Question 1
Three discarded materials are described below.
Identify the type of waste represented by a broken mobile phone discarded by a household.
[1]
Identify the source of manure produced by cattle farming.
[1]
Identify the type of waste represented by a used syringe that may carry pathogens.
[1]
Question 2
Waste can be classified according to its origin or its characteristics.
Distinguish between classifying waste by source and classifying waste by type.
[2]
Question 3
Define assimilative capacity and state the condition under which waste input causes pollution.
[2]
Question 4
Figure 1 compares solid domestic waste in two urban societies.
Figure 1. Solid domestic waste composition and annual waste generation in two urban societies.
| Waste component or measure | Society (lower income) | Society (higher income) |
|---|---|---|
| Organic material / % by mass | 58 | 30 |
| Paper and cardboard / % by mass | 12 | 24 |
| Plastics / % by mass | 10 | 20 |
| Glass / % by mass | 5 | 8 |
| Metals / % by mass | 3 | 7 |
| Textiles / % by mass | 4 | 5 |
| Other waste / % by mass | 8 | 6 |
| Total waste / kg person year | 240 | 620 |
Identify the largest component of the waste stream in Society L.
[1]
Calculate the mass of organic waste generated per person per year in Society H.
[2]
Describe two differences between the waste streams of Society L and Society H.
[2]
Suggest two socio-economic reasons for the differences shown in Figure 1.
[2]
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Question 5
Figure 2 shows selected waste items collected in the district of Marula.
For item P, state its source and its type of waste.
[2]
Identify the item that is both domestic waste by source and biohazardous waste by type. Outline why it requires controlled handling.
[2]
Explain why classifying waste by both source and type can improve its management.
[3]
Question 6
A local authority collects paper, glass, food waste, batteries and mixed-material packaging in the same household waste container.
Explain why separating these materials where they are discarded may increase resource recovery and reduce environmental harm.
[3]
Question 7
A municipality studied the sources and types of waste and the composition of its solid domestic waste. Figure 1 illustrates classification by source and by type using examples. Figure 2 shows the composition of the solid domestic waste collected during one month.
Composition by mass of 1.20 tonnes of solid domestic waste collected during one month.
| Waste material | Composition / % |
|---|---|
| Organic kitchen and garden material | 38 |
| Paper and cardboard | 18 |
| Plastics | 17 |
| Glass | 8 |
| Metals | 6 |
| Textiles | 5 |
| Construction debris | 4 |
| Other waste | 4 |
Using Figure 1, distinguish between the source and type of the discarded mobile phone.
[2]
Calculate the mass of organic kitchen and garden material collected during the month. Show your working.
[2]
Explain why separating waste at its source could increase the recovery of materials shown in Figure 2.
[2]
Evaluate the proposal to introduce separate household collections for organic material and all other recyclable material.
[4]
Question 8
In January 2021, the government of an island state introduced a charge on disposable shopping bags and required large stores to offer reusable bags. Figure 3 shows selected waste data before and after the policy.
Selected waste data before and after the January 2021 shopping-bag policy.
| Year | Disposable bags distributed / person | Disposable bags in beach litter / % | Other plastics / % | Glass and metal / % | Paper / % | Other litter / % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 176 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | 181 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | 180 | 24 | 36 | 12 | 16 | 12 |
| 2021 | 108 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | 72 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023 | 58 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2024 | 54 | 8 | 39 | 14 | 20 | 19 |
Calculate the percentage decrease in the number of disposable bags distributed per person from 2020 to 2024.
[2]
Describe two changes shown after the policy was introduced.
[2]
Suggest three reasons why the policy may have produced the changes shown in Figure 3.
[3]
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Question 9
The figure shows the composition of solid domestic waste collected from three societies with contrasting consumption patterns.
Identify the society with the greatest proportion of organic material in its waste.
[1]
Calculate the difference in the proportion of plastics between societies A and C.
[1]
Outline two socio-economic reasons why society C may have a greater proportion of packaging materials than society A.
