Urban Waste

Question 1

3 Sources of Waste

Answer 1

Industrial
Commercial
Personal

Question 2

Industrial Waste

Answer 2

Manufacturing process
Solvents and chemicals
Can be toxic or corrosive

Question 3

Commercial Waste

Answer 3

Businesses (shops, restaurants, offices)

Food, paper, plastics

Question 4

Personal Waste

Answer 4

Private homes

Plastic bottles, packaging, food

Question 5

Globally, waste produced increases by ___% each year

Answer 5

7%

Question 6

2 reasons for increase in global waste

Answer 6

Population growth

Increased personal wealth = increased consumption of goods

Question 7

Impacts of increased waste

Answer 7

Some left uncollected
Hard for efficient collection in cities
Running out of landfill space
Air pollution from burning
Methane released
Contamination of land and water bodies
Loss of recyclable resources
High cost to collect and treat (20-50% of HIC city budget)

Question 8

What can uncollected and untreated waste cause?

Answer 8

Health problems- cholera and respiratory illness

Question 9

What’s the problem with methane?

Answer 9

Air, water, ground pollution

Question 10

Economic characteristics impacting waste generation and waste streams

Answer 10

Developed countries have formal recycling systems
Richer consume more waste
Developed country = 2.1kg/ person/ day
Developing country = 0.6kg/ person/ day

Question 11

Lifestyle impacting waste generation and waste streams

Answer 11

Urban > rural in waste generation (rural more organic)
More likely to recycle if facilities are easily accessible and authorities encourage it
Diet: processed food = more waste as packaged

Question 12

Attitude impacting waste generation and waste streams

Answer 12

Throw away cultures i.e. electronics and clothing

Different attitudes towards the environment

Question 13

Difference between waste streams in HIC’s and LIC’s

Answer 13

Highly regulated in HIC’s

Question 14

7 Waste Disposal Methods

Answer 14

Unregulated
Recycling 
Incineration (Reduction)
Recovery 
Burial 
Submergence 
Trade

Question 15

How much of UK waste is recycled?

Answer 15

40%

Question 16

How much of UK waste is sent to landfill?

Answer 16

50%

Question 17

How much of Denmark’s electricity does incineration account for?

Answer 17

4.8%

Question 18

Evaluate unregulated waste disposal

Answer 18

Cheap for disposer
Removes waste from other areas

Vermin = disease
Pollutes ecosystems
Birds and animals swallow waste- harmful

Question 19

Evaluate recycling

Answer 19

Decreases raw material demand
Organic waste enriches soil
Doorstep wheelie bin collection safe and sanitary

Construction of new facilities
Separate collections- lorries

Question 20

Evaluate incineration

Answer 20

Decreases amount to landfill
Generates electricity (energy recovery)
Scrubbers remove dangerous chemicals

GHG’s and air pollution
Toxic chemicals released
10% of initial volume still needs disposing of (ash)
Constant maintenance of incineration plant

Question 21

Evaluate recovery

Answer 21

Decreases amount to landfill
Fewer natural resources exploited

Time consuming
Potentially dangerous
Still large amount of waste left

Question 22

Evaluate burial

Answer 22

Lined with clay to prevent leakage
Can collect gases released for energy generation
Cost-effective
Sealed and landscaped for recreational purposes

Hazardous chemicals can contaminate groundwater
Methane from decomposition = air pollution
Vermin
Lorries

Question 23

Evaluate submergence

Answer 23

Cheap
Useful for island nations
No leakage if impermeable membrane installed correctly

Toxic chemicals- damage ecosystems
Illegal

Question 24

Evaluate trade

Answer 24

Decreases amount to landfill
Countries could specialise in different waste disposals

LIC’s don’t dispose of hazardous waste safely
= environmental damage + groundwater pollution