SOURCES OF
WASTE
DOMESTIC WASTE INDUSTRIAL WASTE AGRICULTURAL WASTE
Wastes generated due to Industrial waste is the waste Agricultural waste are plant
domestic activities are called produced by industrial activity which residues from agriculture. These
domestic wastes. Food leftovers, includes any material that is waste streams originate from
fruits and vegetables peels, bits rendered useless during a arable land and horticulture.
of paper, polythene bags, manufacturing process such as that Agricultural waste are all parts of
bottles, scrap metals, glass of factories, mills, and mining crops that are not used for
pieces, discarded clothes, operations. Types of industrial waste human or animal food. Crop
sewage from toilets, batteries, include dirt and gravel, masonry and residues consist mainly of stems,
expired medicines, etc. are some concrete, scrap metal, oil, chemicals, branches (in pruning), and
of the examples of domestic even vegetable matter from leaves. Most of this type of
waste restaurants. wastes are recycled.
COMMERCIAL WASTE CONSTRUCTION WASTE MINING WASTE
Wastes from commercial Wastes from matter or thing Mining wastes include waste
houses, stores, godowns, which is generated as a result generated during the
hospitals, offices are known of construction work and extraction, beneficiation, and
as commercial waste. These abandoned. It is a mixture of processing of minerals. Most
waste contain waste paper, surplus materials arising from extraction and beneficiation
torn out gunny bags, waste site clearance, excavation, wastes from hard rock mining
packing materials like straw, construction, refurbishment, (the mining of metallic ores
broken crockery, glasses, food renovation, demolition and and phosphate rock). These
wastes, wood pieces and road works. can be toxic or hazardous.
cans.
ELECTRONIC WASTE BIOCHEMICAL WASTE TOXIC AND NON
Electronic waste describes Biomedical waste or hospital ToxicTOXIC
waste is non-
discarded electrical or waste is any kind of waste biodegradable and poses a
electronic devices. It is also containing infectious serious threat to human
commonly known as waste materials generated during health and the environment.
electrical. Used electronics the treatment of humans or Ex- lead, cadmium, mercury
which are destined for animals as well as during etc.
refurbishment, reuse, resale, research involving biologics. Non-toxic waste is
salvage recycling through Ex:- packaging, unused biodegradable and It does not
material recovery, or disposal bandages, infusion kits etc. pose a serious threat to
are also considered e-waste. These are hazardous and human health and the
radioactive industrial waste. environment. Ex- food
leftover, bits of paper.
IMPACT OF WASTE ACCUMULATION
o SPOILAGE OF LANDSCAPE OR VISUAL POLLUTION
It refers to the accumulation of heaps of garbage and waste that is
simply dumped onto vacant land and left to decompose, which are not
only ruins the natural beauty of the land but also provides a home to
rats and other diseases carrying organisms.
o POLLUTION
It is an unfavourable modification of the natural world caused
entirely or partly due to direct or indirect actions of human beings. It
is caused by human activities like addition of toxic chemicals through
the atmosphere into the biosphere.
o HEALTH HAZARDS
The accumulation of waste is the most prominent kind of
pollution. Domestic, commercial, industrial, municipal, and
agricultural waste are the most common types of trash. It is the
fundamental source of all significant difficulties, including health, the
domain, cleanliness, etc. The Health Hazards of Waste Accumulation
and Water Pollution harm everyone, from humans to wildlife.
HEALTH HAZARDS
➢ SPREAD OF DISEASE THROUGH CONTAMINATION
Waste that is not properly managed is a serious health hazard.
Unattended waste dumped in the open attracts flies, rats and
other creatures that can act as vector of the diseases and spread
them among human beings.
Flies, insects, rodents, etc., live in the accumulated waste heaps
and carry germs of various diseases to human habitations.
Lead is a harmful toxin and it can affect the development of a
child’s brain.
Asbestos can cause a respiratory disease known as asbestosis, as
well as chest and lung cancer.
Mercury is a highly toxic chemical which attacks the nervous
system, causing brain damage and even death.
Arsenic is another chemical that has been shown to cause cancer.
Radioactive waste, although present in small quantities, remains
extremely harmful to human health for many years.
EFFECT ON TERRESTRIAL LIFE
Effect on human beings:- Accumulation of solid waste looks ugly
smells foul attracts insects, rats and other animals that spread the
diseases.
Sanitary landfills are not fit for human settlements because methane
and carbon dioxide gases are released in first two years. These gases
are produced when solid wastes start decomposing underground.
