Garbage In Garbage Out - Class 6 Biology - Extra Questions

What is garbage? Write all the methods of garbage disposal? (5 marks)

  • Garbage, trash, rubbish, or refuse is waste material that is discarded by humans, usually due to lack of utility. Garbage includes waste materials like kitchen or food scraps, boxes, tin, wood, paper, etc. which are not of use by humans.  
  • Methods of garbage disposal:-
1. Composting and Vermicomposting - This method is useful for the disposal of biodegradable waste that can be dumped in a pit and allowed to decompose into useful manure.
2. Landfilling - A low-lying open area out of the city where garbage is collected and dumped is known as a landfill. When that area is fully covered with the garbage, it is covered with layers of soil. Now it can be converted into a park or a playground.
3. Incineration - In this method, garbage like medical waste is burnt at a high temperature in a special furnace called Incinerator. 
4. Waste Compaction - It means a smaller physical volume of the waste by compacting cans and plastic bottles into blocks.
5. Biogas Generation - Biodegradable waste can be converted to biogas by degradation with the help of bacteria, fungi, or other microbes. 


What type of garbage is thrown in green bins?

The green bins are used for collecting kitchen and other plant or animal wastes. This type of waste rots completely when buried in the soil. It includes wastes like plate scrapings, vegetable peelings, meat and bones, cooked and uncooked food, cut flowers, etc.


(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 plotter at a party, which one would you prefer and why?

(a) Leftover food at home along with other kitchen wastes is dumped into compost pit to convert it into manure. This manure can be used instead of fertilizers for growing plants.
(b) We will select banana leaf platter because leaves decompose easily to form manure through composting. Plastic plates will take years to decompose and may sometimes not decompose. Plastic plates can be recycled but during recycling, harmful gases are released which can harm and pollute the environment.


What are blue coloured bins used for?

Blue coloured bins are used for collecting materials that are recyclable. Recyclable materials include papers, newspapers, magazines, cardboard, food tins, glass bottles, and jars, plastic bottles, tetra pack packaging, etc. 


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

(a) The proper disposal of garbage is the responsibility of every citizen in the country apart from the government and local municipal corporations. To keep people healthy and to avoid the spread of diseases, a clean and garbage-free environment is necessary. This can be achieved by making sure that the garbage is disposed of in a proper manner.
(b) It is possible to reduce the problems relating to disposal of garbage by adopting the following measures:
(1) Disposal of garbage only at appropriate places like dustbins, trash cans, etc. and not at places like streets, roads, and parks.
(2) Reusable items from garbage should be separated before the final disposal.
(3) Follow the principle of 3 R's
  •    Reduce- The amount of waste we generate must be reduced by using the minimum amount of resources.
  •    Reuse- Using certain resources again and again until they become obsolete. For example- plastic bottles of jam or pickles can be used for storing things in the kitchen.
  •    Recycle- Some items from the garbage can be sent for recycling and be made into new things instead of disposing of. 


(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?

(a) Pieces of papers collected from newspaper, notebooks, magazines, etc. can be easily recycled. Plastic coated and shiny papers cannot be recycled easily.
(b) When seen through a lens, it can be observed that the surface of the recycled paper is rough whereas the surface of the new sheet of paper is smooth.


Define composting.

The process of converting plant and animal waste including that from the kitchen, into manure is called composting. The set of items that are good for making compost are egg shells, vegetable and fruit peels and tea leaves.


What will happen if garbage is left open in bin?

If garbage is left open in a bin, the following will happen:
(i) Garbage will rot and bad smell will spread all over the surroundings.
(ii) Garbage will become the breeding spot for flies, mosquitoes and other disease-causing small organisms.
(iii) Due to flies, mosquitoes and other organisms, many diseases will spread in the community.
(iv) Rotting garbage may cause air pollution and spread of respiratory disease such as breathing problems.


What are the uses of plastic? How to dispose the plastic waste? (5 marks)

  • The uses of plastic are as follows:
1) Plastic containers for storage of edible items.
2) Goods wrapped in plastic packets are waterproof and easy for transportation.
3) Plastic containers or articles which are good-looking, light in weight, cheap and durable, are used in making bags, bottle caps, toys, bottles, etc.
(iv) Plastic containers such as bottles can be used to store chemicals.

Disposal of plastic waste:-
  • We can reform waste plastic objects and convert them into useful substances. This process is recycling.
  • Broken or discarded plastic items can be melted and remoulded to form other useful substances.
  • Kabadiwallas will collect plastic waste from your home and pass it on to the recycling units. 


