Question 1: What is the definition of recycling in waste management?

Answer: Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials or products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials and reduce environmental impact.

Question 2: Explain how composting helps in waste management and environmental conservation.

Answer: Composting decomposes organic waste into nutrient-rich soil, reducing landfill volume, lowering methane emissions, and recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Question 3: Which type of waste is typically disposed of in landfills, and what is a major environmental concern associated with landfills?

Answer: Non-biodegradable waste such as plastics is disposed of in landfills; a major concern is leachate contamination of groundwater.

Question 1: If a recycling plant processes 150 tons of aluminum scrap per day, and the recycling efficiency is 85%, how much aluminum is effectively recycled daily? (Use the formula: Recycled Material = Total Processed × Efficiency)

Answer: 127.5 tons

Question 2: A composting facility receives 200 kg of organic waste daily. If the composting process takes 30 days to produce mature compost, what is the total amount of compost produced after 30 days, assuming no waste is lost?

Answer: 6000 kg

Question 1: Describe an experiment to compare the decomposition rates of organic waste under different environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, moisture). Include variables to be controlled and safety precautions.

Answer: Students can set up two or more compost bins with identical organic waste. Variables such as temperature and moisture levels are manipulated in each bin. Control variables include waste type and bin size. Safety precautions involve wearing gloves, avoiding contact with waste, and ensuring proper ventilation to prevent mold and odor buildup.

Question 2: Identify three variables that should be kept constant when testing the effectiveness of different waste segregation methods.

Answer: Type of waste, amount of waste used, and duration of segregation process.

Question 1: A city collected 10,000 tons of waste in a month. Of this, 40% was recycled, 35% was composted, and the remaining was landfilled. Calculate the amount of waste disposed of in landfills.

Answer: 1500 tons

Question 2: In a waste management study, a community reduced landfill waste by 25% over a year after implementing recycling programs. If the initial waste was 800 tons, how much waste was diverted from landfills?

Answer: 200 tons

Question 1: Discuss the environmental and economic benefits of implementing effective waste management strategies in urban areas. Include examples related to recycling, composting, and waste reduction.

Answer: Effective waste management reduces environmental pollution by decreasing landfill leachate and methane emissions. Economically, it creates jobs in recycling and composting industries and conserves natural resources. For example, recycling aluminum saves energy and reduces raw material extraction, while composting organic waste reduces landfill costs.

Question 1: Describe how a modern waste-to-energy plant operates and its advantages over traditional landfilling.

Answer: A waste-to-energy plant incinerates waste to generate electricity and heat, reducing landfill volume and recovering energy. Advantages include reduced land use, lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to methane from landfills, and generation of renewable energy.

Question 2: Identify at least two technological innovations that improve waste recycling efficiency and briefly explain their functions.

Answer: Automated sorting machines use sensors to identify and separate recyclable materials quickly, increasing efficiency. Chemical recycling processes break down plastics into basic monomers for reuse, reducing plastic waste and improving recycling quality.