Effect on Plants:- Waste accumulation has dangerous effect on plant
life. It is either caused by direct decomposition of harmful toxins from
wastes or indirectly through soils:-
1. Different types of leaf injuries
2. Premature leaf fall
3. Decrease in transpiration
4. Reduction in the rate of photosynthesis.
Effect on Animals , birds and aquatic life:- Improper waste disposal
leads to habitat destruction and fragmentation, significantly impacting
wildlife populations. Dumping waste in natural habitats, such as forest
and wetlands, disrupts the delicate balance of these ecosystems.
Plastic pollution has become a global crisis, with millions of tons of
plastic entering the oceans each year. Marine animals, such as
seabirds, turtles, dolphins, and whales, often mistake plastic debris for
food or become entangled in it, leading to severe injuries, suffocation,
and death.
NEED FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT
In an era where sustainability is not just appreciated but is
profoundly essential, waste management emerges as a vital player.
It is a comprehensive process, meticulously woven into the fabric
of our daily lives and broader ecosystems, facilitating the judicious
handling and disposal of waste.
1. TRANSMISSION OF DISEASES- Solid waste management is a
growing challenge to many countries. The implications of
poorly managed waste on health are numerous. Improper waste
management serve as the breeding places for many vectors
resulting in proliferation of vector-borne diseases.
o Housefly- Typhoid, Diarrhea, Dysentery, Cholera,
Gastroenteritis, etc.
o Sandfly- Kala- azar, sandfly fever, etc.
o Tsetse fly- Sleeping sickness
o Mosquitoes- Malaria, Filaria, Yellow fever, Dengue,
Chikungunya, Encephalitis, etc.
o Rodents- Plague, Salmonellosis, etc.
o Pet animals- (a) Dog- Rabies, Hydatid disease, etc.
(b) Cat- Dermatophytosis, Anthrax, etc.
2. WASTE IN WATER- The release of substances into
subsurface groundwater or into lakes, streams, rivers, estuaries,
and oceans to the point that the substances interfere
with beneficial use of the water or with the natural functioning
of ecosystems. In addition to the release of substances, such
as chemicals, trash, or microorganisms, water pollution may
include the release of energy, in the form of radioactivity or heat,
into bodies of water.
Industrialisation and urbanization pollute water in the following
manner:
o Sewage contains organic matter that cannot be decomposed.
Besides sewage has pathogenic agents.
o Industrial and commercial waste has toxic agents including
metal salts and complex synthetic organic metals.
o Fertilizers and pesticides produce pollutants.
o There are also other pollutants like radioactive substances.
Human beings are affected by pollution:
o By drinking contaminated water.
o By using contaminated water for purposes of hygiene and
recreation.
3. GREENHOUSE EFFECT AND GLOBAL WARMING-
The escalating climate crisis is a defining challenge of
our time, demanding urgent and comprehensive action.
While much attention is rightly focused on reducing
greenhouse gas emissions from energy production and
transportation, the significant role of waste in driving
climate change often remains overlooked.
Understanding the complex relationship between waste
generation, management, and global warming is crucial
for developing effective and sustainable solutions.
Greenhouse gases are the gases in the atmosphere that
raise the surface temperature of planets such as the
Earth. Unlike other gases, greenhouse gases absorb the
radiations that a planet emits, resulting in the
greenhouse effect.
A gradual increase in the overall temperature of the
earth's atmosphere generally attributed to the
greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon
dioxide, CFCs, and other pollutants.
4. GREENHOUSE GASES (GHG):-
There are 5 gases which are mainly responsible for the Green
house Effect and Global Warming. These gases are known as
Greenhouse Gases. They are:
o Carbon dioxide (CO2)
o Methane (CH4)
o Nitrogen oxide (Nitrous oxide)
o Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC)
o Water vapour
If carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere increases steadily it
will result in increase in the present world temperature by about
3.6*C.
5. OUR FUTURE IN DANGER:-
Our future is in danger if we do not arrest global warming by
controlling by controlling emissions into the atmosphere. The
following are the effects of global warming:-
o The temperature of the world has increased dramatically as a result of
global warming. As a result, there has been an increase in glacier
melting, which has raised the sea level.
o Changes in rainfall patterns, more severe droughts, frequent heat
waves, flooding, and other extreme weather make it harder for
farmers to graze cattle and cultivate crops.
o The fragility of coral reefs has gotten worse as a result of the rise in
global temperatures.
DEPLETION OF OZONE LAYER
Significance of Ozone Layer in Atmosphere:
❖ The Ozone Layer is found in the upper part of the atmosphere called the
Stratosphere.
❖ It acts as a shield absorbing UV rays from the Sun.
❖ UV radiation can cause short- and long-term health effects on the skin.
In addition to the well-known short-term effects such as sunburn or
allergic reactions, long-term effects like skin cancer represent a chronic
health risk.
