NCERT Science Class-VI Chapter-16: Garbage in, Garbage out Solutions

 

Exercises

Q 1: (a) Which kind of garbage is not converted into compost by the redworms?

(b) Have you seen any other organism besides redworms, in your pit? If yes, try to find out their names. Draw pictures of these.

Ans:

(a) The garbage which are non-biodegradable in nature like iron strips, plastics, poly bags etc. are not converted into compost by the redworms.

(b) Besides redworms, maggots, flies, cockroaches, ants etc. can be seen in the pit.

 

Q 2: Discuss:

(a) Is garbage disposal the responsibility only of the government?

(b) Is it possible to reduce the problems relating to disposal of garbage?

Ans:

(a) No. Garbage disposal is sole responsibility of both government and the people. People should not litter at public places. We must ensure ways to reduce generation of garbage. Wherever possible, we must use recyclable material in our daily use. They should also take care for the effective disposal of the waste produced at schools, home, hospitals etc

(b) Yes, it is possible to reduce the problems relating to disposal of garbage to a large extent. We should separate biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes in separate bins. We should minimize the use of plastic bags and use recyclable products. Waste products or garbage must be recycled.

 

Q 3: (a) What do you do with the leftover food at home?

(b) If you and your friends are given the choice of eating in a plastic plate or a banana leaf platter at a party, which one would you prefer and why?

Ans:

(a) We use to feed animals (roaming on the road or in street) with leftover food.

(b) I will prefer to eat in banana leaf because it is a biodegradable product and environment friendly and can be easily decomposed.

 

Q 4: (a) Collect pieces of different kinds of paper. Find out which of these can be recycled.

(b) With the help of a lens look at the pieces of paper you collected for the above Question. Do you see any difference in the material of recycled paper and a new sheet of paper?

Ans:

(a) Papers without having plastic coating on it can be recycled. For example, newspapers, notebook, magazines, paper sheets, envelopes etc. are recyclable.

(b) The recycled is slightly yellowish in color than the new sheet of paper. Recycled paper is rough and of low quality than new sheet of paper.

 

Q 5: (a) Collect different kinds of packaging material. What was the purpose for which each one was used? Discuss in groups.

(b) Give an example in which packaging could have been reduced?

(c) Write a story on how packaging increases the amount of garbage.

 Ans: (a) Different kinds of packaging materials used commonly are:

• Cardboard – used as shoe, soap, bulb and other boxes.
• Jute Bags – used as school bags, shopping bags, vegetable bags, etc.
• Plastic Bags – used as toys covers, sarees bags, shopping bags, etc.
• Wooden Boxes – used as fruit baskets and boxes for hardware.

(b) If people started carrying their own carry bags for buying groceries and vegetables and fruits then there will be no need for packing those materials by using plastics and thus the packaging could have been reduced.

(c) The basic purpose of packaging is to protect the product from tampering and to maintain its freshness. However, most of the packaging material is used to beautify the boxes and make them look attractive on the shelves. Unfortunately a large volume of packaging material goes waste and is thrown into dustbin. For example, in most of the places, the dustbins are full of chips and biscuits wrappers. It unnecessarily increases the amount of garbage. It also increase the cost of the product due to unnecessary packaging. We should seriously consider how to reduce unnecessary packaging.

 

Q 6: Do you think it is better to use compost instead of chemical fertilisers? Why?

 Ans: Yes, compost is better to use than chemical fertilizers because:

(a) Compost is much easier to prepare.

(b) Compost is environment friendly and add natural fertility to the soil whereas fertilizers can harm our health and the environment.

(c) Compost doesn’t have adverse effect on nature and creates no pollution.

(d) Soil will never loss its fertility if we use compost.