A good way to tackle the solid waste problem

The correct answer is recycling.

Concept:

• Waste is unusable material. Waste comes in many forms.
• Waste can be categorized as:
  • solid waste (vegetable peels, trash cans and other such municipal waste),
  • liquid waste (water discharge from industries, harmful runoff from fields etc),
  • and gaseous waste (harmful gases released from industries).

Explanation:

Solid waste management is one important challenge of urban bodies.  It can be achieved by following the 5 R's of waste management which are:

Refuse:

• Refuse the usage of non-biodegradable products as much as possible.
• Example: Refuse using plastic bags and using jute bags or cloth bags.

Reduce: 

• If users cannot be refused completely, reduce the amount of consumption.
• Example: Reducing the use of single-use plastics.

Reuse:

• As much as possible try to use a substance for as long as and in as many ways as possible.
• Example: Reuse wrapping paper, plastic bags, boxes.

Repurpose:

• For every item that can't be refused, reduced, or reused, try repurposing it.
• Example: try using wasted printer paper for scrap paper, cardboard boxes for storing supplies, binder clips to hold power cords

Recycle:  

• Recycling is the most environmentally friendly waste disposal method, which means collecting waste and producing a new product from it.
• Example: recycling of glass can be made to produce new glass jars and bottles or tiles.
• It is a good way to tackle the solid waste problem.

Important Points

Landfill dumping:

• Landfill refers to the disposal of waste material by burying it.
• It is an extended storage area for non-biodegradable waste.
• Landfills may lead to contamination from the waste entering the area surrounded by soil and water and it also causes odour and pests.
• It is not a good way to tackle the solid waste problem, as it creates additional problems and pollution of various forms.