CBSE Class 6 - Science - CH 16 - Garbage In Garbage Out

Garbage In Garbage Out

Trash Cans
(Green Bin:Recyclable,
Red Bin:Non Recyclable garbage)
credits: By Scott Meltzer

(NCERT Chapter Answers and Q & A)

Q1: Fill in the blanks

Answer:
1. Converting plant and animal waste including that from kitchen, into manure, is called composting.
2. A garbage dump is also used as landfill.
3. The method of making compost from kitchen garbage using redworms is called vermicomposting.
4. Consuming food packed in such plastic bags could be harmful to our health.



Q2: (a) Which kind of garbage is not converted into compost by the redworms?
(b) Have you seen any other organism besides redworms, in your pit? If yes, try to find out their names. Draw pictures of these.

redworms - friends of farmers
credits: Petr Kratochvil

Answer: Non bio-degradable waste like pieces of cloth, polythene bags, broken glass, aluminium wrappers, nails, old shoes and broken toys cannot be converted into compost by the redworms.

(b) Besides redworms there are spiders, small bugs, flies, moulds and small insects etc. can be seen in the pit. Compost is also rich of microbes which can't be seen with unaided eye.



Q3: Discuss:
(a) Is garbage disposal the responsibility only of the government?
(b) Is it possible to reduce the problems relating to disposal of garbage?

Answer:
(a) Garbage Disposal is the responsibility of every citizen. If we continue to generate so much garbage, very soon our beautiful earth will convert into a big garbage-bin. Non-biodegradable waste like plastic is harmful to our environment as well as to our health. We must ensure ways to reduce production of garbage. Wherever possible, we must use recyclable material in our daily use.

(b) Yes it is possible to reduce the problems relating to disposal of garbage to a large extent. We should use those materials which are recyclable. We should avoid or reduce the use of non-biodegradable materials at minimum level. While throwing out garbage in trash can, we should separate biodegradable waste from non-biodegradable and throw them in separate bins.

Q4: (a) What do you do with the left over food at home?
(b) 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?

Answer: (a) Left over food can be collected and be converted into compost. We can feed our pet animals with left over food. If enough food is left  (e.g. after a party), we may distribute the food to shelter homes.

(b) Banana leaf is a better choice. It is bio-degradable and can be disposed easily. On the other hand, eating in plastic plate is not good. Plastic material may contain harmful substance which can make the contained food toxic. which is harmful to our health. Also plastic is non-biodegradable, it will not dispose off easily.

Q5: (a) Collect pieces of different kinds of paper. Find out which of these can be recycled.
(b) With the help of a lens look at the pieces of paper you collected for the above question. Do you see any difference in the material of recycled paper and a new sheet of paper ?  

Answer: 
(a) Almost all kinds of paper are recyclable i.e. newspapers, magazines, papers, notebooks, envelopes etc.

(b) The difference between new sheet and recycle paper is subtle. Usually hand made recycled paper is of coarse quality.

Q6:  (a) Collect different kinds of packaging material. What was the purpose for which each one was used? Discuss in groups.
(b) Give an example in which packaging could have been reduced?
(c) Write a story on how packaging increases the amount of garbage.

Answer:
(a) Different kinds of packaging materials used commonly are:

1. Cardboard - used as shoe boxes
2. Plastic Bags - Toys covers, sarees bags
3. Wooden Boxes - Fruit baskets
4. Jute Bags - School bags, shopping bags

(b) Since plastic is harmful to our environment and is non-biodegradable. We should avoid using plastic packaging.

(c)  The basic purpose of packaging is to protect the product from tampering and to maintain its freshness. However, most of the packaging material is used to beautify the boxes and make them look attractive on the shelves. Unfortunately a large volume of packaging material goes waste and is thrown into dustbin. For example, if you go to any park, there dustbins are full of potato chips wrappers. It unnecessarily increases the amount of garbage. It also increase the cost of the product due to unnecessary packaging. We should seriously consider how to reduce unnecessary packaging. We should prefer buy products carry less packaging material.

Q7: Do you think it is better to use compost instead of chemical fertilisers? Why?

Answer:  No doubt compost is better to use than chemical fertilizers due to following reasons:

1. Compost is much easier to prepare.
2. Compost is environment friendly whereas fertilizers can harm our health and the environment.
3. Compost does not pollute our environemnt.
4. Compost decomposes bio-degradable waste into natural soil. It conserves our environment.

Q8: How do redworms prepare vermicompost?

Answer: Red worms have a special structure called gizzards in their bodies with which they grind food material and covert it into manure.

Q9: What will happen if garbage is not disposed off?

Answer: If garbage is not properly disposed off, these garbage dumps turn into breeding grounds for micro-organisms, flies, cockroaches and mosquitoes, that may cause diseases.

Q10: Why is it illegal to burn leaves and other plant wastes?

Answer: Burning of leaves and other plant wastes produces smoke and gases that are harmful to
our health. They may lead to asthma and lung diseases. Instead of burning, these plant wastes must be converted into manure.

Q11: Why should we not throw plastic bags or wrappers carelessly on roads and other places?

Answer: The plastic bags thrown away carelessly on roads and other places get into drains and the sewer system. As a result, drains get choked and the water spills on the roads. During heavy rains,
it might even create a flood like situation.
Sometimes, these bags are eaten by stray animals like cows, dogs etc. These bags are toxic in nature and affect their health.