[2]
Question 10
The figure shows the movement of discarded electronic equipment between two regions.
Explain one environmental impact that may occur in the receiving region.
[2]
Outline one positive and one negative social effect of this waste movement on the receiving region.
[2]
Question 11
The city of Bellara introduced a charge on disposable shopping bags in 2020 and separate collection of food waste in 2022. Figures 1 and 2 show changes in the city's domestic waste.
Figure 2. Composition of mixed domestic waste in Bellara.
| Waste component | 2018 / % | 2024 / % |
|---|---|---|
| Organic material | 44 | 31 |
| Plastics | 18 | 13 |
| Paper/cardboard | 19 | 21 |
| Glass | 7 | 10 |
| Metals | 4 | 6 |
| Textiles | 3 | 7 |
| Other waste | 5 | 12 |
Calculate the percentage decrease in mixed domestic waste per person between 2018 and 2024. Show your working.
[2]
Describe two changes in the city's waste composition between 2018 and 2024.
[2]
Explain how the two policies may have contributed to the changes shown in Figures 1 and 2.
[3]
Evaluate the effectiveness of the city's policies in reducing waste.
[4]
Question 12
A food-processing facility discharges biodegradable organic waste into the River Sava. Scientists measured dissolved oxygen downstream under four waste-input rates.
Identify the lowest tested input rate at which dissolved oxygen falls below the ecological-quality threshold.
[1]
Describe the relationship between organic-waste input and minimum dissolved oxygen.
[2]
Explain why a highly biodegradable waste can cause pollution when its input exceeds the river's assimilative capacity.
[3]
Evaluate a proposal to divert half of the facility's current waste input of to composting.
[4]
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Question 13
Three ponds receive biodegradable organic waste from nearby food-processing facilities. Figure 4 shows the average daily waste input and the maximum rate at which decomposers in each pond can transform it into harmless substances; this transformation rate represents each pond's assimilative capacity.
Identify the pond in which waste input exceeds assimilative capacity.
[1]
Calculate the daily rate of accumulation of harmful organic material in this pond.
[2]
Explain why Pond A is not shown as polluted even though it receives organic waste.
[2]
Explain why biodegradable waste can still harm Pond C.
[2]
Question 14
A rapidly growing coastal city is experiencing rising household incomes, frequent replacement of electronic devices and a storm season that damages buildings. The government is considering mandatory separate collection of electronic waste.
Explain how socio-economic, technological, environmental and political factors could each alter the volume or composition of the city's solid waste.
[4]
Question 15
A government introduces extended producer responsibility for electrical appliances. Manufacturers must finance the collection and recovery of appliances after consumers discard them.
Explain how this policy could reduce waste requiring final disposal.
[3]
Question 16
The systems diagrams show organic waste entering two aquatic ecosystems. Transformation represents decomposition into substances that do not cause unacceptable environmental deterioration.
Identify the ecosystem in which the organic waste input exceeds assimilative capacity.
[1]
Calculate the rate at which harmful organic material may accumulate in ecosystem Y.
[1]
Explain why the accumulation in ecosystem Y may reduce its dissolved oxygen concentration.
[2]
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Question 17
Food waste is highly biodegradable but may still pollute an aquatic ecosystem.
Explain how a large input of food waste may harm aquatic organisms despite being biodegradable.
[3]
Question 18
A drinks company replaces reusable glass bottles with lightweight, flexible, multilayer plastic containers. The reported mass of packaging waste decreases, but the number of discarded containers remains unchanged and the local authority cannot compact or recycle the new containers.
Explain why the decrease in waste mass may not represent an equivalent decrease in waste volume or environmental impact.
[4]
Question 19
Discarded electronic equipment is transported from the high-income region of Norland to the lower-income coastal region of Tamora. Some equipment is repaired, while the remainder is dismantled to recover metals.
