Solid Waste Management MCQ with answer and solution

Concept

Thermal destruction of hazardous infectious waste through high-temperature combustion.

Step-by-step solution

1. Identify the nature of biomedical waste as infectious and hazardous. 2. Evaluate treatment options: Composting (organic waste), Landfilling (municipal solid waste), Shredding (recyclables/plastics pre-treatment), and Incineration (infectious/biomedical waste). 3. Conclude that incineration is best suited for destroying pathogens and toxic elements completely.

Explanation

Biomedical waste contains infectious, pathological, and sharp materials that pose serious health and environmental hazards. Incineration is the most effective and widely recommended thermal treatment method to destroy pathogens, reduce waste volume, and eliminate hazardous characteristics safely.

Why the other options are wrong

A: Composting is meant for biodegradable organic waste, not infectious medical waste. C: Landfilling is generally used for non-hazardous municipal solid waste after proper treatment. D: Shredding is a size-reduction technique, not a complete disposal or treatment method for infectious waste.

Shortcut

Biomedical waste always points towards thermal treatment / incineration in civil engineering exams.

Common mistake

Confusing biomedical waste disposal with general municipal solid waste landfilling.