What can we do to reduce overuse of plastics?

$$\textbf{Solution:}$$
$$\bullet$$ To reduce the usage of plastics, we can employ the following strategies:
$$\textbf{1.}$$ When at all possible, re-use the plastic bags.
$$\textbf{2.}$$ Don't buy bottled water.
$$\textbf{3.}$$ Insist that retailers carry goods purchased in paper or jute bags.
$$\textbf{4.}$$ Instead of buying laundry detergent and dish soap in plastic bottles, buy them in cartons.
$$\textbf{5.}$$ Be prepared with your own reusable containers when picking up takeout or bringing home restaurant leftovers.
$$\textbf{6.}$$ Because frozen meals are often packaged in plastic, you should avoid buying them.
$$\textbf{7.}$$ Lunch should be packed in reusable containers and bags.



List the biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste products in your school. What are the best ways to get rid of this garbage? (5 marks)

  • The list of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste products found in a school is as follows:
Biodegradable wastes:- Fruit peels and food wastes, Loose and torn waste paper pieces, paper containers, chalk boxes, pencil scraps, dropout leaves, and twigs, human wastes, etc.
Non-Biodegradable wastes:- Plastic and polythene containers, toffee wrappers, aluminum foil, plastic-based geometrical instruments, broken glassware, broken iron wire pieces, etc.

Disposal of wastes:
  • Bio-degradable wastes can be collected and dumped in a pit in a corner inside the school compound. 
  • The pit should be covered with soil and watered. 
  • When the pit is full, a mixture of dung and clay should be laid as an outer cover for a few weeks. 
  • After a few weeks, when the garbage has turned black and no foul smell is emitted, it means the rotting of garbage is complete and compost is ready to use.
  • Non-Biodegradable wastes can either be sold off for reuse/recycle or dumped in a landfill.


What are redworms?

Redworms are a type of earthworm that helps in preparing compost from the kitchen wastes and parts of plants or animals. They are nature's ultimate composting worms and used majorly in vermicomposting.


What is papier-mache? How does it help us?

$$\textbf{Solution:}$$
$$\bullet$$ Papier-mache is a paste/compound created from waste paper pulp and clay. Textiles are also used to reinforce it, which are bound with an adhesive (glue, starch, etc.).
$$\bullet$$ It is frequently utilised in arts and crafts, as well as in building materials and numerous events.
$$\bullet$$ It's made into boxes, ornaments, and trays.
$$\bullet$$ It aids in paper recycling.



What are the demerits of plastic?

$$\textbf{Solution:}$$

The disadvantages of plastic include: 

$$\bullet$$Plastic bags thrown carelessly on highways clog drains and drainage systems. As a result, sewage water pours into the road, causing the disease to spread.
$$\bullet$$When plastics are heated or burned, toxic gases are released, resulting in air pollution and a variety of health issues.
$$\bullet$$Garbage is put into plastic bags that are left out in the open. When stray animals search these bags for food, they ingest the plastic bags along with the food.


Mention any one advantage of using disposable paper cups over disposable plastic cups. Mention the manner in which these paper cups do not adversely affect the environment.

Disposable paper cups are advantageous over disposable plastic cups as paper cups are bio-degradable and can be recycled. Whereas, plastic is harmful because it is non-biodegradable. It remains in the environment for a long period of time, causing effects like decrease in soil quality, preventing seepage of water, hindering the growth of soil microflora etc. So it is better to use disposable paper cups which can be recycled easily and therefore, does not adversely affect environment.


Describe the types of waste, based on degradation, with example.

There are two types of waste:
(i) Biodegradable                                                (ii)Non-Biodegradable    
Those which degrade                                            decompose by the action of  N decompose                                                          microbe.
mamly die to the action of microbes.
Example:Vegetable peels.                                     Example:Plastics


Read the items mentioned in Columns I and II and fill in the related process in the Column III 
Column IColumn IIColumn III
a)Organic wasteEarthwormsi) ------
b)GarbageDig pit and fill with garbageii) -------
c)Old newspaperPaper bagsiii) ------


Column IColumn IIColumn III
a)Organic wasteEarthwormsi) Vermicomposting
b)GarbageDig pit and fill with garbageii) Landfill 
c)Old newspaperPaper bagsiii) Recycling 


Write 3 sentences on what comes to your mind when you chance to see the following.
A cow eating a polythene bag.

A cow eating a polythene bag.
i. Cow is exposed to unsafe things.
ii. It may choke itself from the polythene bag.
iii. The polythene bag might also get stuck in its gut leading to cow's death. 


