State the meaning of “sustainable management”. Reuse is better than recycling. How?
State the meaning of “sustainable management”. Reuse is better than recycling. How?
Sustainable Management: It is the practice of managing and utilizing environmental resources in a responsible manner to meet the needs of the present generation while maintaining a self-sustaining balance in nature, ensuring these resources remain available for future generations.
Why Reuse is better than Recycling:
- No Energy Consumption: Recycling requires a significant amount of energy, water, and other resources to collect, transport, and process waste materials into new products. Reuse involves using an item repeatedly without any industrial processing, thereby conserving energy.
- No Pollution: The recycling process can release harmful emissions or secondary pollutants into the environment (as highlighted in Activity 13.9). Reuse is a completely clean practice that does not generate any additional pollution or waste.
Marking Scheme
- 1Definition of sustainable management (managing resources responsibly to maintain ecological balance for present and future generations). (1 mark)
- 2Explanation of why reuse is better than recycling (mentioning that recycling consumes energy and causes pollution, whereas reuse requires no energy and is pollution-free). (1 mark)
Hint
Think about the energy and machinery required to melt down plastic or glass to make a new product versus simply washing and using a container again.
Quick Oral Answer
Q: Why is reuse preferred over recycling in waste management? A: Reuse is preferred because it does not require any energy-intensive processing or machinery, whereas recycling requires energy and can cause environmental pollution.
Analysis & Explanation
Sustainable management is closely linked to maintaining a self-sustaining ecosystem (similar to the balanced aquarium discussed in Activity 13.1). It ensures that human activities do not disrupt the natural balance of biotic and abiotic components.
When comparing waste management strategies, 'Reuse' is considered superior to 'Recycling'. Recycling is an industrial process where waste materials (like plastics, glass, or metals) are melted down or chemically treated to manufacture new items. This process consumes fossil fuels, electricity, and water, and often generates secondary waste or pollution. On the other hand, 'Reuse' is a simple, direct method where an object is used multiple times for the same or a different purpose (e.g., using empty jam bottles to store spices). It requires zero energy input and produces zero emissions, making it highly eco-friendly.
Common Mistakes
- 1Confusing recycling with reuse, thinking they are the same.
- 2Forgetting to mention that recycling itself consumes energy and can cause pollution.
- 3Not linking sustainable management to the preservation of resources for future generations.
Interesting Facts
Recycling a single aluminum can saves enough energy to run a television for three hours, but reusing a glass jar saves 100% of the manufacturing energy!
The concept of 'Kulhads' (clay cups) was once proposed for trains, but it was abandoned because large-scale production would destroy fertile topsoil, showing how sustainable management requires deep ecological thinking.
Spotted a mistake or something unclear?
Tell us — we fix reported answers fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many marks does this question carry in CBSE Class 10 Science 2012?
This question carries 2 marks in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2012 examination.
Which chapter does this question come from in Science?
This question is from the chapter "Our Environment" in the CBSE Class 10 Science syllabus.
What topic does this question cover in Science?
This question covers the topic "Managing the Garbage we Produce" from CBSE Class 10 Science.
What type of question is this in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2012 paper?
This is a Short Answer question from Section A in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2012 paper.