Module 7

What This Module is About

Pollution degrades the environment for humans and other living things. Because
human actions are the major cause of pollution, we can do something to prevent or minimize
it. This is the reason why we are currently looking for modern solutions to solve the growing
problem of waste and pollution.
In the previous module, you have learned about soil conservation and protection for
the next generation to enjoy and experience. Now, let us dig deeper and learn concepts
about the types of waste and explain how it affects us as well as the environment.

This module is consisting of activities that will help develop your critical thinking skills
to have a better and deeper understanding of the planet you live in.

The following are the lessons contained in this module:

 Types of waste
 Effects of waste on human health and the environment

What I Need to Know

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

1. Describe how people generate different types of waste (solid, liquid, and gaseous) as
they make use of various resources in everyday life
2. Explain how different types of waste affect people’s health and the environment

What I Know

Pretest: MULTIPLE CHOICE:

Directions: Read and understand each item and choose the letter of the correct answer.
Use separate answer sheet of paper.

1.E-waste is being sent to landfill at three times the rate of general waste. What types
of appliances make up the greatest percentage of e-waste?
A. copper wirings C. Electrical wires and plugs
B. cellphone, cases, and gadgets D. Washing machines & air conditioners
2. Used pizza boxes should be...?
A. composted C. thrown away
B. reused D. reduced
3.What is it that we get rid of, thrown away, or do not use?
A. garbage C. waste
B. landfill D. Dirt
4. How many times can glass be recycled?
A. 5 years C. never
B. 1 month D. Indefinitely

5. What is the process of reclaiming raw materials and reusing them to create new products?
A. recycling C, reducing
B. composting D. Reusing
6. Which recycling bin does soda cans go?
A. plastic C. paper
B. metal D. none of the choices
7. How does recycling help the Earth and the environment?
A. makes more garbage C. less pollution
B. helps people make more waste D. causing less garbage
8. Which of the following items should NOT be put in a compost?
A. plastic containers C. leaves
B. food scraps D. wood clippings
9. What is termed as the conversion of organic waste into a substance that helps make
the soil healthier?
A. incineration C. composting
B. recycling D. biodegration
10. Which is NOT considered hazardous waste?
A. car battery C. electronic devices
B. clothing D. auto fluids
11. What can you recycle?
A. paper, plastic, glass, metal C. dirty diapers
B. food D. hair
12. What is recycling?
A. wasting stuff C. making clothing
B. reusing items D. buying more
13. Which of the following materials is non-biodegradable?
A. plants B. plastic C. banana peel D. Paper
14. What does reduce mean?
A. using more B. using less C. save the Earth D. waste
15. Why are composting and recycling beneficial?
A. reduces amount of waste C. increases waste
B. makes us rich D. because our parents

What’s In

Activity #1: Identifying Biodegradable and Non-Biodegradable Waste

Identification. Label B if it is a Biodegradable waste and NB if it is a Non-biodegradable
waste.

___ 1. Hair ___6. AA battery

___2. Plastic bottles ___7. vegetables
___3. Skin of fruits ___8. metals
___4. Papers ___9. Fabrics/cloth rags
___5. Milk tea bottle ___10. Cardboard box
By knowing how to identify non-biodegradable and biodegradable waste, we can now move
on onto how we, humans, generate waste as we make use of different resources we have.
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 What’s New

Activity #2: Checklist

Directions: Check which of the following activities you follow and answer the
corresponding guide questions in 2-5 sentences.

Bringing an eco bag when going to the market or the malls.

Making a compost heap in the backyard.
Re-using papers by utilizing the clean back portion.
Donating my families’ clothes to the less fortunate.
Segregating our trash at home.
Using my tumbler for refilling my water and lunch box when buying a
viand in the canteen
Minimal use of disposable plates, utensils, and cups during family
events.
Making toys or something useful out of recyclable materials.
Refusing the plastic straw in shops when buying milktea or
other drinks.
Growing our own vegetables and fruits in our own backyard

Guide Questions:

1. How many of those environment friendly activities have you done? Why
do you practice this?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

2. How important are these simple things we do for our environment?

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

What Is It

LESSON 13: Types of Waste

In some parts of Cagayan de Oro, flooding is expected whenever there is strong rain
and winds. The aftermath of the flooding will have exposed another problem: poor waste
management and the clean-up of the streets due to garbage carelessly thrown everywhere.
Read the article below to know more about it.

