Question

List the biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste products in your school. What are the best ways to get rid of this garbage?

Answer 1

Hint: The waste material can be biodegradable or non-biodegradable. Biodegradable wastes are those waste that can be degraded, decomposed in soil and recycled for sustainable development. Non-biodegradable wastes are those waste that cannot be degraded and gets piled up on the land. It cannot be recycled.

Complete Answer:
1) Biodegradable wastes are made naturally and do not cause any pollution. On the other hand, non-biodegradable wastes are man-made or synthetic waste that cause pollution and are very much harmful for the environment.
2) Examples of biodegradable waste are: waste food and fruits, wood, vegetables, etc. Whereas examples of non-biodegradable waste are: plastic, glass, toxic chemical waste, metals, etc.

- The list of the biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste in schools are: food and fruit waste, chalk box, leaves and twigs that are dropped from plants, waste paper pieces, pencil scraps are the biodegradable waste.
- On the other hand, plastic, toffee wrappers, aluminium foil, plastic instruments, broken glass, etc are the non-biodegradable waste.
- Biodegradable wastes can be dumped and collected inside a school in a pit in a corner. This pit should be covered with soil and watered daily. When the pit is full of waste then, a mixture of clay and dung should be spread on it for a few weeks.
- After a few weeks when garbage turns black and no smell left then, it means that garbage is ready to compost.
- Non-biodegradable waste can be dumped into the landfill. This is the best way to get rid of the waste. The recycle or reuse of waste can be done by selling off the waste.

Note: The non-biodegradable waste cannot disintegrate by microbial action. Burning of waste, depositing in soil is very much harmful for the environment. Landfilling, recycling, and reuse are the best ways for non-biodegradable waste.