Question

Which of the following statements is/are true regarding the disposal of solid wastes?
I. Open burning dumps were introduced as substitutes to sanitary landfills
II. Wastes dumped in sanitary landfills are covered with dirt everyday
III. Sanitary landfills have provided a permanent solution to the problem of increasing waste generation

• A. I and II
• B. II and III
• C. Only II
• D. Only III

Answer 1

The correct option is C Only II

Municipal solid wastes include all the wastes generated from homes, offices, stores, schools, etc. that are collected and disposed off by the municipality. This is done by burning them in open dumps but this is not preferred as the wastes often do not burn completely leading to air pollution. Open dumps also serve as breeding grounds for flies and rats. In an attempt to overcome the problem, sanitary landfills were introduced as substitutes to open burning dumps.
Thus statement I is false.

In sanitary landfills, the solid wastes are subjected to compaction and then dumped into trenches in the ground. These trenches are covered with dirt everyday. Thus statement II is true.

Even sanitary landfills do not provide a permanent solution to the problem of solid waste disposal. With increasing population and rapid urbanisation, the rate of waste generation has become so high that most sanitary landfill sites have been filled up. Besides this, another concern related to sanitary landfills is that chemicals seeping from the wastes buried in the landfills are polluting the underground water resources. Thus statement III is false.