Processing characteristics of formal facilities and informal processing in Tamora.
| Measure | Formal facilities | Informal processing |
|---|---|---|
| Share of imported flow / % | 65 | 35 |
| Metal recovery / % of processed mass | 72 | 54 |
| Workers using protective equipment / % | 94 | 18 |
| Reported injuries / per 100 workers per year | 6 | 31 |
| Sites with controlled wastewater treatment / % | 100 | 4 |
Calculate the mass of electronic equipment processed informally each year in Tamora. Show your working.
[2]
Compare formal and informal processing in Tamora using Figure 2.
[2]
Explain two environmental impacts of informal e-waste processing shown in Figure 1.
[3]
Discuss whether the movement of e-waste from Norland to Tamora represents environmental injustice.
[5]
Question 20
The metropolitan authority of Calidora manages 100 000 tonnes of municipal solid waste each year. It is considering extended producer responsibility (EPR), under which producers would finance collection and recovery of selected packaging and electronic products.
Net management cost and life-cycle greenhouse-gas emissions for six municipal waste pathways.
| Waste-management pathway | Cost / currency units per tonne | Net emissions / kg e per tonne |
|---|---|---|
| Prevention | 25 | -520 |
| Reuse | 45 | -410 |
| Material recycling | 90 | -190 |
| Composting | 75 | -60 |
| Incineration with energy recovery | 130 | 240 |
| Landfill | 70 | 480 |
Calculate the percentage of the annual waste stream managed through prevention, reuse, recycling or composting.
[2]
Compare landfill with material recycling using Figure 2.
[2]
Explain why prevention and reuse may produce larger avoided emissions than recycling.
[3]
Evaluate whether EPR is likely to make Calidora's waste management more sustainable.
[6]
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Question 21
Figure 5 shows the annual movement of discarded electronic equipment from Region K to Region M.
Calculate the percentage of the electronic waste processed by informal workshops in Region M.
[2]
Analyse two environmental impacts of the waste movement shown in Figure 5.
[2]
Evaluate whether the movement of waste shown represents environmental injustice.
[4]
Question 22
Figure 6(a) compares household income and recorded solid domestic waste generation in eight municipalities. Figure 6(b) provides information about waste-related policies in selected municipalities.
Describe the relationship shown in Figure 6(a).
[2]
Using both figures, explain why Municipality F may generate less recorded waste than Municipality E despite having a higher household income.
[2]
Analyse two reasons why the recorded value for Municipality A may underestimate the solid waste generated by its households.
[2]
Suggest why income alone is insufficient to predict the volume of solid domestic waste generated by a society.
[2]
Question 23
Figure 7 shows the annual flow of solid domestic waste collected in the city of Bellara.
Calculate the percentage of collected waste diverted to material recycling or composting.
[2]
Explain two ways in which the diverse content of the mixed waste stream reduces the effectiveness or safety of material recovery.
[2]
Suggest two changes to waste collection that could increase recovery while reducing social or environmental impacts.
[4]
Question 24
Distinguish between domestic, industrial and agricultural sources of solid waste.
[4]
Explain how the diverse content of solid domestic waste affects its recovery and safe management.
[7]
Using named examples, evaluate strategies for managing the diverse content of solid domestic waste sustainably.
[9]
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Question 25
A company exports mixed electronic waste for low-cost recovery. The receiving facility provides local employment, but workers have no protective equipment. Tests detect toxic metals in a stream used by nearby households, and residents were not consulted before the facility opened.
Explain why this situation may represent environmental injustice.
[4]
Question 26
Three urban regions have contrasting incomes, consumption patterns and waste-management policies. Figure 1 compares their domestic waste streams. Figure 2 provides contextual information.
Domestic waste composition in three urban regions.
| Region | Organic / % | Paper/cardboard / % | Plastics / % | Glass / % | Metals / % | Textiles / % | Other / % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region A | 60 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Region B | 35 | 22 | 20 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Region C | 28 | 19 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 18 |
Calculate the total mass of domestic waste generated each day in Region B.
