Unit 7: Climate Change and Energy Production
Topic 7.3: Solid Waste Questions
Practice 20 exam-style questions for IB ESS Topic 7.3. Review the question stems below, then unlock the full Question Bank to access markschemes, model answers, and AI grading.
1Identify2 marks
• Aimnova PP-practice — 7.3.1
Identify two types of solid waste that would typically be found in the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream of a high-income city.
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A company designs a phone with a battery that can be easily replaced and offers spare parts. Identify one circular economy design principle shown here.
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Define the term municipal solid waste (MSW).
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Define the term composting.
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Unlock Question5State1 mark
• Aimnova PP-practice — 7.3.2
State one advantage of incineration over landfill as a method of waste disposal.
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• Aimnova PP-practice — 7.3.3
Outline the waste management hierarchy and state why 'reduce' is placed above 'recycle' within it.
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State the correct order of the waste hierarchy from most preferred to least preferred.
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Define the term circular economy.
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Define the term hazardous waste.
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Define the term incineration.
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Define the term leachate.
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• Aimnova PP-practice — 7.3.1
Distinguish between biodegradable and non-biodegradable solid waste, giving one example of each.
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Define the term waste hierarchy.
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Define the term landfill.
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A school switches from disposable cutlery to washable cutlery. Identify which level of the waste hierarchy this best represents.
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A student says: "High-income countries usually produce less waste because they have better recycling." State whether this is correct.
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A hospital upgrades its waste system. State one example of clinical or medical waste that should be treated as hazardous.
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Table 1 shows per capita waste generation in two countries. Using the data, calculate how many times higher Country A is than Country B.
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A landfill is built near a river. Outline two design features that reduce water pollution risk.
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A city introduces a landfill tax. Suggest one intended effect of this policy on waste management.
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