❖ Skin cancer risk is strongly correlated with the duration and frequency of
sun exposure over one’s lifetime.
Causes of Ozone Layer Depletion and Ozone Hole
Ozone Layer Depletion occurs because of natural as well as man-made
causes:
•Natural Causes: Several naturally occurring substances destroy ozone
layer. These are Hydrogen oxide, Methane, Hydrogen gas , Nitrogen oxides ,
Chlorine monoxide , stratospheric aerosols and gases from volcanic
eruptions.
•Man-made Causes: Certain industrial processes and consumer products
emit halogen source gases into the atmosphere, depleting the ozone layer.
•Ozone hole is the area of the Earth’s atmosphere where abnormal
reductions of ozone occur, it is an annual phenomenon observed during the
spring in the Polar Regions and is usually followed by a recovery during the
summer.
ACID RAIN
Acid rain is rain or any other form of precipitation that is
unusually acidic, meaning that it has elevated levels of
hydrogen ions. Most water, including drinking water, has a
neutral pH that exists between 6.5 and 8.5, but acid rain
has a pH level lower than this and ranges from 4–5 on
average.
EFFECTS OF ACID RAIN
1) Effects on Soil: It causes a change in soil composition, thus
affecting crop production. Acid rain also affects forests,
especially those at higher elevations.
2) Effects on Plants:Acid rain washes away the essential
nutrients and minerals from the soil, causing stunted growth
in plants by affecting photosynthesis.
3) Effects on Water Bodies: Acid rain makes lakes, streams,
ponds, rivers, and other water bodies more acidic. It
adversely affects aquatic life, such as freshwater shrimps,
snails, and mussels.
4) Effects on Building, Monument, and Statue: All structures,
especially those made of limestone and sandstone, are
mostly affected by the effect of acid rain. The soluble
substances in the acidic deposition get dissolved in water
and then washed away.
SOIL HEALTH
One of the most significant impacts of acid rain is soil
acidification. The influx of acidic compounds lowers
the soil pH, making it more acidic.
As soil acidity increases, it promotes the leaching of
essential nutrients like calcium, magnesium, and
potassium from the soil. These nutrients, vital for plant
growth, are washed away by rainwater, making the soil
less fertile and reducing its ability to support healthy
vegetation.
Anthropogenic activities, such as uncontrolled sewage
disposal and industrial waste, have led to pervasive soil
pollution, impacting ecosystems and human health.
Last land use, current activities on the site and nearness
to pollution sources greatly impinge the soil properties.
Substances such as pesticides, fertilizers and other
amendments have knowingly added to soil by humans.
Accidental spills and leakage of chemicals which are
used for commercial or industrial purposes have also
been an additive source of contamination.
METHODS OF SAFE DISPOSAL OF WASTE
SEGREGATION
‘Segregation of waste’ means dividing the waste into different
categories like dry and wet or biodegradable and non-
biodegradable.
Dry waste is any non-biodegradable waste that cannot be
decomposed by natural processes. This includes materials
such as plastic, metal, glass, and paper. These materials can
take hundreds of years to decompose and can harm the
environment if not disposed of properly.
Dry waste refers to non-biodegradable waste materials that
do not decompose easily but can be recycled and properly
disposed of. Wet wastes are moist materials, organic waste,
or biodegradable waste. These include materials that can be
composted and are easily decomposable by natural processes.
The waste is segregated before it is disposed of. In colonies
various types of dustbins are used to segregate glass, metals,
paper, cloth, etc., and each type is handled separately by
reusing it, recycling it or disposing it in any other accepted
waste disposal method.
DUMPING
OPEN DUMPING SANITARY LANDFILL
➢ In open dumping, waste materials are ➢ Sanitary landfill is a way of disposing
dumped in open low lands far away from refuse on land without creating
the city. nuisances or hazards to public health
➢ This method is not environment friendly and safety.
as the open pits spoil the sight of the ➢ The waste disposal is carried out with
area and become a breeding ground for minimal environmental damage and in
mosquitoes, flies, insects, etc., that are areas already spoiled or in need of
the carriers of harmful diseases. restoration.
➢ They give out foul smell. ➢ The waste is also covered daily with a
➢ The burning of waste material in the layer of soil or other materials to control
open dumps pollutes the air. smell.
➢ Reduce the spread of litter, and deter
pests.
PLANTATION AT LANDFILL SITE
Plantation at landfill sites involves planting trees and other
vegetation on areas of completed landfills, often after a cap has
been placed on the waste. This practice offers several benefits,
including stabilizing the landfill, preventing soil erosion.