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 It could not be simpler than this: The recent flooding in Cagayan de Oro
exposed the city’s lack of appropriate drainage facilities.

Of course, an abundance of reasons could be easily factored in such as the

obviously too much amount of rainwater, which apparently fell during a high tide
along Macajalar Bay. Distinctly though, one element that caused severe clogging
in the constricted waterways was the usual suspect: garbage.

At first glance, irresponsible dumping of trash could easily be attributed to the lack
of discipline among residents in the spot, in the larger scale; however, it
undeniably exposes the locality’s lack of efficient garbage collection and waste
disposal scheme.

Section 10. Role of LGUs in Solid Waste Management says that segregation and
collection of solid waste shall be conducted at the barangay level specifically for
biodegradable, compostable, and reusable wastes: provided that the collection
of nonrecyclable materials and special wastes shall be the responsibility of the
municipality or city.

Source: https://mindanaogoldstardaily.com/waste-management/

Waste is anything that we get rid of, throw away or do not use. While some items
inarguably cannot be used again, many are tossed before their time. Today, waste is a huge
problem, affecting every part of our environment, from our waterways to our atmosphere, our
grassy fields to our forests, our plants to people. Waste are broken down into four parts as
written below:

Four Different Types of Waste Generated by Humans

1. Liquid Waste
Liquid waste is commonly found both in households as well as in industries. This
waste includes dirty water, organic liquids, wash water, waste detergents and even
rainwater. Wastewater may also contain organic substances and nutrients that are of value
to agriculture or may be hazardous die to the chemicals or pathogens it contains like liquid
waste blood from hospitals.

2. Solid Waste

Solid waste can include a variety of items found in your household along with
commercial and industrial locations.

 Plastic waste – This consists of bags, containers, jars, bottles and many other products
that can be found in your household. Plastic is not biodegradable, but many types of
plastic can be recycled.
 Paper/card waste – This includes packaging materials, newspapers, cardboards and
other products.
 Tins and metals – appliances, product packaging, paint cans
 Ceramics and glass – figurines, jalousie, wine, or liquor bottles. Glass can be
recycled indefinitely.
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3. Organic Waste

Organic waste is another common household. All food waste such as raw peelings
and stems, garden waste such as grass clippings, branches, and leaves; manure and rotten
meat are classified as organic waste. Over time, organic waste is turned into manure by
microorganisms. However, this does not mean that you can dispose them anywhere.

Organic waste in landfills causes the release of greenhouse gases like methane, so
it must never be simply discarded with general waste.

4. Hazardous Waste

These wastes CANNOT be disposed of in regular garbage. Any product which is

labeled WARNING, CAUTION, POISONOUS, TOXIC, FLAMMABLE, CORROSIVE,
REACTIVE or EXPLOSIVE should be considered hazardous. For example, buried wastes
can filter down through the soil and contaminate groundwater. Plumbing systems can be
damaged when corrosive chemicals are put down the drain. Burning hazardous wastes
simply distributes them over a larger area and releases them into the air. Pouring hazardous
liquids on the ground can poison soil, plants and water.

Examples of theses wastes are batteries, fluorescent bulbs, electronics and small
appliances, oil, gasoline, and auto fluids.
LESSON 14: Impacts of Waste to Human Health and Environment

The waste humans generate has been detrimental to the environment for quite some
time now. Humans are generating too much trash and cannot deal with it in a sustainable
way. Waste that is not biodegradable and cannot properly be recycled is filling our oceans
and landfills, thus killing wildlife animals. If we are not careful, it will soon be the reason of
our demise.
At the end of this lesson, we will tackle how waste affects people’s health and the
environment.

