Question

Think and suggest some ways to minimise waste and pollutants at their source, taking your home as an example.

Answer 1

A lot of the waste that we generate at home is thrown into the sink or flushed down the toilet. This adds to the sewage. Sewage is generally treated before being disposed of in a water body. The same water body may be the source of water supply to the town. A few simple steps at home can minimize the strain imposed on the water supply system in cleaning the water for our use.

(i) Food, especially Indian food contains a lot of fats and oils. The leftover food items should not be thrown down the drain because they can choke the pipes when they harden. These when thrown in open drains block the soil pores, thereby decreasing their effectiveness to filter water. Therefore, such waste should be thrown in dustbins only.

(ii) Solid wastes such as used tea leaves, food remain, plastic bags, soft toys, cotton and sanitary towels should not be thrown down the drains. Such wastes block the drains. They reduce the free flow of oxygen and thus, slow down the process of degradation.

(iii) Various chemical products such as medicines, motor oils, paints, grease, machine oils and insecticides may kill water purifying microorganisms and hamper the degradation process. These should not be thrown down the drain.