NCERT 6th Class (CBSE) Science: Garbage In, Garbage Out

Question: Do you think it is better to use compost instead of chemical fertilisers? Why?

Answer: Because:

1. Compost is eco-friendly and harmless. It maintains the texture and fertility of the soil.Chemical fertilisers destroy the natural composition of soil and have adverse effect on human health.
2. Composting helps in recycling of matter and also in disposal of garbage. Leaching of chemical fertilisers causes water pollution and death of aquatic organisms.
3. The production of compost is easy, cheap and harmless whereas production of chemical fertilisers is costly and problematic.

Question: What is a landfill?

Answer: A low-lying open area is called landfill.

Question: What are blue coloured bins used for?

Answer: Blue bins are used for collecting materials that can be recycled.

Question: Give example of material that can be used again.

Answer: Plastics, metals and glass.

Question: What type of garbage is thrown in green bins?

Answer: Kitchen and other plants or animals wastes.

Question: Define composting.

Answer: The rotting and conversion of some materials into manure is called composting.

Question: Explain the term vermicomposting.

Answer: The method of preparing compost with the help of redworms is called vermicomposting.

Question: What are redworms?

Answer: Redworms are a type of earthworms which help in preparing compost from the kitchen wastes and parts of plants or animals.

Question: We should not add wastes containing salts, pickles, oil, vinegar, meat and milk products in vermicomposting pit to feed the redworms. Why?

Answer: Addition of substances such as salts, oil, pickles, vinegar, meat and milk products to vermicompost pit causes growth of disease-causing small organisms. They may cause harm to redworms and hinder in preparation of vermicompost.

Question: How can the non-useful component be reused?

Answer: The non-useful components of the garbage are separated by Safai Karamcharis. This separated non-useful components of garbage is spread over the landfill and then covered with a layer of soil. Once the landfill is completely full, it is usually converted into pork or a playground. For the next 20 years or so, no building is constructed on it.