16. Garbage In, Garbage Out

Introduction: We generate so much rubbish/waste every day from our homes, schools, shops and offices. Grains, pulses, biscuits, milk or oil purchase in shops are packed in plastic bags or tins. All this wrapping material goes out as garbage.

Dealing with Garbage

Segregation of Waste:

Blue Bin: For materials that can be used again (Recyclable). Plastics, metals, and glass. (Non-biodegradable).
Green Bin: For collecting kitchen and other plant or animal wastes. These rot completely when buried in soil. (Biodegradable).

Landfill: A low-lying open area where garbage collected from a city is dumped. The part of garbage that can be reused is separated. The non-useful garbage is spread over the landfill and covered with soil. Once full, it is converted into a park.

Composting and Vermicomposting

Composting: The rotting and conversion of some materials (plant/animal waste) into manure is called composting.

Vermicomposting: The method of making compost from kitchen garbage using Redworms is called vermicomposting.

Redworms: Have a structure called 'gizzard' which helps them grind their food. They need moderate temperature and moisture. They cannot survive in very hot or cold surroundings.
Food for Redworms: Vegetable and fruit wastes, coffee/tea remains, weeds. (Avoid salt, pickle, oil, vinegar, meat, milk - these cause disease-causing organisms).

Recycling Paper

Old newspapers, magazines, used notebooks can be recycled to make new paper. Tear paper into small pieces, mash them in water to make a paste, spread the paste on a wire mesh, let water drain, and dry the layer to get paper.

Plastics – Boon or a Curse?

Plastics are very useful (bags, toys, buckets, pens) but disposal is a big problem because they are Non-biodegradable (do not rot).

Harmful effects:

Burning emits harmful gases causing health problems.
Animals (cows) eat plastic bags from garbage and die (choking).
Clogs drains and causes floods.

What can we do?

Minimize use of plastic bags. Use cloth/jute bags.
Reuse plastic bags where possible.
Do not burn plastic.
Put plastic waste in Blue Bins for recycling.
Vermicompost kitchen waste.

Chapter Summary

Landfill is an area where the garbage collected from a city or town is dumped.
Conversion of waste by redworms into compost is called vermicomposting.
Paper can be recycled to get useful products.
Plastics cannot be converted into less harmful substances by the process of composting.
We need to generate less waste and find ways of dealing with the increasing amount of garbage in our surroundings.

Exercise Q1

Q: Which kind of garbage is not converted into compost by the redworms?

Ans: Garbage like pieces of cloth, polythene bags, broken glass, aluminium wrappers, nails and old shoes are not converted into compost by redworms.

Exercise Q2

Q: Is it possible to reduce the problems relating to disposal of garbage?

Ans: Yes, it is possible by:

Segregation: Separating waste into biodegradable (Green Bin) and non-biodegradable (Blue Bin).
3 R's: Reducing, Reusing and Recycling waste materials (like plastics and paper).
Vermicomposting: Converting kitchen waste into manure.

Exercise Q3

Q: 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: I would prefer to eat in a banana leaf platter. This is because:

Banana leaf is a natural material and acts as biodegradable waste. It can be easily disposed of by composting.
Plastic plates are non-biodegradable and create garbage disposal problems.

Exercise Q4

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

Ans: Most papers like newspapers, notebook pages, magazines, and envelopes can be recycled. However, plastic-coated paper, shiny glossy paper, or laminated paper cannot be easily recycled.

Exercise Q5

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

Ans: Yes, it is better to use compost because:

It is eco-friendly and natural.
It is prepared from waste materials (recycling waste).
It does not harm the soil organisms like earthworms.
Chemical fertilisers can pollute soil and water in the long run and are expensive.

Key Facts and Definitions

1. Important Definitions

Garbage: Waste materials that are thrown away.
Landfill: An area where garbage is dumped.
Compost: Manure made from organic waste.
Redworms: Type of earthworms used in vermicomposting.

2. Quick Facts

Plastics take hundreds of years to decompose.
Burning leaves produces smoke and gases that are harmful to our health.
Paper can be recycled 5-7 times for use.

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