After the examinations Rakesh with his friends went on a picnic to a nearby park. All friends carried cooked food packed in plastic bags or plastic cans. After eating the food some friends collected the leftover food and plastic bags etc and planned to dispose them off by burning. Rakesh immediately checked them and suggested to segregate the leftover food and peels of fruits from the plastic materials and respectively dispose them off separately in the green and red dustbins placed in the corner of the park. (a) In your opinion, is burning plastic an eco-friendly method of waste disposal? Why? State the advantage of method suggested by Rakesh. (b) How can we contribute in maintaining the parks and roads neat and clean?
After the examinations Rakesh with his friends went on a picnic to a nearby park. All friends carried cooked food packed in plastic bags or plastic cans. After eating the food some friends collected the leftover food and plastic bags etc and planned to dispose them off by burning. Rakesh immediately checked them and suggested to segregate the leftover food and peels of fruits from the plastic materials and respectively dispose them off separately in the green and red dustbins placed in the corner of the park. (a) In your opinion, is burning plastic an eco-friendly method of waste disposal? Why? State the advantage of method suggested by Rakesh. (b) How can we contribute in maintaining the parks and roads neat and clean?
(a) Is burning plastic eco-friendly? Why? Advantage of Rakesh's method:
- Burning plastic is NOT eco-friendly: Plastics are synthetic, non-biodegradable materials. Unlike organic substances, they cannot be broken down by the biological action of decomposers (such as bacteria and fungi) because decomposers lack the specific enzymes required to break their chemical bonds. Burning them does not destroy them safely; instead, it releases highly toxic gases and pollutants into the atmosphere, causing severe air pollution.
- Advantage of Rakesh's method (Segregation): Segregating waste into biodegradable (leftover food, fruit peels) and non-biodegradable (plastics) categories ensures appropriate treatment for each:
- Biodegradable waste can be decomposed naturally by microorganisms into simple inorganic substances that return to the soil, facilitating the natural replenishment of nutrients.
- Non-biodegradable waste can be sent for recycling or safe containment, preventing it from persisting in the environment and harming the ecosystem.
(b) Contribution to maintaining parks and roads neat and clean:
We can contribute by:
- Avoiding littering: Always disposing of waste in designated dustbins (green for biodegradable and red/blue for non-biodegradable waste).
- Adopting environment-friendly practices: Carrying reusable cloth bags for shopping or picnics instead of using single-use plastic bags.
- Reducing disposable waste: Minimizing the use of disposable plastic items and promoting the recycling of non-biodegradable materials.
Marking Scheme
- 11 Mark: Stating that burning plastic is not eco-friendly and explaining that it releases toxic gases because plastics are non-biodegradable.
- 21 Mark: Stating the advantage of Rakesh's segregation method (natural decomposition of organic waste to replenish soil and recycling of plastics).
- 31 Mark: Suggesting at least two practical, environment-friendly habits to keep public spaces clean (e.g., avoiding littering, using cloth bags).
Hint
Recall the difference between biodegradable and non-biodegradable substances. Think about why decomposers cannot break down plastics and what happens to the air when synthetic materials are burned.
Quick Oral Answer
Plastics are non-biodegradable because decomposers like bacteria and fungi lack the specific enzymes needed to break down their synthetic chemical bonds. Burning them is highly harmful because it releases toxic pollutants into the air. Therefore, we must segregate our waste so that biodegradable items can decompose naturally and plastics can be recycled.
Analysis & Explanation
The question highlights the practical application of waste management concepts discussed in the NCERT textbook.
- Biodegradability vs. Non-biodegradability: The textbook explains that enzymes are highly specific in their action. Decomposers (bacteria and fungi) cannot break down human-made materials like plastics because they do not possess the specific enzymes required. Thus, plastics persist in the environment for a long time.
- Environmental Impact of Burning: Burning non-biodegradable plastics is highly hazardous as it releases toxic fumes, contributing to air pollution rather than resolving the waste issue.
- Waste Segregation: Segregating waste at the source (using green bins for biodegradable organic waste and red/blue bins for non-biodegradable waste) is the most effective way to manage garbage. It allows organic matter to decompose naturally and replenish the soil, while recyclable materials like plastics can be processed without causing environmental degradation.
Common Mistakes
- 1Assuming that burning plastic is a safe disposal method because it reduces the physical volume of garbage.
- 2Failing to mention the role of decomposers or the specificity of enzymes when explaining why plastics do not degrade.
- 3Not clearly distinguishing between the treatment of biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes during segregation.
Interesting Facts
Plastics are synthetic polymers designed to be highly durable. Because they do not exist in nature, microorganisms have not evolved the specific enzymes needed to break their strong chemical bonds, which is why they persist in our environment for hundreds of years.
Using clay cups (kulhads) on a massive scale as an alternative to plastic cups in trains was once proposed, but it was rejected because it would lead to the loss of fertile topsoil.
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 2015?
This question carries 3 marks in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2015 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 2015 paper?
This is a Short Answer question from Section A in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2015 paper.