UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Segregation at source means that waste generators separate different categories of waste, such as wet and dry, before handing them over for collection. This greatly improves the efficiency of recycling,composting and safe disposal. The stem clearly refers to separation of biodegradable and non biodegradable waste at the point of generation,which is exactly segregation at source. Therefore this is the correct answer.

Option A:
Landfilling refers to final disposal of waste in engineered or open dumpsites. It occurs at the end of the waste management chain and does not describe the initial separation practice mentioned in the question.

Option B:
Incineration involves burning waste at high temperatures to reduce volume and sometimes generate energy. It is a treatment method for mixed or specific waste types,not the act of separating them beforehand.

Option C:
Recycling plants are facilities where segregated materials like paper,plastic and metal are processed into new products. Although they depend on good segregation at source,they are a downstream infrastructure element and not the behaviour described in the stem.

Option D:
Segregation at source ensures that organic waste can be composted and dry recyclables can be recovered effectively. By keeping different streams separate,it reduces contamination and environmental impacts. This explanation matches the practice highlighted in the question.