NCERT Solutions Class 6th Science Chapter – 16 Garbage In Garbage Out Notes

Dumping of wastes 

• We sweep houses, shops and other places, collect the dirt and other waste materials in the polythene and throw it either in a drain or at the comer of the street.

• The heaps of rubbish material not only spread dirtiness but also provide shelter to houseflies, mosquitoes, microorganisms, bacteria and other disease-carrying living organisms.

• Hospital waste includes bandages, cotton impulses, injection bottles, tablet wrappers, cut out plaster, syringes, glucose bottles, needles, papers, corks, instruments, tubes, fruit peelings and seeds.

• Mostly wastes are used for filling the low lying areas. These things pollute the soil and are responsible for several fatal diseases.

• Many people sort out syringes, tubes, needles and other reusable instruments, wash them and reuse them which become the cause of many diseases.

• The filling materials diffuse in the soil and pollute the soil.

Non-biodegradable waste – The waste matter which is not decomposed by micro-organisms is called non-biodegradable waste.

• The edible wastes which are thrown by people in -polythene bags and eaten up by cows, pigs, dogs, etc., are not digested in their alimentary canal as a result of which the cattle become patients.
• Polythene and plastics are very useful in our lives but are non-biodegradable.
• The unnecessary use of plastic and polythene should be checked.
• We should try to use paper and jute bags as much as possible.

3‘R’ – We should use 3‘R’ for checking the increase of waste matter. The first ‘R’ means ‘Reduce’. The meaning of the second ‘R’ is ‘Reuse’ and the meaning of the third ‘R’ is ‘Recycling’. We should use things in maximum which are biodegradable.

Management Of Biodegradable Wastes – (tiny organisms found in the soil) are called biodegradable wastes. Dead plants and animals and their products (e.g., fruit and vegetable peels, paper, and leaves) decay very easily These wastes mix with the soil and produce manure. Wastes that do not rot by the action of decomposers are called non-biodegradable wastes. For example, glass, plastic, and metals. Many of them can be recycled to produce new things.

• Depending on the type of waste, two garbage bins—one for biodegradable wastes and the other for non-biodegradable wastes should be used. This will help in easy sorting and recycling of wastes to make beneficial products.

Composting

•  Since biodegradable or organic wastes like vegetable peels, waste food, leaves, dead flowers, and eggshells can be recycled, they are converted into manure by burying them in compost pits.

•  Recycling organic wastes like vegetable peels, waste food, leaves, etc., by burying them in compost pits is called composting. Composting is a simple and almost effortless process of recycling. The biodegradable wastes are degraded by the action of small organisms like bacteria and fungi.

• There is also a different kind of composting where a kind of earthworm called red worms (or red wrigglers) acts on wastes and degrades them.

•  This type of composting with the help of a type of earthworm called red worms is called vermicomposting. Red worms break down the organic matter into nutrient-rich manure which increases soil fertility.

•  Vermicompost can be made in 3-4 weeks and it appears as loose soil-like material. One should not put animal products or oily substances in the pit as it could lead to the growth of disease-causing organisms.

Landfills

• Large areas used for waste disposal are called landfills. The landfill is another method to manage a huge amount, of biodegradable waste. In a landfill, garbage is buried in such a way that it does not damage the environment.

• Garbage buried inside landfills stays here for a long time as it decomposes very slowly. After a landfill is full, it can be converted into a park. For example, Indraprastha Park in New Delhi is built on a landfill site.

Here are some tips for reducing waste

• Use a fountain pen in place of a ballpoint pen,
• Use old newspapers for packaging, and
• Use cloth napkins in place of disposable ones.

 Reuse

• We can reuse certain things for more than one purpose. If we reuse them for other purposes, we can help in reducing waste. Here are some of the tips for reusing things:

• Small jars and bottles can be cleaned to keep some other kitchen stuff.

• One should prefer a glass bottle to a metal can when buying juice or a soft drink. The bottles can be refilled.

• Old clothes can be made into other usable items like cushion covers, handkerchiefs, etc.

• Old mobile phones can be donated to friends or family.

Recycling of Plastics

• A bucket, bottle, toy, shoes, bag, pen, and comb are a few things made of plastic. The use of plastics has become a major concern nowadays because they are non-biodegradable and release harmful gases upon heating or burning.

• They can also contaminate foodstuffs. If eaten by animals, plastics can choke and kill them. Therefore, one should reduce and reuse plastic items as far as possible. When plastic items are to be discarded, they should be recycled to make new things.

• Not all the plastics generated are recycled, hence causing much damage to life on Earth. In many places in India, plastics are totally banned seeing their adverse effects on the environment. Some of the ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastics are as follows:

• Paper, cotton, and jute bags should be preferred over plastic bags.

• Some disposable plastic containers and jars can be used to grow plants.

• Empty bottles can be refilled for the storage of water or any other liquid stuff.

• Think about the number of times you buy a bottle of water when you are out.

• Instead, you can fill the used bottle and carry it whenever you are out.

• Zip foils can be reused after cleaning thoroughly each time after storing foodstuffs.

paper carefully. Some of the ways to save paper are

• We should always write on both sides of paper sheets.
• Unused pages from old notebooks can be torn off and made into a new notebook for doing rough work and other miscellaneous work.
• We can also reuse envelopes and covers by using stickers to write new addresses.
• We can also make fresh paper from old newspapers.
• By now, we know how harmful garbage accumulation can be. But, by following the 3Rs concept, we can manage the garbage generated in our surroundings so that it is beneficial to the environment.

Recycling – The process by which waste materials are used to make new products is called recycling.

• There are mainly two types of waste based on their ability to rot over a period of time: biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes.
• Dead plants and animals and their products decay while objects like plastic and glass do not.
• Vermicomposting and landfills are two ways of managing solid wastes.
• By practising the concept of 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle), we can manage our waste well.