Page 167 - Volt Elevate The World Around Us Book 4

be handled carefully and disposed of in the black or red dustbin which is meant for

hazardous waste.

Sanitary Waste

Items like used tissues, diapers, sanitary napkins and bandages should never be mixed
with other types of waste. These must be put in the yellow dustbin as they require special

treatment before disposal.

When we properly use all these colour-coded bins, we ensure that our waste is properly
separated and disposed of safely.

segregation waste into different bins

Waste Management

Waste management is the process of collecting, transporting, treating and safely

disposing of waste materials. It is an essential practice for keeping our environment
clean, preventing pollution, conserving natural resources and protecting human health.
If waste is not managed properly, it can lead to soil, water and air pollution, the spread of

diseases and even harm wildlife. To manage waste effectively, we need to follow certain
principles and practices. One of the most important frameworks of waste management
is the 5 R’s – Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle. Let’s learn about each of the

five steps.

Refuse

The first step is to refuse unnecessary items that can create

waste. This means not buying things that we do not really
need, especially items that are harmful to the environment.

For example, we can refuse single-use plastic bags, plastic
straws or items with excessive packaging. By refusing such
products, we stop waste from entering our homes in the first single-use plastics

place.

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