Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - JHS 3
WASTE MANAGEMENT
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WASTE MANAGEMENT
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Subject: Science
Class: JHS 3
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 5
Grade code: B9.5.1.1.1
Strand code: 5
Sub-strand code: 1
Content standard code: B9.5.1.1
Indicator code: B9.5.1.1.1
Theme: HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Subtheme: WASTE MANAGEMENT
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Waste management is the scientific and organised way of handling waste to protect human health and the environment. In Ghana, poor waste handling can lead to cholera and typhoid outbreaks, blocked gutters and flooding (especially in rainy seasons), bad odour, pests (flies, rats), and pollution of water bodies. Scientific methods such as recycling, composting, sanitary landfilling, and incineration help reduce these problems and can also create jobs and income (e.g., plastic collection and recycling, compost sales).
2.1 Meaning of Waste and Waste Management Waste: Any material that is no longer needed and is discarded. Examples: food leftovers, sachet water rubbers, paper, broken buckets, used batteries. Waste management: The scientific process of collecting, sorting, treating, recycling, and disposing waste to reduce harm to humans and the environment. 2.2 Types of Waste (Important for choosing the right method) Biodegradable waste: Can be broken down by microorganisms (bacteria and fungi). Examples: food scraps, leaves, paper (often biodegradable), animal droppings. Non-biodegradable waste: Does not easily decompose. Examples: plastics, glass, metals, nylon, polythene. Hazardous waste: Can cause harm due to toxicity, sharpness, infection, or chemicals. Examples: used batteries, broken glass, expired medicines, used sanitary pads, laboratory chemicals. 2.3 Scientific Methods Used in Waste Management (Identify + Explain Principles) A. Recycling Meaning: Processing used materials to make new products.
Examples in Ghana/schools: Collecting plastic bottles and sachet rubbers for recycling companies. Reusing paper for rough work or making briquettes (where available). Scraps of metal sold to scrap dealers.
Scientific principles behind recycling: Conservation of materials and resources: Recycling reduces the need to extract new raw materials (e.g., bauxite for aluminium, crude oil for plastics). Energy saving: Making products from recycled materials often uses less energy than producing from raw materials. Separation by physical properties: Sorting uses differences in magnetism (iron/steel), density (some plastics float), size (sieving), and colour/appearance.