Waste Management

• Spoilage of landscape refers to heaps of rubbish and trash left unattended in urban cities. The decaying matter becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects.
• The waste management system is the process by which wastes are collected, transported, treated or disposed off safely without causing harm to human health and environment
• Waste management involves three R's - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
• Reduce means minimizing the amount of waste generated through conservation of resources, energy efficiency, etc.
• Wastes can be classified into three categories - biodegradable, non-biodegradable and hazardous wastes
• Reuse means using an item again instead of throwing it away. It can be done by repairing, refurbishing, reconditioning, repurposing, reselling, renting, leasing, sharing, swapping, donating, bartering, giving away for free, etc.
• Biodegradable wastes include food scraps, garden trimmings, leaves, grass clippings etc. These materials decompose naturally when exposed to air, water and microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi.
• Recycling means converting used materials into new products. This reduces the consumption of raw materials and saves energy that would have been required to produce new items from scratch.
• Reuse means using an item again instead of throwing it away. It can be done by repairing, refurbishing, reconditioning, repurposing, reselling, renting, leasing, sharing, swapping, donating, bartering, giving away for free, recycling, upcycling, composting, feeding animals, etc.
• Biodegradable wastes include food scraps, garden trimmings, leaves, grass clippings, paper products, cardboard boxes, wood, cotton rags, woolen clothes, leather, hair, bones, fruit peels, vegetable skins, egg shells, coffee grounds, tea bags, dead animals, sewage sludge, manure, animal carcasses, plant residues, sawdust, bark, straw, hay, rice husks, sugarcane bagasse, jute sticks, coconut coir, etc.
• Non-biodegradable wastes do not break down easily and remain unchanged even after years of exposure to natural elements like sunlight, wind, rain, heat, cold, etc.
• Biodegradable wastes include food scraps, garden trimmings, paper, cardboard, wood, leaves, grass clippings, cotton rags, woolen clothes, etc.
• Hazardous wastes contain toxic chemicals that pose serious risks to human health and the environment if they enter soil, groundwater, surface water, air, etc.
• Non-biodegradable wastes are those which do not break down easily or at all under natural conditions. Examples include plastics, metals, glass, rubber, paper, cardboard, textiles, leather, wood, ceramics, concrete, bricks, tiles, etc.
• Non-biodegradable wastes include plastics, glass, metal cans, bottles, aluminum foils, rubber tires, batteries, electronic gadgets, etc.
• Substances causing pollution are called pollutants.
• Air pollution is the introduction of harmful particulate matter into the atmosphere that cause harm to humans and other living beings.
• Soil pollution refers to the presence of hazardous substances in the soil that can affect plant growth and have adverse effects on animals and humans who consume plants grown in these soils.
• Water pollution occurs when substances such as sewage, industrial waste, agricultural runoff, oil spills, radioactive materials, and chemicals contaminate bodies of water like rivers, lakes, oceans, and underground aquifers.
• Noise pollution is caused by loud sounds from various sources including construction sites, factories, vehicles, aircraft, music systems, etc.
• SPM - Suspended Particulate Matter
• Primary pollutants are released directly into the air, include carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, etc. Secondary pollutants arise out of the reaction between the primary pollutants.
• Hazards of air pollution - Acid rain, global warming, ozone depletion.
• The reaction of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide with the moisture in the air to for sulphuric acid and nitric acid is called acid rain.
• When certain gases are released into the atmosphere and cause the trapping of the sun's heat, it is global warming.
• CFC - Chlorofluorocarbons
• Ozone in the lower layer of the atmosphere contributes to pollution, while ozone in the upper layer protects us from harmful UV rays
• Smog is the combination of smoke and fog. It also refers to a condition caused by the action of sunlight on exhaust gases
• Two types of smog - London type and Photochemical smog
• Any chemical that can change the colour and odor of wter and affects the well being of the living organism is a water pollutant
• Sewage and eutrophication add to the factors of water pollution
• Eutrophication is the process of depletion of oxygen from water bodies due to human activities or naturally.
• Eutrophication takes place due to the introduction of excess nutrients into a body of water and chemicals from sewage, industrial effluents and fertilizers.
• Due to eutrophication, plants rot and water becomes stagnant.
• When hot water falls into the cold water of a river, it disturbs the temperature of the water and can cause oxygen supply to decrease.
• Pollutants released from industries can contain arsenic, lead and mercury which are harmful for humans and other living beings.
• 1993 - water containing methyl mercury caused serious health impact in Minamata. Fishes who consumed other sea animals who consumed methyl mercury, were affected. This was the Minamata Disease.
• Oil spills are harmful to marine life as oil does not mix with water, and forms a film on top of the water, which can cause suffocation and lack of air for marine life.
• Soil pollution is the result of the accumulation of chemicals in the soil.
• Biomagnification means the increase in the concentration of various toxic substances along the food chain.