Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - JHS 2

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Identify different types of household waste and their disposal methods.
• Explain the importance of waste management.
• Demonstrate how to segregate waste at home.
• Discuss the consequences of improper waste disposal.
• Propose community initiatives to improve waste management.

Lesson summary

Welcome, students! Every day, in our homes, schools, and markets, we produce rubbish or 'borla'. Have you ever thought about where it goes after we throw it away? Piles of rubbish can make our communities look untidy and, more importantly, can cause serious sicknesses like cholera, malaria, and typhoid. Improperly managed waste can also block our gutters and lead to flooding when it rains. In this lesson, we will learn about the different types of waste we generate and explore the proper, safe, and smart ways to manage and dispose of it. This knowledge will empower us to keep our homes, schools, and Ghana clean and healthy for everyone.

Lesson notes

A. What is Waste?

Waste is any material that we discard because we no longer need it or it is no longer useful. It is also known as rubbish, refuse, or in our local parlance, 'borla'. B. Types of Waste

We can group waste based on where it comes from: Household Waste: This is all the refuse generated from our daily activities at home. Examples: Leftover food (kenkey, banku, fufu), yam and plantain peels, plastic water sachets, empty tomato paste and sardine tins, old newspapers, broken buckets, and torn clothes. Community Waste: This is waste collected from public places that we all share. Examples: Waste from markets (rotten fruits and vegetables), rubbish swept from streets, waste from lorry parks, cut grass from school compounds, and sand and silt removed from choked gutters. C. Classification of Waste

This is the most important way to sort waste. It helps us decide the best way to dispose of it. Biodegradable Waste (Organic Waste): Explanation: This is any waste that can rot and break down naturally into the soil with the help of tiny living things like bacteria and fungi. Think of it as "nature's waste". Ghanaian Examples: Yam, cassava, and plantain peels Leftover food like `waakye` or `kenkey` Mango and orange peels and seeds Corn husks Cut grass and leaves from the compound Paper and cardboard (like an old exercise book) Non-Biodegradable Waste (Inorganic Waste): Explanation: This is waste that cannot rot or decompose naturally. It can stay in the environment for hundreds or even thousands of years, causing pollution. Ghanaian Examples: Plastic bags ('polythene'), bottles (Voltic, Bel-Aqua), and water sachets Glass bottles (like from soft drinks) and broken glass Metal cans (Milo, Ideal milk, sardine tins) Old rubber slippers ('chale wote') and car tyres Styrofoam food packs ('take-away' packs)