Waste Management

Question 1

Describe four difficulties associated with locating and developing new landfill sites.

Answer 1

Location.
-Planning permission is required which can delay the landfill becoming
operational by several years.
-There may be objections from local residents due to noise/odour issues.

Development
-Leak detection is required as flammable methane gas can be released.
Methane gas is a greenhouse gas. [1]
-An environmental assessment is required to confirm that the effect of
the landfill site on the local environment is minimal. [1]

Question 2

Name two major waste types.

Answer 2

Municipal waste

Commercial waste

Question 3

Describe one application of a smart system with reference to

engineering.

Answer 3

(medical technology) – smart systems can lead to improved diagnostic tools and less intrusive operating procedures. [1]
Sensors will raise an alarm if there’s a concern. [1]

Question 4

Describe one application of a smart system with reference to transportation.

Answer 4

Transportation – there could be an increase in the development of
more energy efficient devices for mobility, [1] e.g. hybrid vehicles and
electric traction and the efficient control of traffic movement in our
cities. [1]

Question 5

Describe one application of a smart system with reference to waste management.

Answer 5

Waste management – the use of smart systems for the disposal and
control of waste. [1] This would also allow us to dispose of waste more
efficiently and/or economically. [1]

Question 6

List four priority waste streams identified in the Northern Ireland
Waste Management Strategy.

Answer 6

Batteries and accumulators [1]

End of life vehicles [1]

Tyres [1]

Packaging waste [1]

Question 7

Explain two reasons why the Northern Ireland Waste Management
Strategy seeks to end the over-reliance on landfill.

Answer 7

Decomposing waste can produce methane and carbon dioxide [1] which contribute to global warming. [1]

There is the potential for pollutants to leach into nearby soil [1] and contaminate it and waterways. [

Question 8

Label the Waste Management Hierarchy from top to bottom. (6)

Answer 8

Prevention
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
Energy recovery
Disposal

Question 9

Explain two difficulties associated with the location of the development of landfill sites. (4)

Answer 9

The site must be geologically suitable so that the polluting leachates from the site cannot affect the surrounding land and water. [2]

There may be objections from local residents due to noise/odour/ economic issues. This will delay planning permission being granted and subsequent award of a permit. [2]

Question 10

Explain two difficulties associated with the development of landfill sites. (4)

Answer 10

The landfill must include leachate and landfill gas treatment measures to minimise water and air pollution. [2]

Leak detection is required as flammable methane gas can be released. Methane is a greenhouse gas. [2]

Question 11

Discuss one way in which Landfill Tax supports the Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy. (2)

Answer 11

Making landfilling waste more expensive encourages waste producers to use other waste management options (such as recycling) [2].