Grade

11
Self-Learning Module in EARTH SCIENCE
Lesson: Waste
Quarter: I Week: 6&7 Day and Time:

Learning competencies:
a. Describe how people generate different types of waste (solid, liquid, and gaseous) as
they make use of various resources in everyday life
b. Explain how different types of waste affect people’s health and the environment
Learning Tasks:
Study Notebook
✓ Pre-Test (1-2) Activity Sheet
✓ Post-Test (5) Activity 1: page 3

I. INTRODUCTION
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.

In this module, you are expected to attain the following:

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

PRE-TEST
Choose the letter that corresponds to the best answer.
1.What is it that we get rid of, thrown away, or do not use?
A. garbage B. Dirt C. Landfill D. waste
2. How many times can glass be recycled?
A. 5 years B. 1 month D. Indefinitely C. never
3. What is the process of reclaiming raw materials and reusing them to create new products?
A. recycling B. composting C. reducing D. Reusing
4. Which recycling bin does soda cans go?
A. plastic B. metal C. paper D. none of the choices
5. 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
6. Which of the following items should NOT be put in a compost?
A. plastic containers B. food scraps C. leaves D. wood clippings

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7. What is termed as the conversion of organic waste into a substance that helps make the soil healthier?
A. incineration B. recycling C. composting D. biodegration
8. Which is NOT considered hazardous waste?
A. car battery B. clothing C. electronic devices D. auto fluids
9. What can you recycle?
A. paper, plastic, glass, metal B. food C. dirty diapers D. hair
10. What is recycling?
A. wasting stuff B. reusing items C. making clothing D. buying more
_________________________________________________________________________________
III. A. DISCUSSION OF CONCEPTS
Lesson 1: Types of Waste
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.
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.
Waste water 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.
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.

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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

LESSON 2: Impacts of Waste to Human Health and the 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 be 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.
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 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 noninfectious waste.

Environmental impacts of Improper Waste Disposal

a. 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.

b. 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.

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 c. 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.

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 won’t 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
Don’t 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

POS-TEST
Choose the letter that corresponds to the best answer.
1.What is it that we get rid of, thrown away, or do not use?
A. garbage B. landfill C. waste D. Dirt
2. What is the process of reclaiming raw materials and reusing them to create new products?
A. recycling B. composting C. reducing D. Reusing

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3. 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
4. Which of the following items should NOT be put in a compost?
A. plastic containers B. food scraps C. leaves D. wood clippings
5. What is termed as the conversion of organic waste into a substance that helps make the soil healthier?
A. incineration B. recycling C. composting D. biodegration
6. Which is NOT considered hazardous waste?
A. car battery B. clothing C. electronic devices D. auto fluids
7. What is recycling?
A. wasting stuff B. reusing items C. making clothing D. buying more
8. Which of the following materials is non-biodegradable?
A. plants B. plastic C. banana peel D. paper
9. Why are composting and recycling beneficial?
A. reduces amount of waste C. increases waste
B. makes us rich D. because our parents say so
10. 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

ANSWER KEY
10. A 10. B
9. B 9. A
8. C 8. B
7. A 7. C
6. D 6. A
5. B 5. D
4. A 4. B
3. D 3. A
2. C 2. D
1.A 1.C
POST-TEST PRE-TEST

III. REFLECTIVE ASSESSMENT

1. What concepts or skills did you learn well?

2. What concepts or skills was difficult to understand?

3. What activities did you enjoy the most?

4. What activity was hard to execute?

5. Did you ask help from your teacher? (Yes or No).

If Yes, did you immediately receive the needed assistance?
Was the given assistance helpful for you to understand better the lesson?

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 ROSALES NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
SENIOR DEPARTMENT
Don Antonio Village, Rosales, Pangasinan

INSTRUCTION: Detach and submit this Worksheet together with the activity sheets.

WORKSHEET
Name:
Subject: EARTH SCIENCE (Q2)
Grade/Section:
Subj. Teacher: Week:

I. FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

Test/Activity Score
A. Pre-Test (1-2)
B. Post-Test (8)
II. SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Directions: Find fifteen (15) words related to the lesson about waste by highlighting. List
down the 15 words you found and define/describe the meaning of each word.

1.____________
2.____________
3.____________
4.____________
5.____________
6.____________
7.____________
8.____________
9.____________
10.___________
12.___________
13.___________
14.___________
15.___________