Waste management: solid waste and e-waste
Separate waste into biodegradable and non-biodegradable, then compost, recycle or dispose of it safely. E-waste from old gadgets holds toxic metals and needs authorised recycling.
Kinds of solid waste
| Kind | Examples | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Biodegradable (wet) | Vegetable peels, leftover food, flowers, leaves, paper | Green bin; compost it |
| Non-biodegradable (dry) | Plastic, polythene, glass, metal cans, rubber | Blue bin; send for recycling |
| Hazardous household waste | Batteries, CFL bulbs, old medicines, paint | Keep separate; give to authorised collectors |
Methods of solid waste management
- Segregation at source: separate wet and dry waste at home. Many Indian cities use a green bin for wet waste and a blue bin for dry waste. Every other method depends on this.
- Composting: wet waste is kept in pits, where microbes turn it into manure (compost).
- Vermicomposting: earthworms eat organic waste and give a rich manure called vermicompost.
- Recycling: paper, plastic, glass and metal are processed into new products.
- Incineration: waste is burnt at high temperature in closed furnaces. It is used for hospital waste, and the smoke must be controlled.
- Sanitary landfill: waste that cannot be used is spread in lined pits, pressed down and covered with layers of soil.
The 3 Rs
- Reduce: use less. Carry a cloth bag and avoid single-use plastic. Tamil Nadu's Meendum Manjappai campaign brings back the yellow cloth bag.
- Reuse: use glass jars, bottles, boxes and old clothes again.
- Recycle: send paper, plastic, metal and glass to be made into new things.
E-waste: the harm and the way to manage it
Safe recycling also recovers valuable metals such as gold, silver and copper.
Tamil Nadu banned many single-use plastics in 2019, and the Meendum Manjappai campaign urges shoppers to carry cloth bags again. Keep two bins at home, green for wet and blue for dry.
2 marks: “What is e-waste? Why is it harmful?” Discarded electrical and electronic goods such as phones and computers. They contain lead, mercury and cadmium, which pollute soil and water and harm health.
2 marks: “Distinguish between biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste.” Biodegradable: broken down by microbes (food, leaves, paper). Non-biodegradable: not broken down easily (plastic, glass, metal).
4 marks: “Explain the methods of solid waste management.” Segregation at source; composting and vermicomposting; recycling; incineration; sanitary landfill; the 3 Rs.
Segregate first: green bin wet, blue bin dry. Then reduce, reuse, recycle.