What are the problems caused by the non-biodegradable wastes that we generate?


The production and accumulation of non-biodegradable waste can cause the following problems:

(i) Clogging or blockage of drains

(ii) Ecological imbalance

(iii) Destruction of soil

(iv) Cattles can die due to ingestion of plastics

(v) Air, water and land pollution

(vi) Biological magnification due to accumulation of hazardous substances.

Biodegradable Wastes: Those waste materials which can be broken down to non-poisonous substances in nature by the action of microorganisms (like bacteria) are called biodegradable wastes.
  • They get recycled and therefore do not require dumping sites.
  • They do not cause any pollution to the environment.
  • Example: Paper, wood, etc.
Non-Biodegradable Wastes: Those waste materials which cannot be broken down into non-poisonous substances in nature are called non-biodegradable wastes.
  • They cannot be recycled easily and therefore have to be dumped, which requires a lot of space. This causes wastage of land.
  • The harmful chemicals leach out of these wastes when they are dumped on the soil. This leads to soil pollution.
  • Example: DDT, plastic, and polythene bags.

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Updated on: 06-Jan-2023

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