To process waste more efficiently, the city of Hayfield plans to revis

Question

To process waste more efficiently, the city of Hayfield plans to revise disposal methods for residual waste, which is waste from households that contains recyclable materials that have not yet been processed separately. Residual waste typically contains a mixture of biodegradable materials as well as hazardous toxins. Hayfield plans to use the latest waste-to-energy technology to convert the biodegradable materials from residual waste into energy, thereby making the most efficient use of such waste products.

Which of the following most strengthens the given plan?

A) The quantity of residual waste generated by the city is greater than that of any other kind of waste.

B) Biodegradable materials consist of over three-fifths of the total annual amount of residual waste in Hayfield.

C) Toxins found in waste products are not indistinguishable from non-toxic materials.

D) The latest waste-to-energy technology can also be used to recycle discarded materials other than residual waste.

E) The amount of waste generated by Hayfield’s industrial regions is among the highest anywhere in the country.

bunny12345 · Answer

Plan: efficient use of biodegradable waste products.
We have to strengthen this plan.

If it is proven that toxic wastes can be separated from non toxic ones then our plan of efficient use of residual waste will be successful.

C exactly points out that they can be separated. Hence our plan will work.

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bpiyush · Answer

Is n't the option B the better choice?
If 3/5ths of the residual waste generated is bio-degradable and the new waste-to-energy technology will be helpful in converting the biodegradable materials, then doesn't the option B sound better?
Experts please help

Prashant10692 · Answer

Even I chose B. Could anyone please explain why C is the answer?

arvind910619 · Answer

IMO B
Hi I think the answer is B .
We are not concerned whether the toxins can be separated from the residual waste.We want to utilise it effeciently.
B states that three fifths of waste that means we can produce energy as there will be more supply .

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bunny12345 · Answer

The point is that biodegradabe materials are mixed with toxic wastes in the residual waste. Hayfied plans to convert biodegradabe material into energy but whether it is possible to do so depends on whether the toxic wastes will cause a problem in conversion process. If we can successfully distinguish between the two, I guess the plan will be a success.

The amount of biodegradabe material present in the residual woudn't matter if we coudn't separate biodegradabe material from toxins.
Besides, the argument isn't taking about the amount of energy generated but rather the feasibility of the process. Hence B doesn't fit here

Hope it helps

Prashant10692 · Answer

Okay I got it.

This is a step by step process. 
1. The process of collection of Residual waste( Mixture of Bio Deg waste + Toxic waste).
2.Than Hay-field wants to convert this Bio Deg waste to energy.

This is only possible if the mixture can be separated.i.e If we will be able to distinguish between the Biodegradable waste and the Toxic waste.

Please correct me if I am missing something.

firfly · Answer

IMO D
Because residual waste contains
 both biodegradable and toxic waste. If waste to energy technology also converts toxins to energy then this method will be most efficient. Hence D will strengthen the argument.

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chetan2u · Answer

Hi...

The answer has to be C if you are given both the choices B and C...

What does the para say..
Lot of residual waste ...
Residual waste consists of biodegradable and hazardous toxics.
Waste to energy means biodegradable to energy..

Now let's see what each statement tells..
B) biodegradable consists of over 3/5 of total..
 Yes it will give us more 'waste to energy' and would be close 2nd choice.
But efficient use of waste product does not necessarily mean efficiency of the machine.
So if we take it as only 1/5th of total, does it mean the plan is not working....NO
 
C) Toxins are not indistinguishable from biodegradable.
 Yes, it tells us that plan will work.
Say it is not true, the plan will fall flat..
 
So C

gmatexam439 · Answer

To process waste more efficiently, the city of Hayfield plans to revise disposal methods for residual waste, which is waste from households that contains recyclable materials that have not yet been processed separately. Residual waste typically contains a mixture of biodegradable materials as well as hazardous toxins. Hayfield plans to use the latest waste-to-energy technology to convert the biodegradable materials from residual waste into energy, thereby making the most efficient use of such waste products.

Which of the following most strengthens the given plan?

A) The quantity of residual waste generated by the city is greater than that of any other kind of waste. - Doesn't matter. Even if small amount of waste can generate energy that can be used elsewhere, then the plan is a success.

B) Biodegradable materials consist of over three-fifths of the total annual amount of residual waste in Hayfield. - Same as A

C) Toxins found in waste products are not indistinguishable from non-toxic materials. - Correct. If the toxins are not distinguishable then the plan will be a failure.

D) The latest waste-to-energy technology can also be used to recycle discarded materials other than residual waste. - This is just stating an alternate purpose of the plan.

E) The amount of waste generated by Hayfield’s industrial regions is among the highest anywhere in the country. - Out of scope

aaba · Answer

Interesting question. 
As one can see, a CR question requires active reading and concentration.
A and E are out of scope.
B seems an additional evidence, but the argument is about more efficient method.
C fills the gap and directly connects with the argument.
I thought of D but I changed my mind. "other than residual waste." is not good

hellosanthosh2k2 · Answer

(C)

one reason to eliminate B.
Even though there is 3/5th of biodegradeable waste, what if such waste is indistinguishable from other hazardous toxin waste? Then how is the plan going to be efficient?

Answer (C) fills this gap and strengthens

GittinGud · Answer

How do we know if the toxins must be distinguished for the tech to work? This is an assumption. On the other hand, if most of the residual waste is biodegradable, we know the plan will work.

BradyMVP · Answer

This is a horrible non gmat question. One could easily argue that D allows for the process of waste to be more efficient because the adapted technology can be used elsewhere on other types of waste. Thus making the process more efficient. Can maybe make a halfway case for B as well

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piyushluniya · Answer

Hi  egmat   bkpolymers1617   GMATNinja 
I feel the wording in the question is incorrect, because of which many people are getting confused.
In the last line of the paragraph, it says "thereby making the most efficient use of  such waste  products"
Now, in the beginning of the passage several times "Residual waste" is being mentioned and "biodegradable materials" is mentioned.
So, when the last line says "such waste products", i think of "Residual waste".
If the last line stated "such materials" then i would have understood "biodegradable materials".
So, as per my reasoning, the most efficient use of "Residual waste" is when "biodegradable materials" is in large proportion in it.
so that is why i selected B as my answer.

Is my reasoning correct ?

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To process waste more efficiently, the city of Hayfield plans to revis

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