Q1. [3] medium initial-understanding
State two ways in which changes in modern lifestyle have led to increased generation of non-biodegradable waste.
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 00:59 · grounding rag
Model Answer
Modern lifestyle has led to increased generation of non-biodegradable waste in the following ways:
- Change in packaging: Changes in packaging have resulted in much of our waste becoming non-biodegradable. Products are increasingly packed in plastics and synthetic materials that cannot be broken down by biological processes.
- Use of disposable items: Changes in attitude have made more and more things disposable (e.g., disposable plastic cups, wrappers, medicine strips/bubble packs). These single-use items are made of human-made materials like plastics, which are not broken down by bacteria or other saprophytes and persist in the environment for a long time.
Source: Chapter 13, Section 13.2.2 — Managing the Garbage we Produce
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Explanation
- The question asks for two ways, but it is 3 marks — so both points need some elaboration (not just one-word answers).
- The textbook explicitly states: "Changes in packaging have resulted in much of our waste becoming non-biodegradable" and "more and more things we use becoming disposable" — use these exact ideas.
- Avoid copying unrelated content (like CFCs or ozone); the question is specifically about non-biodegradable waste generation from lifestyle changes.
- Examiners look for: correct identification of the lifestyle change + linking it to non-biodegradable waste. Both points must be distinct.