Level: JHS, Basic 7 | Subject: Integrated Science | Strand: Humans and the Environment | Topic: Waste Management
Curriculum reference: NaCCA Basic 7 Integrated Science, Strand 5 (Humans and the Environment). Written from the standard NaCCA topic list. Please check against the curriculum PDF.
1. What is Waste?
- Waste is any material that is no longer useful and is thrown away.
- Waste can be solid (plastic, paper, food scraps), liquid (dirty water, oil) or gas (smoke from burning).
2. Types of Waste
| Type | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Biodegradable | Rots naturally with the help of microbes | Food scraps, leaves, paper, cow dung |
| Non-biodegradable | Does not rot easily | Plastic bags, sachet water plastic, glass, metal cans |
| Hazardous | Harmful to health and the environment | Used batteries, chemicals, hospital waste, e-waste |
3. Effects of Poor Waste Management
- Choked gutters cause flooding, as in parts of Accra during heavy rains.
- Rubbish heaps breed flies, mosquitoes and rats, which spread cholera, malaria and typhoid.
- Plastic waste pollutes rivers, the sea and farmland, and harms fish and animals.
- Burning waste pollutes the air and causes breathing problems.
- Bad smell and ugly surroundings.
4. Ways of Managing Waste (The 3Rs and more)
- Reduce: buy and use less, avoid unnecessary plastic.
- Reuse: use bottles, containers and sacks again.
- Recycle: turn waste into new products, such as plastic into pavement blocks.
- Composting: turn food and plant waste into manure.
- Sanitary landfill: burying waste in a well-prepared pit that is covered.
- Incineration: burning waste at a controlled high temperature.
- Sort waste into bins and use refuse collectors.
Remember: Reduce, reuse and recycle. Never throw waste into gutters or rivers.
Ready to practise?
Education Always (education.inspiringalways.com). Original notes written to follow the NaCCA Basic 7 Integrated Science curriculum.