Science Class 6 – Chapter 16 -Garbage in, Garbage out – NCERT Exercise Solutions (Question-Answer)

Q1.(a) Which kind of garbage is not converted into compost by the earthworms?

Answer: The materials made up of plastics, tins, glasses, and aluminium foils are not converted into compost by the earthworms.

(b) Have you seen any other organism besides redworms, in your pit? If yes, try to find out their names. Draw pictures of these.

Answer: Yes, I have seen organisms like earthworms, small insects such as ants, millipedes, etc, are usually present in the pit.

Q2. Discuss:

(a) Is garbage disposal the responsibility only of the government?

Answer: No, it is not only the responsibility of the government. We all are responsible for garbage disposal. We should reduce the accumulation of garbage in our houses and streets.

(b) Is it possible to reduce the problems relating to disposal of garbage?

Answer: Yes, it is possible to reduce the problems of garbage by the method of scientific disposal of garbage. We should recycle waste material to get useful products and bifurcate the remaining useless waste material.

Q3. (a) What do you do with the leftover food at home?

Answer: We should preserve the leftover food in the refrigerator and use them before they get spoiled.

But, we should not eat stale food because they can create problems in the digestion such as gas formation, etc.

(b) If you and your friends are given the choice of eating in a plastic plate or a banana leaf platter at a party. Which one would you prefer and why?

  Answer: I will prefer a banana leaf platter because it can be easily disposed. It does not pollute the environment because it is environmentally friendly. 

Q4.(a) Collect pieces of different kinds of paper. Find out which of these can be recycled.

Answer: We collected different kinds of papers such as printing paper, coated paper, tissue paper, newsprint, cardboard, paper board, fine art paper, etc.

The papers that cannot be recycled are coated and treated paper, paper with food waste, paper cups, paper towels, and paper or magazines laminated with plastic.

(b) With the help of a lens look at the piece of paper, you collected for the above question. Do you see any difference in the material of recycled paper and a new sheet of paper?

Answer: Yes, I see differences in recycled paper and in the new sheet of paper i.e the new sheet of paper is usually clean, smooth, and soft. It gives smoothness during using pen over it. But the recycled paper is rough and if we see deeply, we get small particles coming out of the paper that makes paper rough and irritating to write over it.

Q5.(a) Collect different kinds of packaging material. What was the purpose for which each one was used? Discuss in groups.

Answer: We collected different kinds of packing material such as:

Paperboard Boxes: Paperboard is a paper-based, lightweight material to create custom shapes and structures to use in personalized packagings such as sweets, juices, milk, and cereal products. It comes in several grades.

Cardboard Boxes: Most products are packed in these boxes and delivered. Products are firstly wrapped in another type of packaging such as bubble wrap or foam, after that they are finally packed in cardboard boxes.

Plastic boxes: The most common packaging method in industries is plastic used for clothes storage, accessory boxes to store scarves, gloves, hats, chunky jewelry, and hosiery and we can also use it as heavy-duty plastic containers in our garage.

Polybags: These are flexible, thin, plastic film fabric that can carry a wide range of products including food items, waste, chemicals, magazines, flowers, sweets, and so on. These are durable yet lightweight, reusable, and flexible fully customized in design, style & sizes but still remain cost-effective.

Foil: Aluminium foil is used to wrap up food materials because it keeps the food warm without reacting with food. It also prevents the growth of fungi and other bacteria. Foil sealed bags are used to pack nuts, cereals, smoked fish, cheese, and cured meats are also to prevent spoilage.

Glass: Glass jars and bottles are used to store jams, honey, alcoholic beverages and food items such as pickles and peppers.

Foam: Foam is used for a variety of household items like furniture, TVs, glass, etc. to hold them compact. Cardboard is normally used after encasing the product.

Wooden Box: These are used in hardware boxes, fruit boxes etc.

Jute Bag: These are used in vegetable bags, shopping bags etc.

 (b) Give an example in which packaging could have been reduced.

Answer: Packaging of toys, clothes, shoes, or any tough and strong product which can’t be damaged in open can be reduced. For example, vegetables can be washed, so there is no need to pack them. We can use cloth bags, jute bags to reduce unnecessary packaging.

(c) Write a story on how packaging increases the amount of garbage.

Answer: Packing is used to protect the product from tampering. It maintains the product’s freshness and purity. But, the unnecessary packaging increases the amount of garbage such as dustbins that are full of biscuit and chips wrappers, shopping bags made up of plastics, etc. A large number of packaging material goes waste, and it was thrown into the dustbin.

Q6. Do you think it is better to use compost instead of chemical fertilisers? Why?

Answer: Yes, it is better to use compost instead of chemical fertilizers because:

👉Chemical fertilizers pollute the environment but compost does n’t.

👉Compost increases the fertility of the soil but chemical fertilizers are harmful to the soil.

👉Compost is biodegradable but fertilizers are not.

👉Compost is environment friendly. It cannot harm the health of humans and animals but chemical fertilizers are not environment friendly and can harm the health of humans and animals.