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Flip to reveal answersState the waste hierarchy in order from most to least preferred.
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All 15 Flashcards — Waste management strategies
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Question
State the waste hierarchy in order from most to least preferred.
Answer
Prevent/Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover (energy recovery), Dispose (landfill/incineration without energy recovery).
💡 Hint
Prevention is best.
Question
What is the waste hierarchy and what does it prioritise?
Answer
The waste hierarchy ranks waste options from prevention to disposal and prioritises preventing waste creation over managing waste after it is produced.
💡 Hint
Prevent first.
Question
Define a circular economy.
Answer
A circular economy is an economic model that eliminates waste by keeping materials in use through reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling, so waste becomes an input for another process.
💡 Hint
Keep materials in use.
Question
Give one difference between a linear and a circular economy.
Answer
Linear economy follows take-make-dispose, while a circular economy designs products and systems to reduce, reuse, recycle, and regenerate materials to minimise waste.
💡 Hint
Linear vs circular flow.
Question
Why is prevention placed at the top of the waste hierarchy?
Answer
Because avoiding waste creation has the lowest environmental impact, reducing resource extraction and pollution across the entire product lifecycle.
💡 Hint
Best waste is none.
Question
Explain the core aim of the circular economy in one sentence.
Answer
The circular economy aims to eliminate waste by keeping materials in use as long as possible through reuse, repair, and recycling.
💡 Hint
Eliminate waste by design.
Question
What is extended producer responsibility (EPR)?
Answer
EPR is a policy where manufacturers are responsible for the end-of-life management of their products, incentivising better design and higher recycling.
💡 Hint
Producer pays for end-of-life.
Question
Give one example each of reduce and reuse.
Answer
Reduce: choose products with less packaging or buy less. Reuse: repair items, refill containers, or buy second-hand.
💡 Hint
Reduce vs reuse examples.
Question
Give three policy tools that can improve waste management.
Answer
Examples include EPR, landfill taxes, deposit-return schemes, plastic bans, pay-as-you-throw, and education campaigns (any three).
💡 Hint
Pick 3 tools.
Question
What is meant by “recovery” in the waste hierarchy?
Answer
Recovery means extracting value from waste, commonly energy recovery through incineration with electricity/heat generation.
💡 Hint
Recovery often = energy.
Question
In a 9-mark waste essay, what criteria should you use to evaluate strategies?
Answer
Evaluate strategies using effectiveness, cost, feasibility, environmental impact, and equity, then reach a justified conclusion.
💡 Hint
Effectiveness + cost + feasibility + impact + equity.
Question
Give two policy tools that reduce single-use plastics or increase recycling.
Answer
Examples include plastic bag bans/taxes and deposit-return schemes; landfill taxes and pay-as-you-throw also incentivise reduction.
💡 Hint
Think bans + deposits.
Question
Name three “design for sustainability” strategies that support a circular economy.
Answer
Design for durability, design for repair, design for disassembly, design for recyclability, and eliminating toxic materials are key strategies (any three).
💡 Hint
Design choices matter.
Question
Why does IB often prefer evaluation over listing for hierarchy questions?
Answer
Because higher-mark answers explain why options are ranked (resource use, energy demand, pollution) and discuss effectiveness and limitations, not just name the levels.
💡 Hint
Explain the “why”.
Question
What does “prevention is best” mean in waste management?
Answer
It means avoiding waste creation reduces impacts most because it prevents resource extraction, manufacturing emissions, and disposal pollution before they occur.
💡 Hint
Stop waste at source.
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Topic 7.3 hub
Solid waste
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