[2]
Compare the composition of waste in Regions A and B.
[2]
Explain how socio-economic and technological factors may account for the differences between Regions A and B.
[3]
Examine the claim that income is the main factor determining the volume and composition of domestic waste.
[5]
Question 27
The regional government of Meridia proposes replacing three small disposal sites with one engineered landfill. Four communities are located near the proposed transport routes and site.
Community socioeconomic, traffic and waste-management control data for the proposed landfill.
| Community | Median household income / $ units yr | Current heavy-waste vehicles / day | Projected heavy-waste vehicles / day | Residents consulted / % | Proposed landfill controls | Existing site controls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 42 000 | 20 | 65 | 72 | Liner; leachate collection; methane capture | None |
| Q | 18 000 | 45 | 110 | 19 | Liner; leachate collection; methane capture | None |
| R | 21 000 | 15 | 55 | 24 | Liner; leachate collection; methane capture | None |
| S | 47 000 | 10 | 15 | 81 | Liner; leachate collection; methane capture | None |
Identify the community expected to experience the greatest increase in heavy-waste vehicle movements.
[1]
Describe two spatial risks associated with the proposed landfill site.
[2]
Explain how the engineered landfill could reduce environmental impacts compared with the three existing sites.
[3]
Evaluate whether the proposed landfill would distribute environmental benefits and burdens fairly.
[7]
Question 28
A river receives solid organic residues from food-processing facilities. Figure 8(a) shows annual waste input and estimated assimilative capacity. Figure 8(b) shows a change in river conditions during the same period.
Identify the consecutive years during which waste input exceeded the river's estimated assimilative capacity.
[1]
Calculate the total amount by which waste input exceeded assimilative capacity during these years.
[2]
Using both figures, explain the decrease in assimilative capacity after 2020.
[2]
Evaluate a proposal to keep the permitted waste input fixed at 40 tonnes per year from 2025 onwards.
[3]
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Question 29
Outline four factors that may affect the volume or composition of a society's solid waste.
[4]
Explain why the volume and composition of solid waste may change as a society urbanizes and becomes more affluent.
[7]
Using named examples, to what extent are government policies more important than socio-economic and technological change in reducing solid waste?
[9]
Question 30
Define biodegradability and assimilative capacity, and state when a waste input becomes pollution.
[4]
Explain why the assimilative capacity for solid organic waste differs between ecosystems and may change over time.
[7]
Using named examples, evaluate strategies for preventing biodegradable solid waste from exceeding ecosystem assimilative capacity.
[9]
Question 31
Plastic waste enters Lake Orana from rivers, recreation and illegal dumping. Cleanup teams remove some floating plastic, but most removal occurs only after the waste has entered the lake.
Calculate the net accumulation of plastic in the lake during 2021.
[2]
Describe the trends in plastic input and removal between 2018 and 2023.
[3]
Explain why the lake's plastic storage can continue to increase even when annual input is decreasing.
[3]
Evaluate a strategy that allocates most future funding to expanding lake cleanups rather than preventing plastic waste at source.
[6]
Question 32
Explain why the international movement of solid waste does not necessarily represent environmental injustice.
[3]
Analyse how exporting discarded clothing and mixed textiles may displace environmental and social impacts from one society to another.
[8]
Using named examples, evaluate whether international trade in discarded materials can be both environmentally sustainable and socially just.
[9]
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Question 33
Outline why discarded electrical equipment may require classification by both source and type.
[4]
Analyse how technological change can both increase electronic waste and improve its management.
[7]
Using named examples, to what extent can circular approaches reduce the environmental and social impacts of electronic waste?
[9]
Question 34
Distinguish between the volume and composition of solid waste.
[3]
Analyse how rapid urban growth and extreme weather may interact to alter a city's solid-waste system.
[8]
Using named examples, evaluate strategies for developing solid-waste systems that remain sustainable during rapid urban growth and environmental disruption.
[9]
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