Page 166 - Volt Elevate The World Around Us Book 4

Waste

Waste is any unwanted thing that we throw away. This can include things like old papers,
food scraps, plastic bottles, broken toys and worn-out clothes. Waste comes from many

places such as home, school, office and factories.

Waste can be divided into different types. It includes things like leftover food items,
fruits and vegetable peels, garden waste, plastic, metal, glass, waste from industries, old
electrical items, waste from hospitals and nursing homes.

When we understand about the different types of waste, we can manage it in a better

way. When we separate waste into different categories before throwing them, we can
ensure that each type of waste is disposed of in the safest way. Proper waste management
helps keep our environment clean and safe. It protects our health and the health of

other living things.

Separation of Wastes

Proper waste separation is the first step towards effective waste management. If all
waste is thrown together, it becomes very difficult to manage them. Therefore, we must

classify waste into different types before disposal. This process ensures that each type
of waste is treated correctly and does not harm the environment. Let’s learn about the
segregation of waste before its disposal.

Biodegradable Waste

Biodegradable waste includes food scraps, fruit and vegetable peels, leftover cooked food,
fallen leaves, branches, paper and worn-out natural clothes. Such waste decomposes
easily with the help of microorganisms and turns into manure that enriches the soil.

Biodegradable waste should always be thrown into the green dustbin.

Non-biodegradable Waste

Items like plastics, glass bottles, broken ceramics, metals, thermocol and electronic waste
do not decompose easily. They are called non-biodegradable waste. They can stay in the

environment for hundreds of years which causes pollution. Non-biodegradable waste
should go into the blue dustbin for being recycled or reused in factories.

Hazardous Waste

Some wastes are dangerous for health and the environment such as batteries, paints,

chemicals, medicines and e-waste. They are called hazardous waste. These must

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