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The wastes include kitchen waste, papers, construction materials, old tyres, medical wastes, etc. In order to understand the severity of the problem and to work towards a solution, one must understand the types of wastes being generated.
Wastes can be classified into:
- Biodegradable Wastes -
The biodegradable wastes are those that can be decomposed by the natural processes and converted into the elemental form. For example, kitchen garbage, animal dung, etc.
- Non-biodegradable Wastes
- The non-biodegradable wastes are those that cannot be decomposed and remain as such in the environment. They are persistent and can cause various problems. For example, plastics, nuclear wastes, glass, etc.
Sources of Wastes
- Some of the most common sources of wastes are as follows:
- Domestic wastes
- Commercial wastes
- Ashes
- Animal wastes
- Biomedical wastes
- Construction wastes
- Industrial Solid Wastes
- Sewer
Domestic Wastes
It includes the wastes generated in houses. It includes paper, plastic, glass, ceramics, polythene, textiles, vegetable waste, etc.
Commercial Wastes
It includes the waste generated in commercial establishments like shops, printers, offices, godowns, etc. It includes packing materials, spoiled goods, vegetable and meat remnants, polythene, printer paper, etc.
Ashes
They come from the burning of solid fossil fuels like coal, wood and coke. Many houses and road side eateries still use these fuels. Open burning of wastes also generates ashes.
Animal Wastes
It includes the dung of the animals that are left to find food for themselves on the streets Their reject feed also add to the wastes.
Biomedical Wastes
These wastes are generated from the hospitals and include expired drugs, plastic syringes, surgical dressings, etc. They can be very infectious.
Construction Wastes
With booming population, there is also booming construction activity going on in the urban areas. They also generate garbage like metal rods, bricks, cement, concrete, roofing materials, etc. This type of wastes is also generated by the digging activites of the various departments like the telephone, electricity, drainage, etc.
Industrial Solid Wastes
Small-scale industries generate some wastes. For example, garment factory would dump textiles of various kinds.
Sewer
The sewer removed from the sewerage during cleaning is often left on the roadside. This poses several health hazards to the public.
Hazardous Wastes
Some of these wastes are also classified as hazardous wastes. Hazardous wastes are those that are potentially dangerous and can cause diseases, fire, etc. The hazardous wastes include toxic wastes. Toxic wastes are those that are poisonous in nature. Hazardous wastes are those that catch fire easily, react explosively with air or water, corrode other materials, are toxic or radioactive. The radioactive wastes are particularly dangerous as they cause lasting damage such as change in the genetic structure of individuals (mutation).
Cassava, a tuber crop is used to make biodegradable plastics
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