7.3 Solid Waste (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS): HL): Flashcards

Technology can reduce waste by creating biodegradable plastics or more efficient recycling methods.

True.

Events like hurricanes can produce large volumes of construction and debris waste during rebuilding efforts.

The rapid pace of technological advancement often leads to large amounts of electronic waste.

Pollution occurs when harmful substances are added to the environment at a rate faster than ecosystems can process or transform them into harmless substances.

When the amount of waste exceeds an ecosystem's capacity, pollution builds up and causes harm to the environment.

Ecosystems can absorb and manage some waste through processes like photosynthesis and nutrient cycling.

An ecosystem service is a benefit provided by ecosystems that helps manage pollution, such as carbon sequestration or water filtration.

Wetlands absorb nitrogen, phosphorus, and other pollutants from water, acting as natural filters and improving water quality.

Forests absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and convert it into oxygen.

False.

Ecosystems have limits to how much pollution they can absorb; excess pollutants cause harm and build up in the environment.

Eutrophication is the process where excess nutrients (especially nitrogen and phosphorus) cause overgrowth of algae in water, leading to pollution and oxygen depletion.

Biodegradability is how quickly a substance can be broken down into harmless components by natural processes such as bacteria and other organisms.

A half-life is the time it takes for half of a substance to decay or break down in the environment.

Non-biodegradable materials like plastic or glass can remain in the environment for hundreds or thousands of years.

Environmental injustice occurs when the negative impacts of waste are disproportionately experienced by poorer countries or communities, often due to waste exports from high-income nations.

Waste disposal is the process of managing and minimising the environmental impact of waste using various methods.

It is important because each method affects societies and ecosystems differently, so understanding the advantages and disadvantages helps to choose the most sustainable and least harmful option.

A landfill is a waste disposal method that involves burying waste in designated areas in large holes dug into the ground.

Two advantages: landfills can handle a wide range of materials and have lower operational costs. Two disadvantages: they generate methane and require significant land.

Landfills can be engineered with liners and leachate collection systems to minimise environmental impact.

True.

Incineration can safely process certain hazardous materials by burning them at high temperatures.

A main disadvantage of incineration is the emission of harmful gases and pollutants, including greenhouse gases.

WtE plants recover energy from waste, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and decreasing the amount of waste sent to landfills.

Waste-to-energy plants can release harmful emissions and greenhouse gases unless controlled properly.

Exporting waste can cause environmental injustice and harm in low-income countries, raising ethical concerns about burdening others with waste.

Shipping waste long distances for export increases carbon emissions.

Recycling conserves resources by saving raw materials and reducing the need for new resource extraction.

Composting produces natural fertilisers, reducing the need for chemical alternatives.

Sustainable waste management is the practice of minimising environmental and social impacts of waste, promoting efficient resource use, and encouraging reduction, reuse and recycling instead of landfill or incineration.

Sustainable waste management encourages reducing, reusing and recycling waste rather than relying on disposal methods like landfills and incineration.

The circular economy keeps materials in use for as long as possible, contrasting with the linear economy where products are discarded after use.

Examples of social policies include pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) schemes and school recycling programmes, both of which encourage people to recycle more and produce less waste.

A deposit-return scheme is a system where consumers pay a deposit for bottles or cans and receive it back when they return the container for recycling, encouraging recycling behaviour.

The European Union's Waste Framework Directive sets guidelines for recycling and waste reduction.

A preventative strategy is a method that focuses on reducing waste generation and controlling pollution before it happens.

False.

Preventative strategies are more sustainable because they stop the problem before it happens and require fewer resources than restorative strategies.

Cleaning up oceanic garbage patches is an example of a restorative strategy in waste management.

The most effective preventative strategy is to consume fewer products, which leads to less waste generation.

The waste hierarchy ranks waste management strategies from most to least sustainable, prioritising reduce, reuse, recycle, recover, and dispose.

The circular economy keeps materials in use, minimises waste, and recovers resources at the end of a product’s life, reducing the need for new raw materials and supporting sustainability.

Landfill reclamation and restoration of contaminated sites are examples of restorative strategies in waste management.

Education and campaigns help change public behaviour by raising awareness about the importance of waste reduction, recycling, and environmental conservation.