Topic: Environmental Conservation and Safety (Refuse)
Introduction
The environment is said to be safe when it is free of objects that can cause accidents, objects such as broken bottles and plates, broken furniture, drugs and medicine, slippery floor, kitchen knives, empty cans with sharp edges, broken staircases and steps.
Sewage: Refers to human solid and liquid wastes, such as urine, faeces, etc.
Refuse: Refers to waste materials that are no more in use such as kitchen waste, broken cans and bottles, paper, etc. disposed to avoid littering the environment and to make sure that they do not pose danger to life.
Picture of a Refuse Dumping site
Ways in which Communities Dispose Refuse
- Provision of dust bins with lids to keep flies and insects away.
- Burning of refuse in incinerators.
- Burying of biodegradable refuse in the ground and allowing it to decompose.
- Pouring refuse in refuse collecting vehicles provided by the government or private refuse disposal agencies.
Biodegradable and Non-Biodegradable Materials
Biodegradable materials are those materials that easily decay by the action of micro-organisms (decomposers) which act on them. They include food stuff, animal dung, plants and human faeces, weeds, leaf litter s, etc.
Non-biodegradable materials are those that do not decay by the action of micro-organisms (decomposer). They are materials such as metal scraps, broken bottles, polythene bags, pieces of iron, etc.
The Compost
Compost is a heap of decayed organic matter prepared for use on crops on farm as manure. It helps to enrich soil humus.
Compost Making
This involves keeping or dumping of organic matter into a pit and allowing it to decay. The organic matter decomposes by the action of micro-organisms such as the putrefying bacteria. Examples of such organic matter include, weeds, animal dung, waste from vegetables and plants, etc. Compost can then be referred to as organic decomposition of waste products.
