Railway Science (Environment – Environmental Wastes)

Reduce – The best way to manage waste is not to produce it. This can be done by shopping carefully, Reuse – It makes economic and environmental sense to reuse products. Example: Reusing soft drink bottles. Recycle – This is a series of steps that takes a used material and processes, remakes, and sells it as a new product.

Act related to forest and wildlife conservation - Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 , Forest Conservation Act (FCA 1980). International Day of Forest - 21 March, World Wildlife Day - 3 March, World wildlife conservation day - 4 December. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) - HQ (Gland, Switzerland).

Biodegradable wastes are those substances that degrade or break down naturally. The rate of decomposition of biodegradable waste is fast. Microorganisms like bacteria, enzymes, fungi, and others have the capability of decomposing the material into the soil.

Non-biodegradable wastes cannot be degraded by bacteria or other saprophytes. Those materials which cannot be broken down or decomposed into the soil by microorganisms and natural agents are labeled as non-biodegradable.

5 R’s of Waste Management: refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle.

Biodegradable material: Waste materials that can be broken down into simpler, non-toxic substances by microorganisms. Examples - animal waste, waste from vegetables, cattle dung, etc.

Biodegradable material includes wood, wool, Paper, cotton, animal waste or any other organic material which can be broken down into carbondioxide, methane or any other simple organic molecules with the help of micro-organisms.
Non - Biodegradable materials are substances that cannot be decomposed or broken down by microorganisms and other living organisms rather leading to pollution. Examples - Plastic bags, cans, bottles, chemicals, etc.

Non-Bio Biodegradable Waste- It is defined as a substance that cannot be decomposed or dissolved naturally and acts as a source of pollution. Ways to reduce non-biodegradable wastes: Recycling, Use of Jute bags, Reuse, etc. Biodegradable Waste- Any organic waste that can be degraded by microorganisms into simpler compounds.

Composting is a biological method for the decomposition of organic wastes. It process - can be done either in presence of oxygen or in absence of oxygen. Landfills - Garbage is basically spread out in thin layers, compressed, and covered with soil or plastic foam. Incineration - Burning of solid wastes at high temperatures. Shredding - Process of size reduction of waste material.

Trees play a crucial role in maintaining soil health and preventing erosion. The roots of trees help to bind the soil and prevent it from being washed away by rain or blown away by wind. Cutting trees destroys the habitat of animals and birds, causes floods and fires, affects the water cycle, destroys the flora and fauna, increases in carbon dioxide, thereby increasing global warming.