Name the two kinds of waste that need to be separated from each other in two different waste bins.

The two kinds of waste are - Biodegradable waste and non-biodegradable waste. The biodegradable waste is easily converted into simpler forms with the help of microbes and is used as manure. Whereas, non-biodegradable wastes cannot be converted into simpler forms but can be recycled. This is why these should be separated.


Beera, a farmer would clear his field every day, and burn dry leaves fallen on the ground. After sometime he found that those living in huts near his field were suffering from cough and breathing problems.
(i) Can you explain why?
(ii) Also suggest an environment-friendly way to dispose the dry leaves. 

(i) Burning of leaves releases harmful and toxic gases and creates a lot of smoke that causes diseases in humans and animals, that is why the people living nearby suffered from cough and breathing problems.
(ii) He can compost the dry leaves and use it as manure at his field or  for potted plants instead of burning. 


The pie charts A and B shown in figure are based on waste segregation method adopted by two families X and Y respectively. 

1801610_75c4bc5b212a453ebada534f431e0214.png

Family X is more environment friendly and aware of the effects of disposing waste materials in a wrongful manner. So, it disposes non-biodegradable waste like polythene bags and biodegradable waste like kitchen wastes separately. 


Write 3 sentences on what comes to your mind when you see a rag picker.

A rag picker
ii. On seeing a rag picker, I feel that he is poor and does not get enough food that is why  doing such work.
iii. He does his job very sincerely. He separates biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste in two different sacs.
iv. He is exposing himself to various diseases by working in such areas. 


To what use can you put - rotting smelly garbage, and how?

Rotting smelly garbage is biodegradable. Thus, it can be converted into compost. which could be used as manure in potted plants or home gardens.


Paheli was writing a letter to her friend. She crumpled and threw the first draft of her letter on the floor as it had become untidy. Similarly, she crumpled and threw 6 more papers on the ground. In the end, she picked them up and put them in a polythene bag, and threw them on the road outside her house. Do you think Paheli's actions were responsible? What would you have done if you were in her place?

No. Paheli's actions were not that of a responsible citizen. She wasted so many papers and then threw them on the road in polythene bag which causes pollution. If I were at her place I would have used rough paper for practice or would have saved the destroyed paper for latter use like decorating  etc. 


Put a tick mark against the garbage items given in the table below, that could be converted into manure. Put a cross (x) against the others.
 Garbage ItemsMake manure or not
i)Eggshells
ii)Straw
iii)Dry flowers
iv)Pebbles
v)Broken pieces of glass
vi)Nails and screws
vii)Plastic Bangles
viii)Leftover food
ix)Food cans
x)Dead Animals  

Garbage ItemsMake manure or not
i)Egg shellsYes
ii)StrawYes
iii)Dry flowersYes
iv)PebblesNo
v)Broken pieces of glassNo
vi)Nails and screwsNo
vii)Plastic BanglesNo
viii)Leftover foodYes
ix)Food cansNo
x)Dead AnimalsYes


Correct the definition of the term given below by changing only one word.
Compost: Substances converted into manure for use in industries. 

Correct definition is-
Compost: Substances converted into manure for use in agricultural fields. 


Write a note on plastic waste.

Plastic is something that we use on daily basis and has become an inseparable part of our lives. Despite its various uses, one of the major disadvantages of plastic is that it is an environmental pollutant. Plastic is considered non-biodegradable it takes quite a long time to degrade. Since plastic is non-biodegradable, its proper disposal is also important or it may lead to problems like choking of the sewage system, resulting in an overflow of drains and death of animals by consuming plastic bags.


Write 3 sentences on what comes to your mind when you chance to see the following.
Foul odour emanating from garbage at the entrance of your house. 

Foul odour emanating from garbage at the entrance of your house. 
i. Waste is being produced in large amount.
ii. We expect others to clear waste when we are also involved in it.
iii. Mosquitoes, flies are borne because of this garbage, which cause various diseases. The air is also polluted and causes diseases. 


What happens when tea leaves, cotton swabs, and old soft toys are thrown into the drain?

$$\textbf{Explanation:}$$
$$\bullet$$ If we throw wastes such as used tea leaves, cotton swabs, and old soft toys into the drains, they will absorb water, swell up and clog the drains. 
$$\bullet$$ Water in the clogged drains will not flow properly, become stagnant, and may also overflow. 
$$\bullet$$ Overflowing drains make the environment unhealthy by emitting foul smell.
$$\bullet$$ They become breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes. 

$$\textbf{Conclusion:}$$ Wastes thrown in drains clog them. We need to be careful while disposing of wastes and find ways for keeping our surroundings clean.





