Class 10 Waste Management: Safe Disposal of Waste Mock Test (ICSE)

Topics in Waste Management: Safe Disposal of Waste

• Collection, storage and transport of waste
• Segregation
• Dumping, composting and incineration
• Reduce, reuse and recycle

Waste Management: Safe Disposal of Waste practice questions with answers

1. Q1Multiple choice·1 mark
   Which of the following is a key engineering feature of a sanitary landfill used for safe waste disposal?

   1. (a)Utilizing earthworms to rapidly break down untreated municipal solid waste in open pits
   2. (b)Burning combustible waste completely in specialized furnaces at high temperatures
   3. (c)Leaving solid waste exposed to open air for natural aerobic decomposition
   4. (d)Lining the base and sides with impermeable membranes to prevent groundwater contamination
   Show answer and step marks

   1. Correct option: (d) Lining the base and sides with impermeable membranes to prevent groundwater contamination+1

   Answer: (d)
2. Q2Multiple choice·1 mark
   Which of the following best describes the practice of waste segregation at source?

   1. (a)Burying solid waste deeply in abandoned open quarries
   2. (b)Separating biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste into separate containers at the point of generation
   3. (c)Burning plastic and organic waste together in a low-temperature furnace
   4. (d)Disposing all domestic waste into a single municipal community bin
   Show answer and step marks

   1. Correct option: (b) Separating biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste into separate containers at the point of generation+1

   Answer: (b)
3. Q3Multiple choice·1 mark
   What is the primary purpose of temporary storage facilities in municipal waste management?

   1. (a)To incinerate municipal garbage without harmful emissions
   2. (b)To accumulate waste safely before bulk transportation to processing sites
   3. (c)To convert organic waste into high-grade manure
   4. (d)To permanently bury hazardous waste materials locally
   Show answer and step marks

   1. Correct option: (b) To accumulate waste safely before bulk transportation to processing sites+1

   Answer: (b)
4. Q4Multiple choice·1 mark
   Repairing a broken wooden chair instead of discarding it is an example of which principle of waste management?

   1. (a)Recovery
   2. (b)Reuse
   3. (c)Reduce
   4. (d)Recycle
   Show answer and step marks

   1. Correct option: (b) Reuse+1

   Answer: (b)
5. Q5Long answer·4 marks
   With reference to the safe disposal of municipal solid waste, answer the following questions: (a) State two major environmental hazards associated with open dumping sites. [2] (b) Explain two significant advantages of incineration over open dumping in modern urban waste management. [2]
   Show answer and step marks

   1. (a) First hazard, any one of: toxic leachate seeps down and contaminates soil and groundwater; foul odours and breeding of flies, mosquitoes and rats spread disease; burning of waste and release of methane pollute the air; heaps spoil the landscape; risk of fires at dump sites; or any other valid hazard.+1
   2. (a) Second hazard, a different one from the same list.+1
   3. (b) First advantage, explained, any one of: it reduces the volume of waste by about 80% to 90%; it destroys harmful pathogens and hazardous organic compounds; the heat produced can generate electricity or steam (energy recovery); it needs far less land than dumping; it avoids leachate contamination of groundwater; or any other valid advantage.+1
   4. (b) Second advantage, a different one from the same list.+1

   Answer: (a) Any two of: groundwater and soil contamination by leachate, foul smell and disease-spreading pests, air pollution from burning and methane, spoilt landscape, fire risk. (b) Any two of: large reduction in waste volume, destruction of pathogens, energy recovery, less land needed, no leachate.
6. Q6Long answer·4 marks
   (a) Explain the term 'composting' and state one advantage of using compost in agriculture. (b) What is meant by 'incineration'? Mention two advantages of incineration in densely populated urban areas.
   Show answer and step marks

   1. (a) Composting: the biological decomposition of organic (biodegradable) waste by micro-organisms such as bacteria and fungi, or by earthworms, into nutrient-rich manure called compost.+1
   2. (a) Advantage, any one of: it adds nutrients and humus, enriching soil fertility; it improves soil structure and moisture retention; it reduces the need for chemical fertilisers; or any other valid advantage.+1
   3. (b) Incineration: the burning (combustion) of waste materials at high temperatures in a closed furnace (incinerator), reducing them to ash and gases.+1
   4. (b) First advantage, any one of: it reduces the volume of waste by up to 90%; it needs little land, which is scarce in cities; it destroys harmful pathogens; the heat can be used to generate electricity; or any other valid advantage.+0.5
   5. (b) Second advantage, a different one from the same list.+0.5

   Answer: (a) Composting is the decomposition of organic waste by micro-organisms into manure; advantage, e.g. it enriches soil fertility (or improves moisture retention, reduces chemical fertiliser use). (b) Incineration is the burning of waste at high temperatures; any two of: large volume reduction, little land needed, destruction of pathogens, energy generation.

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