Question

‘Environmental pollution by solid wastes has now got significance due to enormous growth in the quantity of waste’.

Answer 1

1. Urban areas are generally marked by overcrowding, congestion, inadequate facilities to support the fast growing population and consequent poor sanitary conditions and foul air.
2. Solid waste refers to a variety of old and used articles, for example stained small pieces of metals, broken glassware, plastic containers, polythene bags, ash, floppies, CDs, etc., dumped at different places.
3. The discarded materials are also termed as refuse, garbage and rubbish, etc., and are disposed of from two sources:
   1. household or domestic establishments, and
   2. industrial or commercial establishments.
4. The household wastes are disposed of either on public lands or on private contractors’ sites whereas the solid wastes of industrial units are collected and disposed of through public (municipal) facilities at low lying public grounds (landfill areas).
5. The huge turnout of ashes and debris from industries, thermal power houses and building constructions or demolitions have posed problems of serious consequences.
6. Solid waste is threat to human health and cause various diseases. It creates foul smell and it harbours flies and rodents that can cause typhoid, diarrhea, malaria and other diseases.
7. Solid waste can create inconvenience rapidly if they are not properly handled wind, water and rain can spread waste and cause a discomfort to people.
8. Industrial solid waste can cause water pollution by dumping it into water bodies. Drains carrying untreated sewage also result into various health problems.