ICSE Geography Class 10 Question Bank Chapter 19 Need and Method for Reducing, Reusing & Recycling Waste
Questions Based on Need and Method for Reducing,
Reusing and Recycling Waste
I. Short Answer Questions
Question 1.
What are the three R’s of waste management?
Answer:
- Reducing the Waste :
- Reusing the Waste ; and
- Recycling the Waste.
Question 2.
Give one example of reusing of waste.
Answer:
Some of the waste materials like old glass bottles, steel tyres, tin cans are reused. For example, shoes or chappals are made from old tyres, water bags are made from leather, lamps are made from tin cans, etc.
Question 3.
Why are recycled plastic bags considered harmful for environment?
Answer:
The plastic bags which are extensively used in India are made from recycled plastic. The recycled plastic bags are harmful because the melting of plastic and plastic products breaks some polymer chains into smaller units which are harmful
Question 4.
Give three examples to show how social initiatives can help minimise the use of resources.
Answer:
The society has to play an important role in maintaining environmental standards in the following ways:
- If air and water resources in an area are unfit and do not meet the acceptable standard, the people of the area can organise themselves and force the responsible agencies to take necessary action.
- If suitable action is not forthcoming they can, under the laws of the land, file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and get their problems solved.
- Society is made of individuals together. So it is the duty of each individual to see that his/her actions do not pollute the environment
II. Structured Questions
Question 1.
(a) Explain clearly how the waste can be reduced by changing the process of production.
Answer:
Change of Process :
By changing a modem method to make the best use of raw materials reduces the waste generation in industries.
In zinc electroplating chlorides are used in the process instead of using the sulphate salt in order to eliminate the production of cyanides.
(b) Explain how reusing the waste can reduce the burden of waste disposal.
Answer:
Many waste collectors roam about in residential areas and industrial units to collect the solid waste. They segregate them and supply them to specialised artisans who make utility articles from such material and make a living from their skill. For example, a very beautiful garden has been created by Nek Chand in Chandigarh using waste products like tin cans, bottles, broken pieces of crockery etc. Waste collectors, thus, help in making new production processes. Thus, they reduce the burden of waste disposal.
(c) Explain the role of government in waste management.
Answer:
In India, the Ministry of Environment and Forests is the main nodal agency for generating environment consciousness and making and implementing schemes for environmental protection. The Government’s environmental policy focuses on the following areas:
- To check degradation of land and water through Wasteland Management and Restoration of river water quality programmes:
- To provide for conservation of natural resources by direct action such as declaration of reserved forests, biosphere reserves, wetlands, mangroves and protection of endangered species:
- To monitor development through Environment protection and to initiate penal measures against those who violate these laws.
(d) Give reasons :
(i) Recycling of waste to produce paper can reduce deforestation.
Answer:
Bagasse can be used in the manufacture of paper pulp. This would save trees which are normally used for making paper pulp.
(ii) Sugarcane waste can be recycled into useful products.
Answer:
We have tonnes of bagasse from surgarcane during a particular season. Bagasse can be used in the manufacture of paper pulp. This would save trees which are normally used for making paper pulp. Bagasse is also used for making packaging material of daily products. Paper industry recycles wood, cloth and used paper.
(iii) We should avoid using polythene carry bags and styrofoam cups?
Answer:
We should avoid using polythene carry bags and styrofoam cups because the melting of plastic and plastic products breaks some polymer chains into smaller units which are harmful.
Question 2.
(a) What harm is done to the environment by building big dams?
Answer:
Building a big dam disrupts the ecosystem of the river and destroys the aquatic as well as terrestrial life around it. Some of the environmentalists argue that dams intensify the effect of natural disasters like earthquakes. For example, if an earthquake takes place, them along with the cracks in the ground, there would also be a flood and large pieces of the broken dam have to be coped with.
(b) How are the people in the area affected by the construction of big dams?
Answer:
Environmental activists have been urging the Government not to construct big dams. They urge that for the construction of such big dams large areas of forest and agricultural lands get submerged in water. These developments have adverse environmental and socio-economic consequences.
(c) What can an individual do to reduce waste at home as well as in the office?
Answer:
Each individual should change his or her lifestyle in such a way as to reduce environmental pollution. It can be done by following ways:
- Use carry bags made of paper or cloth instead of polythene.
- Help more in pollution prevention than pollution control.
- Use eco-friendly products.
- Cut down the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as they destroy the ozone layer. Do not use styrofoam cups that have chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) molecules in them which destroy ozone layer.
- Use the chemicals derived from peaches and plums to clean computer chips and circuit boards instead of CFCs.
- Use CFC-free refrigerators.
- Save electricity by not wasting it when not required because electricity saved is electricity generated without polluting the environment. For example, put on warm clothes rather than switching on a heater.
(d) Give a reason for the following :
(a) Plant more trees.
(b) Use organic manure instead of chemical fertilizers.
(c) Use mass transport system.
Answer:
(a) Plant more trees, as trees can absorb toxic gases and purify the air by releasing oxygen.
(b) Use organic manure instead of chemical fertilizers will save groundwater from contaminating.
(c) Vehicular pollution can be minimised by adopting car pool method. This will also save huge amounts of money spent on importing petroleum from other countries.
ICSE Geography Class 10 Question Bank