A vegetative cover should be provided over the landfill site in
accordance with the following specifications:-
▪ Locally adapted non edible perennial plants that are resistant
to drought and extreme temperatures should be planted.
▪ The plants grown should be such that their roots do not
penetrate more than 30cm.
▪ Selected plants should have the ability to thrive on low
nutrient soil with minimum nutrient addition.
▪ Plantation should be made in sufficient density to minimize
soil erosion.
Landfill gases can be harmful to plants, so it's important to
choose species that are resistant to these conditions. Plantation
requires regular maintenance, including watering, weeding, and
pest control.
MUNICIPAL WASTE MANAGEMENT
Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) is the organized process
of managing all solid waste generated by a city or municipality,
including collection, storage, transportation, processing, and final
disposal.
❖ The waste is gathered from designated areas and transported to
processing facilities.
❖ Waste is moved from collection points to processing or disposal sites.
❖ Waste may be treated through methods like composting, recycling, or
incineration.
❖ The final stage where processed or unprocessed waste is disposed of
in a manner that minimizes environmental impact.
COMPOSTING
The final stage where processed or unprocessed waste is disposed of in
a manner that minimizes environmental impact.
❖ Compost enriches soil with nutrients, improves soil structure, and
enhances water retention, making it healthier for plants.
❖ Compost helps soil retain water, reducing the need for irrigation.
❖ Compost can help prevent soil erosion, especially on slopes.
❖ Composting can help create healthy ecosystems by supporting
beneficial organisms in the soil.
❖ By composting, you prevent the generation of methane, a significant
contributor to climate change.
INCENIRATION
Incineration, also known as waste combustion, is a waste treatment process
that involves burning waste materials at high temperatures.
▪ Burning waste releases various pollutants into the air, including particulate
matter, nitrogen oxides, and harmful toxins like dioxins.
▪ These pollutants can contribute to respiratory problems and other health
issues.
▪ Incineration does not eliminate waste entirely; it produces ash residue.
▪ This ash can contain concentrated heavy metals and other toxins.
WASTE TO ENERGY (WtE)
It is a method of power generation where waste materials, primarily
municipal solid waste (MSW), are burned to produce heat, which is
then used to generate steam, and subsequently, electricity.
1. Waste Collection and Preparation: Waste is collected and
sorted, with recyclable materials removed.
2. Combustion : The prepared waste is burned in a controlled
combustion chamber at high temperatures (typically 900-1100°C).
3. Heat Recovery:The heat generated from combustion is used to heat
water and convert it into steam.
4. Air Pollution Control:Flue gases produced during combustion are
treated through air pollution control systems to remove pollutants like
particulate matter, acid gases, and other contaminants.
REDUCE-RECYCLE-RECYCLE WASTE
It is a fundamental principle for sustainable waste
management, encouraging individuals and businesses to
minimize waste generation, extend the lifespan of
resources, and repurpose materials.
REDUCING THE WASTE
This involves minimizing the amount of waste generated in the
first place. This can be achieved by buying only what's needed,
choosing products with less packaging, and opting for durable
items over disposable ones.
REUSING THE WASTE
This focuses on finding new uses for materials and products that
would otherwise be discarded. Examples include using reusable
bags, water bottles, or containers, or repurposing old clothing and
furniture.
RECYCLING THE WASTE
This involves converting waste materials into new products or
materials, preventing them from ending up in landfills. This can
include recycling paper, plastics, glass, and metals.
THE INDORE MODEL OF WASTE TREATMENT ROADS FROM PLASTIC WASTE
Segregation at the source: Increased Strength: Roads with plastic waste can be up
The IMC implemented a mandatory waste segregation policy, to 100% stronger than traditional asphalt roads.
requiring households to separate waste into wet Reduced Pores: Plastic waste can reduce the number of
(biodegradable) and dry (recyclable) categories. pores in the road surface, leading to less rutting and
Door-to-door waste collection: raveling.
This ensured timely and efficient waste collection, preventing •Improved Fatigue Life: Roads made with plastic waste
littering and illegal dumping. have a longer lifespan due to increased resistance to fatigue
Public awareness and participation: and cracking.
This resulted in increased community involvement and support • Higher Resistance to Deformation and Water Damage:
for the waste management program. Plastic waste helps to improve the road's ability to
Strict monitoring and enforcement: withstand heavy traffic and the effects of water, such as
Regular inspections, fines, and incentives were introduced to
potholes and stripping.
ensure compliance with waste management rules. •Reduced Plastic Waste
BOOKS:-
➢ TOTAL GEOGRAPHY ( VOLUME 1 )
➢ A TEXTBOOK OF GEOGRAPHY CLASS 10 ICSE
LINKS:-
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