Environmental impacts of alternative waste disposal approaches: unregulated, recycling, recovery, incineration, burial, submergence and trade
Cities dispose of waste in several ways, and each method damages the environment differently. Knowing those differences lets you judge which approaches are least harmful.
Real World
The UK exports thousands of tonnes of plastic waste annually to Malaysia and Turkey; a 2021 investigation found much of it was illegally dumped or burned in open fields, demonstrating how 'waste trade' can shift environmental damage to lower-income countries rather than solving it.
Exam Focus
For each disposal method, state a specific environmental impact (e.g. leachate, dioxins, methane) rather than generic 'pollution' to access the higher mark bands.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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