Describe each waste and what will happen to these wastes when thrown away
Meal leftovers ,banana peelings, twigs, weeds, Juice cartons, plastic bottles, glass bottles, cartons, papers
What are the characteristic and what happens when it is thrown away?
Answer (1)
1. Meal leftovers • Type: Biodegradable • Characteristic: Easily rots or decomposes • What happens: Attracts pests; can cause bad odor and methane if in landfills 2. Banana peelings • Type: Biodegradable • Characteristic: Organic and decomposes quickly • What happens: Can be composted; if dumped, adds to landfill waste 3. Twigs • Type: Biodegradable • Characteristic: Plant-based, decomposes over time • What happens: Can enrich soil if composted; slow to break down in landfills 4. Weeds • Type: Biodegradable • Characteristic: Plants that can decay • What happens: May spread seeds if not handled properly; can compost 5. Juice cartons • Type: Non-biodegradable (with plastic/foil lining) • Characteristic: Hard to decompose • What happens: Takes years to break down; adds to solid waste 6. Plastic bottles • Type: Non-biodegradable • Characteristic: Very durable, doesn’t rot • What happens: Can stay in the environment for hundreds of years; recyclable 7. Glass bottles • Type: Non-biodegradable • Characteristic: Breakable but doesn’t decompose • What happens: Stays in landfills forever if not recycled 8. Cartons (e.g., cereal boxes) • Type: Biodegradable • Characteristic: Paper-based, decomposes with time • What happens: Breaks down faster than plastic; recyclable 9. Papers • Type: Biodegradable • Characteristic: Easily tears and rots • What happens: Decomposes in weeks if composted; recyclableSummary Tip for Class: • Biodegradable: Comes from nature, breaks down. (Food, plants, paper) • Non-biodegradable: Man-made, hard to break down. (Plastic, glass, foil-lined cartons)
