Urban physical waste generation: sources of waste, relation to economic characteristics, lifestyles and attitudes
Cities produce large amounts of physical waste — discarded materials from homes, businesses and industry. How much waste a city generates depends on how wealthy its residents are, how they live and what they value.
Real World
London produces around 3.4 million tonnes of household waste per year, partly because higher disposable incomes allow residents to buy more packaged goods and replace electronics frequently — waste generation rates are roughly double those in Lagos, where lower incomes mean fewer throwaway goods.
Exam Focus
Link waste volume explicitly to economic characteristics (GDP, income) and lifestyle choices; vague answers about 'richer people wasting more' will not score highly.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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