Health impacts of Improper Waste Disposal

Modernization and progress have had its share of disadvantages and one of the main
aspects of concern is the pollution it is causing to the earth – be it land, air, and water. With
increase in the global population and the rising demand for food and other essentials, there has
been a rise in the amount of waste being generated daily by each household. This waste is
ultimately thrown into municipal waste collection centers from where it is collected by the area
municipalities to be further thrown into the landfills and dumps. However, either due to less
resources or inefficient practices, not all of this waste gets collected and transported to the final
dumpsites. If at this stage the management and disposal is improperly done, it can cause serious
impacts on health and problems to the surrounding environment.

Waste that is not properly managed, especially excretions and other liquid and solid
waste from households and the community, are a serious health hazard and lead to the spread of
infectious diseases. Unattended waste lying around attracts flies, rats, and other creatures that in
turn spread disease. Normally it is the wet waste that decomposes and releases a bad odor. This
leads to unhygienic conditions and thereby to a rise in the health problems.

Waste dumped near a water source also causes contamination of the water body or the
ground water source. Direct dumping of untreated waste in rivers, seas, and lakes results

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in the accumulation of toxic substances in the food chain through the plants and animals that
feed on it.

Disposal of hospital and other medical waste also requires special attention since this
can create major health hazards. This waste generated from the hospitals, health care
centers, medical laboratories, and research centers such as discarded syringe needles,
bandages, swabs, plasters, and other types of infectious waste are often disposed with the
regular non-infectious waste.

Environmental impacts of Improper Waste Disposal

Methane – a big factor of Climate Change

A major environmental concern is gas release by decomposing garbage. Methane is

a by-product of the anaerobic respiration of bacteria, and these bacteria thrive on landfills
with high amounts of moisture. A second problem with these gases is their contribution to
the enhanced greenhouse gas effect and climate change. Methane comes from two main
sources: biological and geological. Biological methane can be released from decay of
organic waste, whereas geological sources include natural seeps from fossil fuels and leaks
from natural gas and coal mining operations.

Loss of Biodiversity

Demands for new landfill sites results in the clearing of large amounts of vegetation
and alterations to the natural environment. This can displace hundreds and thousands of
species which live in the surrounding habitat. Over time, excessive land clearing can result in
extinction of many species and a significant loss of biodiversity.

Pollution

If a landfill site is not properly managed, a toxic pollutant known as leachate can
escape into the surrounding groundwater, causing environmental problems for plants and
animal living nearby. Leachate is a liquid pollutant caused by waste breaking down that
contains high levels of heavy metals, chemical compounds, pesticides, and solvents which
filter down into the bottom of a landfill site. The growing level of waste generation can
increase the risk of leachate production.

How can we eliminate waste and help the environment?

We can help by learning about and practicing the three R’s of waste management:
Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Practicing all three of these activities every day is not only
important for a healthy environment, but it can also be fun too. Everyone can become a key
player in making our world a safe and healthy place.

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REDUCE
Reducing waste is a matter of planning ahead. In the case of food, for example, there
are many ways to reduce waste.

 Only buy what you need

 Bring your water bottle to school/anywhere you go rather than buying water that
comes in plastic bottles.
 Bring your eco bag, lunch box, and food containers when buying food
from carenderias or restaurants.
 Start a compost pile in the backyard. That way, instead of heading to landfill where it
will not decompose for hundreds of years, food gets a second life as a great
fertilizer. You can then use your garden to grow food and avoid having to buy fruits
and vegetables that come in packaging.

REUSE

 Shop secondhand. It helps others make money off their unwanted items. At the same
time, it keeps old items out of the landfill and saves the resources and energy
needed to make new ones.
 Be creative. For example: turning unused mason jars into decorative ornaments at
home, sew some old jeans into an apron, etc.
 Turn used paper into art supplies or scrap paper for making shopping lists.

RECYCLE

Do not just toss everything in the trash. Lots of things (like cans, bottles, paper, and
cardboard) can be remade into either the same kind of thing or new products. Making new
items from recycled ones also takes less energy and fewer resources than making products
from brand new materials.

