An Indian town generates 500 kg of solid waste per day. A new segregation and composting program reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill by 10% each year. What is the amount of waste that will be sent to landfill at the end of 3 years? Round to the nearest kilogram.

Step-by-step solution

1. Write the initial daily waste sent to landfill as $W_0=500$ kg.
2. Each year the waste is reduced by 10%, so the remaining fraction is $0.9$.
3. After one year: $W_1=500\times 0.9$.
4. After two years: $W_2=500\times 0.9^2$.
5. After three years: $W_3=500\times 0.9^3$.
6. Calculate $0.9^3=0.729$.
7. Multiply: $500\times 0.729=364.5$ kg.
8. Round 364.5 kg to the nearest kilogram, giving $365$ kg.

Concept tested: Percentage reduction in solid waste

Published 23 August 2026 · How this solution was prepared and checked

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