Question

State the importance of green and blue dustbins in the safe disposal of household waste.

Answer 1

Hint:
Green dustbin: It is used for disposal of biodegradable waste.
Blue dustbin: It is used for disposal of non-biodegradable waste.

Complete answer
Green bins contain the waste that is biodegradable, or compostable material that can be converted to manure to divert waste from landfills.
- Material that can be put in a green bin: Fruits, vegetables, flowers and papers etc.
- The material in the green bin transforms them into simpler units and we can use them as manures, fertilizers, compost and biogas. This serves as safe disposal of household waste in green bins.
- The material in the green bin only pollutes the environment when they are in excess amounts.
- The waste generates a lot of organisms around it. These organisms can function as vectors to transfer diseases.
- The waste present in green bins can generate bad odour.
- This waste serves as breeding ground for mosquitoes.
- The waste in the green bin is safe as this waste is nontoxic.

Blue bins contain the waste that is non-biodegradable. This bin contains all the materials that are needed to be recycled.
- Materials that can be put in blue bin: -
- Plastic, polystyrene, metal, chemicals, aluminium cans and so on.
- The microorganisms that break it down can cause disease and produce harmful gases. The materials present in blue bins can harm the environment by causing pollution when not disposed of properly.

Note: The waste that can be broken down by action of microorganisms is called biodegradable waste.
The waste that is needed to be recycled is known as non-biodegradable waste.