Here is a list of things you may be able to recycle

 Aluminum cans

 Cardboard

 Electronic equipment
 Glass (particularly bottles and jars)

 Magazines/Newspaper

 Metal
 Paper

 Plastic Bags & Bottles

 Steel Cans

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 What’s More

Activity #3: How Humans Generate Waste

Directions: Look around your house or your neighborhood. On the first column, list down the
different waste in the household or your neighborhood. On the second column, write how
humans generate these.

Types of Waste List of Items How Humans Generate These

Waste
Liquid
Ex: used cooking oil We use cooking oil for frying our
food

Solid

Organic

Hazardous

Activity #4: Reflection Writing

Directions: Answer the following questions in 3-5 sentences. Make it straight to the
point. Write legibly. (5 points)

1.After knowing about how humans generate waste in everyday life, what will you do
to reduce the build-up of waste? Cite concrete examples.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

2.What types of solid waste do you produce in your home? What could be done to each
type and what goes to the disposal site or dumpsite?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

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Activity #5: Fill in the Table
Directions: Fill out the table below with the necessary information. You may write in
sentence or bullet form. Refer to the example below.

Types of How are these Effects on Human Effects on the Ways to Eliminate
Waste wastes Health Environment
Generated?
Solid Used plastic bags Inhalation of Plastic is a toxic Using ecobags or
from the market microplastics if not pollutant to bayong when going
and other stores disposed properly, humans, plants, and to the market.
causing lung animals.
problems

Liquid

Solid

Organic

Hazardous

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 What Have I Learned

 Waste is anything that we get rid of, throw away or do not use. There are four types of
waste, namely: solid, liquid, hazardous, and organic.
 The waste humans generate has been detrimental to the environment for quite some
time now. Humans are generating too much trash and cannot deal with it in a sustainable
way. Waste that is not biodegradable and cannot properly be recycled is filling our
oceans and landfills, thus killing wildlife animals. If we are not careful, it will soon be the
reason of our demise.
 We may imagine our impacts as ‘human-in-nature’—polluting oceans, stripping
mountains—but do not forget, nature is also present within daily human life. Even in our
urban spaces, nature is embedded all around us, from the cotton in our clothes to the
wood in our furniture.
 Though we people have caused grave imbalances in nature that now threaten us, we
believe that people also have the capacity to make meaningful change for or only home
and all those who share it. Let’s not forget that we are all deeply interconnected with
nature, and that we, too, can be heroes for the planet in our own ways!

What I Can Do

Activity #6: Research Activity

Direction: Using different resources (internet, books, TV documentaries, Youtube videos,
newspapers, etc), find out different countries’ waste management strategy. Fill out the last
column with the advantages of the programs. Fill out the guide question below.

Country Waste Management Program Advantages

Example: Methane Recovery From Waste Methane gases from the landfills
Management Project are being converted into
Philippines electricity.
Sweden

Germany

South Korea

Singapore

Netherlands

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1. What country do you like best with regards to their waste management program? Why?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Activity #7: Journal Writing

Directions: Learn the value of your thoughts! Answer the following questions like you write
on your diary or journal. Write your thoughts in more five sentences or more. Expound your
ideas and be creative. Write legibly. You may use another sheet of paper.

1. Why is it important to reduce, reuse, and recycle?

2.What are the five ways our house or school could start recycling?

3.How could saving the environment make people healthier?

4.How can you teach people about proper waste segregation?

5.What policies could our city or municipality make to encourage waste segregation?

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Activity #8: Ecobrick Making

Directions: You are going to make an Ecobrick using PET bottles with loose non-
biodegradable waste. The bigger bottle, the more points you gain. Make sure to use existing
non-biodegradable waste for this project. Used Follow the directions below.

What is an EcoBrick?

An Ecobrick is a plastic bottle stuffed tightly with clean and dry non-recyclable
materials. EcoBrick is a suitable building block for any construction such as garden spaces,
walls, and full-scale buildings. These bottles have been used around the world for over 20
years as an insulative building brick. EcoBricks are also used to make colorful furniture.