(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.

(a) Different kinds of packaging materials are as follows-
     (i) Plastic bags for carrying eatables, groceries, garments, etc. 
     (ii) Jute or cotton cloth bags for carrying groceries, vegetables & fruits, etc.
     (iii) Paper is a raw material used for making paper bags, card boxes & also for wrapping gift items and other stuff, etc.
(b) The packaging of food items in plastic bags can be reduced. Plastic is not good for health.
(c) Packaging materials are commonly used to protect the articles and also to make them look presentable. Gifts are generally packed and wrapped in shiny or plastic coated papers to make them attractive. After the gifts are opened, the wrapping papers are disposed of and added to the garbage. Similarly, plastic bags, cans, aluminum foils, plastic or aluminum cans, and other packaging materials are used and thrown after use. Nowadays, many day-to-day-use items like ghee, detergents, soaps, refined oil, etc. are sold in plastic packets. All these packaging materials, hence contribute to a significant percentage of garbage.


What do we do to the useful components (biodegradable) of the garbage?

The useful or bio-degradable components of garbage are used to make compost through composting. 
During composting, waste materials like fruit and vegetable peel, egg shells, used tea leaves, waste food, dry leaves, etc. are dumped in a pit. The pit is covered with multiple layers of soil. It is left in the same state for 20-25 days for decomposition to take place. After 20-25 days, if the garbage has turned black in colour and no foul smell is emitted, it means rotting of garbage is complete and compost is ready to use.


We should not add wastes containing salts, pickles, oil, vinegar, meat and milk products in the vermicomposting pit to feed the redworms. Why?

Wastes containing salt, pickle, oil, vinegar, meat and milk products cannot be used as food for the redworms in a vermicomposting pit because these items can lead to the growth of disease-causing small organisms. These small organisms may harm the redworms and hinder the preparation of compost.


(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.

(a) Non- biodegradable items like polythene bags, aluminium wrappers,  plastic products, tin foil, broken glass, etc. cannot be converted into compost by the redworms.  
(b) There are other organisms besides redworms that are used in vermicomposting. The other organisms are maggot, flies, ant etc.

769058_634810_ans_b00738881eab481c8a5db024855e0e55.PNG


Explain the management of waste of your house.

The methods of waste management in our house are:
i) Use cloth bags instead of plastic: This small measure will help us to reduce the amount of waste that we bring into our house. If we go shopping we can bring our own reusable cloth bags instead of accepting plastic bags from the store.
ii) Buy food that has less packaging: If we buy food that comes in boxes wrapped in plastic with individually-wrapped serving sizes inside, that will produce more waste. We should rice, beans, cereals, teas, spices, and other dry foods in the bulk food section of our grocery store. Store the foods in airtight glass or plastic containers when getting home.
iv) Do vermicomposting: We can make our own worm composting system.
        a) Buy dairy items in containers you can return.
        b) Buy goods from farmer's markets because they offer mounds of fresh produce that have never touched plastic and bring cloth bags to carry the purchases home.
 v) Don't use bottled drinks: Bottled water and other bottled drinks are a major source of waste in many places. Instead of using bottled water, filter the water and stored it in a jar. 
vi) Reduce paper usage: Pay the bills online instead of paying in paper bills,
read news online instead of having a newspaper delivered to the house, take measures to stop junk mail from overflowing your mailbox.


Explain the complete process of vermicomposting?


$$\textbf{Solution}$$

Vermicomposting is the process in which a particular species of earthworm is used to carry out the process of decomposition which results in the production of a better and product. This can simply be stated as the method for making compost by using earthworms.

There are certain steps which are followed during the process of vermicomposting.

$$\bullet$$ The first step is collect the biomass and get it Sun dried. The Biomass is kept in a concrete tank.

$$\bullet$$ The next step involves the sprinkling of cow dung slurry on the Biomass in order to carry out the decomposition process faster.

$$\bullet$$ Then a layer of soil is added at the bottom of the tank on which the Biomass is evenly distributed.

$$\bullet$$ After this the earthworm species are added to the mixture and it is covered by dry straws to undergo decomposition process.

$$\bullet$$ Water is sprinkled on regular basis on order to maintain the water content of the compost. After 25 days the raw material is entirely converted into vermicompost.

$$\bullet$$ This process of vermicomposting helps in nourishing and nurturing the soil with growth hormones like oxygen and also increases the fertility as well as water resistance of the soil.





Class 6 Biology Extra Questions