Wasteful World Flashcards
What do the following mean?
Biodegradable Non-biodegradable Domestic Industrial Toxic
Biodegradable - rots away naturally
Non-biodegradable - doesn’t break down
Domestic - waste produced in people’s houses
Industrial - waste produced by factories
Toxic - poisonous to humans and the environment
What is waste?
Anything thrown away
What are the 3 most common types of waste in the UK?
- Construction/Demolition = 35%
- Mining/Quarrying = 30%
- Domestic = 11%
How much more waste is produced in HICs than LICs?
Give 2 reasons why there is such a difference
- 4x > LICs (400-800kg/person/year)
- Wealthier country = greater product demand
- More disposable income -> buy more, replace more frequently -> waste created - old product + new packaging
Give 4 reasons why LICs produce less waste than HICs
Low income -> less purchases
Little packaging -> less plastic waste
Less read -> less newspapers
Single-use items rare
Name 3 types of domestic waste in HICs
Electronic waste - discarded early in use for updated versions (50 mil tons/year)
White Goods - Domestic Appliances (Fridges, dishwashers + washing machines)
Packaging - 10.5 mil tonnes in 2007
- Primary Packaging: Wrapping/containers
- Secondary Packaging: Big boxes/cases for distribution
- Transit: Pallets, packaging for transporting goods
Give 3 benefits of recycling
Saves energy - less greenhouse gases
Reduces demand for raw materials
Reduces landfill and incineration
Explain 4 ways recycling is done locally
East Riding Waste declined - 120k tonnes in 2003, 55k tonnes in 2014
2005 - Blue wheelie bins (cans, bottles, paper)
2009 - Brown bins for garden waste
2015 - 95% landfill -> energy recovery
Explain advantages and disadvanatges of 3 ways waste is disposed in Germany
Landfill - impermeable geology, waste buried in holes left from mining
Ads - Cheap, used for nuclear waste
Dis - Running out of space, exports to China
Incineration - burn waste using fuel bricks made from shredded waste
Ads: Modern incinerators = clean, generate power
Dis: Produces CO2, linked to cancer
“Green dot” scheme - manufacturers pay for recycling costs, unless join scheme
Ads: Reduces waste by 1 mil tons/year
Dis: Expensive, only deals with 1/3 recycling
Give 3 facts, 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages of oil in Ecuador
Facts:
- 1937: Shell starts drilling for oil in Oriente (13 million hectares of tropical rainforest)
- 1993: Locals file lawsuit for environmental damage
- 2011: Cheron pays $48 billion for environmental damage
Ads:
- Economy grew 7% annually
- Creates 40% national export earnings
- New roads open up remote areas
Dis:
- Large scale deforestation
- Indigenous tribes forcibly removed
- Water contaminated -> harming wildlife and cancer
What is the difference between recycling waste and re-using waste?
Recycling Waste = collecting materials and reprocessing them
Re-using Waste = using it for a new purpose without changing it
Give 4 ways industry wastes energy
Leaves lights on
Electrical products on standby
Thermostats too high
Inefficient machines
Give 4 facts about wind power in the UK
Biggest wind resource in Europe
2010 - government announced £75 billion programme to build wind farms
45% energy increase from onshore wind (ONW)
68% energy increase from offshore wind (OFFW)
Give 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages of wind power in the UK
Ads:
- OFFW predicted meet UK’s energy demand 10 times over
- Cheaper as technology advances
- Reduces carbon footprint
Dis:
- ONW farms need 2-3 hectares per turbine
- > noise and visual pollution
- Expensive (£3 mil/turbine)
- Less bats and seabirds
