MCQs with answers on the topic “Urban Waste Management: Challenges and Solutions” 

1. What is the primary source of municipal solid waste in urban areas?

• A) Industrial waste
• B) Household waste
• C) Agricultural waste
• D) Construction debris Answer: B) Household waste

2. Which of the following is NOT a method of waste disposal?

• A) Landfilling
• B) Incineration
• C) Composting
• D) Recycling Answer: D) Recycling

3. What is the term used for the collection of biodegradable organic waste for composting?

• A) Segregation
• B) Landfill mining
• C) Waste to energy
• D) Green waste collection Answer: D) Green waste collection

4. Which of the following is a major environmental challenge caused by urban waste?

• A) Soil erosion
• B) Air pollution
• C) Water pollution
• D) Both B and C Answer: D) Both B and C

5. The concept of the “3Rs” in waste management stands for:

• A) Reduce, Recycle, Reuse
• B) Recycle, Refuse, Reuse
• C) Recycle, Reduce, Reorganize
• D) Refuse, Recycle, Reduce Answer: A) Reduce, Recycle, Reuse

6. Which of the following is the most effective waste management strategy?

• A) Incineration
• B) Waste reduction at source
• C) Dumping
• D) Landfilling Answer: B) Waste reduction at source

7. Which of the following types of waste can be composted?

• A) Plastic waste
• B) E-waste
• C) Organic waste
• D) Hazardous waste Answer: C) Organic waste

8. What is the primary goal of urban waste management policies?

• A) Maximizing landfill use
• B) Reducing waste generation
• C) Increasing industrial waste
• D) Reducing taxes on waste disposal Answer: B) Reducing waste generation

9. Which of the following is the biggest challenge to urban waste management in India?

• A) Lack of awareness
• B) High population density
• C) Inefficient waste segregation
• D) All of the above Answer: D) All of the above

10. The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in India, aim to:

• A) Promote waste segregation and composting
• B) Reduce plastic waste
• C) Reduce urban waste by 50%
• D) All of the above Answer: D) All of the above

11. Which of the following is a type of non-biodegradable waste?

• A) Kitchen waste
• B) Plastic
• C) Yard waste
• D) Paper Answer: B) Plastic

12. The practice of separating waste at the source is known as:

• A) Collection
• B) Segregation
• C) Landfilling
• D) Recycling Answer: B) Segregation

13. What is the key principle behind the concept of waste-to-energy (WTE) plants?

• A) Reducing waste generation
• B) Converting waste into usable energy
• C) Minimizing landfills
• D) Sorting waste by material Answer: B) Converting waste into usable energy

14. What is the primary issue with the practice of landfilling?

• A) High cost
• B) Soil and water pollution
• C) Limited capacity
• D) Difficulty in sorting waste Answer: B) Soil and water pollution

15. In India, which agency is primarily responsible for setting standards for municipal waste management?

• A) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
• B) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
• C) National Green Tribunal (NGT)
• D) Municipal corporations Answer: B) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

16. Which of the following materials can be recycled?

• A) Paper
• B) Plastic bottles
• C) Glass
• D) All of the above Answer: D) All of the above

17. What is one of the main environmental impacts of improperly managed waste in urban areas?

• A) Air pollution
• B) Climate change
• C) Groundwater contamination
• D) All of the above Answer: D) All of the above

18. Which of the following is a benefit of composting organic waste?

• A) Reduces greenhouse gas emissions
• B) Increases landfill use
• C) Contributes to water pollution
• D) None of the above Answer: A) Reduces greenhouse gas emissions

19. The implementation of extended producer responsibility (EPR) encourages:

• A) Producers to reduce waste generated by their products
• B) Increased waste dumping in landfills
• C) More plastic production
• D) All of the above Answer: A) Producers to reduce waste generated by their products

20. Which city in India became the first to implement a ban on single-use plastics?

• A) Bengaluru
• B) Mumbai
• C) Delhi
• D) Chandigarh Answer: D) Chandigarh

21. What is the role of public-private partnerships (PPP) in urban waste management?

• A) To develop waste treatment technologies
• B) To build more landfills
• C) To promote waste dumping
• D) To avoid recycling Answer: A) To develop waste treatment technologies

22. What does the term “circular economy” in waste management refer to?

• A) Maximizing the use of landfills
• B) Reducing waste by keeping resources in use for as long as possible
• C) Creating more waste by increasing consumption
• D) Reducing recycling Answer: B) Reducing waste by keeping resources in use for as long as possible

23. What is the main concern associated with incineration of waste?

• A) High cost
• B) Release of toxic gases
• C) Excessive energy consumption
• D) Increased air quality Answer: B) Release of toxic gases

24. What does the “Swachh Bharat Mission” aim to achieve in urban waste management?

• A) Full elimination of plastic waste
• B) Open defecation-free urban areas
• C) Improved waste segregation and disposal
• D) Reducing industrial waste Answer: C) Improved waste segregation and disposal

25. Which of the following is a sustainable solution to reduce plastic waste?

• A) Use of biodegradable plastics
• B) Recycling of plastics
• C) Banning plastic use
• D) All of the above Answer: D) All of the above

26. What is a key challenge in the waste management systems of Indian cities?

• A) High public awareness
• B) Efficient collection systems
• C) Poor infrastructure for waste segregation
• D) Limited waste generation Answer: C) Poor infrastructure for waste segregation

27. Which of the following is NOT a benefit of recycling waste?

• A) Reduces pressure on landfills
• B) Reduces resource consumption
• C) Creates jobs
• D) Increases waste generation Answer: D) Increases waste generation

28. Which of the following is the most common method of waste management in urban areas worldwide?

• A) Landfilling
• B) Incineration
• C) Recycling
• D) Composting Answer: A) Landfilling

29. What is the main purpose of promoting waste segregation at the household level?

• A) To increase the volume of waste
• B) To facilitate recycling and composting
• C) To increase landfill space
• D) To create more plastic products Answer: B) To facilitate recycling and composting

30. What role does technology play in urban waste management?

• A) Improving waste collection systems
• B) Developing waste-to-energy plants
• C) Advancing recycling processes
• D) All of the above Answer: D) All of the above