Which one among the following industries produces the most non- biodegradable wastes?

Thermal power plants are the largest producers of non-biodegradable industrial waste, primarily in the form of fly ash and slag. Fly ash is a major solid waste byproduct that does not decompose through microbial action and poses significant disposal challenges [2]. While other industries like food processing, paper, and textiles generate substantial waste, their outputs are predominantly organic and biodegradable [4]. For instance, food processing and paper mills rely on organic raw materials like wood, bamboo, and agricultural residues, which are naturally decomposable [5]. Textile mills do produce non-biodegradable chemical effluents and synthetic dyes, but the sheer volume of solid, non-biodegradable ash generated by thermal power houses exceeds the non-biodegradable output of the other listed sectors [2]. Consequently, thermal power plants remain the primary source of persistent industrial solid waste.

Sources

1. [1] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 5: Environmental Pollution > 5.r.r. Classifications > p. 63
2. [2] INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 9: Geographical Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems > Urban Waste Disposal > p. 99
3. [4] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589014X23002815
4. [3] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 11: Industries > PAPER INDUSTRY > p. 56
5. [5] https://mohua.gov.in/pdf/627b8318adf18Circular-Economy-in-waste-management-FINAL.pdf