paper 3 issue evalaution

Question 1

define sustainability

Answer 1

meeting the needs of today’s population without compromising the needs of future generations

Question 2

explain how waste disposal can be seen as a problem in the UK

Answer 2

• 500 landfill sites that are nearly filled up (going to run out of room and waste on streets is a health hazard)
• recycling rates are falling so more raw materials are being wasted

Question 3

asses the ways in which waste can be disposed of

Answer 3

most sustainable = composting

organic waste decomposes to produce soil conditioner
which enriches the soil with nutrients so plants grow higher and yield increases
not everything can be composted
no C02 emissions (only from respiration in detritivores)

recycling
energy to move conveyor belts is from burning fossil fuels because it is cheap but releases a lot of C02

incineration
unsustainable as burning things releases a lot of CO2
which is a greenhouse gas and contributes to climate change. although it can be used to heat water and generate electricity it can create a lot of air pollution due to fumes from burning waste

Question 4

The UK should send its rubbish to be recycled in China

How far do you agree

Answer 4

reasons for

• the Chinese are recycling rubbish for us: reuse raw materials
• More sustainable
• The UK government makes money by selling the waste to China
• the UK can export the waste problem rather than cleaning it themselves
• cheap

reasons against

• exporting the problem (straight to the Chinese but it’s not their problem)
• no infrastructure in China to tackle the problem
• creates waste dumping in seas: shipping fuels are very saturated hydrocarbons - release a lot of CO2

Question 5

define stakeholder

Answer 5

individuals, groups, organisations that are affected by the activity of a business

Question 6

what are the impacts of the proposed waste incinerator on local residents

Answer 6

+ 300 jobs
+ cheap electricity for 63,000 homes
- increased traffic on roads (e.g: A10)
- visual pollution (80m chimney)

Question 7

what are the impacts of the proposed waste incinerator on amey (waste business)

Answer 7

+ tax for corporation
+ earning profits from electricity
- set up costs

Question 8

what are the impacts of the proposed waste incinerator on environment agency

Answer 8

+ 250,000 tonnes of waste removed from landfill
(sustainability targets)
- releases carbon dioxide (greenhouse gas contributes to climate change)
- transport of waste = carbon dioxide

Question 9

what are the long term effects of waste incineration

Answer 9

• air pollution (carbon dioxide - enhanced greenhouse effect = climate change)
• incineration solves the landfill issue as it is not storing rubbish on land therefore requiring less land

Question 10

what are the short term effects of waste incineration

Answer 10

• bad smells (burning plastic)

- 300 people employed in the plant’s construction (helps the wider economy)