Which organelle contains enzymes that digest waste materials and cellular debris?

• A. Ribosome
• B. Vacuole
• C. Lysosome
• D. Peroxisome

Answer: (C)

Digesting waste materials and cellular debris inside the cell is the function of the lysosome. It is a membrane-bound organelle filled with hydrolytic enzymes that break down macromolecules, damaged organelles, and other debris. The interior is acidic, which helps these enzymes work efficiently, and lysosomes fuse with vesicles carrying waste to digest their contents for recycling. Ribosomes are involved in protein synthesis, not digestion. Vacuoles mainly store water, nutrients, and waste, with digestion playing a secondary or plant-specific role. Peroxisomes handle oxidation of fatty acids and detoxification, not the primary breakdown of cellular debris. So lysosomes are the organelles responsible for waste digestion.