EcoBrick is a sustainable way to reuse non-biodegradable plastic waste to keep

plastic out of the ecosystem and prevents the contamination of the environment. Making
EcoBricks is not encouraging the use of plastic but rather temporarily storing them as we
humans, figure out a way to cut plastic out of our lives altogether.

Doing EcoBricks is simply forming a habit of rather than throwing our garbage in the
trash can, just put it in a disposable bottle. This is an easy way to make a small impact.

Materials:
 1L or 1.5L PET bottle
 Long stick (wooden)
 Dry non-biodegradable waste

Assessment: (Post-Test)
Multiple Choice. Answer the question that follows. Choose the best answer from
among the given choices.
1.E-waste is being sent to landfill at three times the rate of general waste. What types
of appliances make up the greatest percentage of e-waste?
A. copper wirings C. Electrical wires and plugs
B. cellphone, cases, and gadgets D. Washing machines & air conditioners
2.
What is it that we get rid of, thrown away, or do not
use?
A. garbage C. waste
B. landfill D. Dirt

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3. What is the process of reclaiming raw materials and reusing them to create new products?
A. recycling C, reducing
B. composting D. Reusing
4. How does recycling help the Earth and the environment?
A. makes more garbage C. less pollution
B. helps people make more waste D. causing less garbage
5. Which of the following items should NOT be put in a compost?
A. plastic containers C. leaves
B. food scraps D. wood clippings
6. What is termed as the conversion of organic waste into a substance that helps make
the soil healthier?
A. incineration C. composting
B. recycling D. biodegration
7. Which is NOT considered hazardous waste?
A. car battery C. electronic devices
B. clothing D. auto fluids
8. What is recycling?
A. wasting stuff C. making clothing
B. reusing items D. buying more
9. Which of the following materials is non-biodegradable?
A. plants B. plastic C. banana peel D. paper
10. Why are composting and recycling beneficial?
A. reduces amount of waste C. increases waste
B. makes us rich D. because our parents say so
11. What possible wastes could be widely generated in hospitals?
A. food scraps, plastic containers C. grass cuttings, animal manure
B. blood samples, plastic syringe D. paper plates, plastic cups
12. Jaco, a Grade 11 student, threw his old electronic devices carelessly. What could be the
consequence of his action?
A. Nothing would happen to his trash.
B. The garbage collectors will collect his trash.
C. Toxic metals in his electronics will be retrieved, thus harming the atmosphere.
D. None of the above
13. What possible consequences could arise if we throw our trash everywhere?
A. Climate change
B. Human health would deteriorate
C. Loss of biodiversity of plants and animals
D. All of the above
14. Why shouldn’t we throw biodegradable trash carelessly?
A. Lack of oxygen causes the production of methane
B. Trash would undergo aerobic respiration with the presence of bacteria
C. Lack of methane gas causes the production of harmful oxygen
D. Trash would undergo aerobic respiration with the presence of fungi
15. Which of the following situation would be best done to address waste?
A. Buy local goods C. Avoid eating too much meat
B. Reduce, reuse, recycle D. Shop secondhand always
16. Why are composting and recycling beneficial?
A. reduces amount of waste C. increases waste
B. makes us rich D. because our parents

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References

Master Your Waste Management in 5 Simple Steps - 4 Waste ... (n.d.). Retrieved
June 2, 2020, from https://4waste.com.au/skip-bins/master-your-waste-
management-in-5-simple-steps/

Schoenberg’, J. (2020, April 22). Earth Day Writing Prompts. Retrieved May 20,
2020, from
https://www.journalbuddies.com/journal_prompts__journal_topics/earth-day-
journaling/

Aquarium.co.za. 2019. How To Make An Ecobrick: The First Step In Eliminating Non-
Recyclable Waste At Home. [online] Available at:
<https://www.aquarium.co.za/blog/entry/how-to-make-ecobricks-reducing-
waste-at-home> [Accessed 28 May 2020].

4 Waste Removals Pty Ltd. 2016. There Are 5 Types Of Waste, Do You Know Them
All? - 4 Waste Removals. [online] Available at:
<https://4waste.com.au/rubbish-removal/5-types-waste-know/> [Accessed 30
May 2020].

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