade materials, thus conserving resources and reducing environmental impact .

Effective landfill management is crucial in urban waste strategies as it provides a controlled environment to dispose of waste, reducing direct environmental exposure. Incremental filling, sealing, and post-closure land redevelopment can mitigate pollution. However, reliance on landfills is challenged by urban space constraints and long decomposition times, necessitating complementary strategies like recycling and waste-to-energy to sustainably manage urban waste .

Composting relies on a broad range of microorganisms to decompose organic matter, requiring periodic aeration and moisture control. Vermicomposting specifically utilizes earthworms, resulting in a faster breakdown and a more nutrient-rich product due to worm digestion. While composting is broader, vermicomposting requires careful environmental management for worm health but produces higher quality compost more rapidly .

Challenges in urban vermicomposting include space constraints limiting large-scale operations, potential nuisance from odor and insects, the need for public education on waste segregation, and initial costs for infrastructure setup. Additionally, regulatory barriers and ensuring consistent organic waste supply pose significant hurdles for widespread adoption .

Failure to recycle plastics has severe environmental implications, including persistent pollution due to their non-biodegradable nature. Plastics can leach harmful chemicals into foodstuffs or ecosystems, harm wildlife if ingested, and contribute to air pollution when incinerated. Practically, not recycling plastics leads to resource wastage and increased landfill use, necessitating alternative disposal methods with potentially higher economic and environmental costs .

Earthworms in vermicomposting decompose biodegradable waste by feeding on it, accelerating the breakdown process into nutrient-rich compost. Creating the right environment is crucial because factors like temperature, moisture, and the exclusion of harmful substances ensure the survival and efficiency of earthworms. Incorrect conditions can harm or kill the worms, hindering the composting process and leading to poor-quality compost .

Improper disposal of agricultural waste can cause soil and water pollution through leaching of pesticides and nutrients, leading to eutrophication of water bodies. It can also promote greenhouse gas emissions like methane during decomposition and negatively affect soil health by disrupting natural organic cycles, demanding comprehensive waste management solutions to mitigate these impacts .

Converting landfills into parks post-closure has benefits such as creating green urban spaces, improving aesthetics and biodiversity, and possible threefold value boost through real estate and ecosystem services. However, drawbacks include the risk of gas emissions and subsidence, requiring extensive environmental monitoring and remediation efforts to ensure safety and usability, posing potential costs and technical challenges .

Recycling paper contributes to environmental sustainability by conserving trees and reducing deforestation impacts, lowering landfill use, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. It saves energy compared to producing new paper and reduces water pollution. By recycling, we support habitat preservation and resource efficiency, aligning with sustainable development goals .

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