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IB ESS HL 7.3 Solid Waste Questions

Practise IB ESS HL 7.3 by interpreting waste data and comparing prevention, recycling, landfill, composting and incineration in context.

Syllabus
First assessment 2026
Course
ESS HL
Level
HL

Exam points

  • Calculate waste proportions and read charts of material mix, recycling rates and disposal trends.
  • Explain changes in waste generation or treatment through consumption, policy, infrastructure or capacity.
  • Compare landfill, recycling, composting and incineration by land use, leachate, emissions and recovery.
  • Suggest policies or access measures that prevent waste or increase household recycling and composting.

Covered syllabus points

7.3.1—Waste classification7.3.2—Solid domestic waste (SDW)7.3.3—Waste variation7.3.4—Waste impacts7.3.5—Ecosystem waste absorption7.3.6—Preventative vs. restorative strategies7.3.7—Waste disposal options7.3.8—Promoting sustainable SDW management7.3.9—Circular economy and waste

Question 1

[Maximum number: 6]
Figure 2: Global plastic production, accumulation and future trends

Figure 2: Global plastic production, accumulation and future trends

Question (a)

(a)

Using Figure 2, estimate the mass of plastic that was produced in 2017.

[ 1 ]

Question (b)

(b)

Calculate the percentage of accumulated plastic that was recycled between 1950 and 2017.

[ 1 ]

Question (c)

(c)

Describe how the environmental impacts of discarded and incinerated plastic waste would differ.

[ 2 ]

Question (d)

(d)

Describe two possible methods to reduce the future trends of plastic production shown in Figure 2.

[ 2 ]

Question 2

[Maximum number: 9]
Figure Municipal solid domestic waste (MSW) produced versus income level

Figure Municipal solid domestic waste (MSW) produced versus income level

Figure Waste disposal methods by per capita income

Figure Waste disposal methods by per capita income

Question (a)

(a)

Using Figure, identify the amount of municipal solid domestic waste generated per capita in Malta.

[ 1 ]

Question (b)

(b)

Suggest two reasons why the amount of municipal solid domestic waste generated per capita differs between Slovakia and Malta.

[ 2 ]

Question (c)

(c)

Describe the trend shown in the use of incineration as income level increases in Figure.

[ 1 ]

Question (d)

(d)

Suggest two reasons for the trend shown in the use of incineration as income level increases in Figure.

[ 2 ]

Question (e)

(e)

Evaluate the use of recycling as a solid domestic waste strategy.

[ 3 ]

Question 3

[Maximum number: 8]
Figure 3: Total carbon impacts of Scotland's 2018 household waste

Figure 3: Total carbon impacts of Scotland's 2018 household waste

Question (a)

(a)

Identify the household waste category with the lowest carbon impact from production in Figure 3.

[ 1 ]

Question (b)

(b)

Describe one possible reason why paper waste has double the overall carbon impact than that of metal waste in Figure 3.

[ 1 ]

Question (c)

(c)

Outline two disadvantages of using landfill to dispose of paper, as shown in Figure 3.

[ 2 ]

Question (d)

(d)

Outline two disadvantages of recycling metal as an approach to decreasing carbon impacts, as shown in Figure 3.

[ 2 ]

Question (e)

(e)

Suggest two pollution management strategies that could be used to decrease the carbon impacts from food waste in Scotland.

[ 2 ]

Question 4

[Maximum number: 1]
Figure 2: Global plastic production, accumulation and future trends

Figure 2: Global plastic production, accumulation and future trends

Using Figure 2, estimate the mass of plastic that was produced in 2017.

Question 5

[Maximum number: 1]
Figure 3: Total carbon impacts of Scotland's 2018 household waste

Figure 3: Total carbon impacts of Scotland's 2018 household waste

Describe one possible reason why paper waste has double the overall carbon impact than that of metal waste in Figure 3.

Question 6

[Maximum number: 1]
Eight freshwater organisms

Figure:Eight freshwater organisms

Figure 2 shows eight freshwater organisms.

Define the term pollution.

Question 7

[Maximum number: 2]
Figure Total carbon impacts of Scotland's 2018 household waste

Figure Total carbon impacts of Scotland's 2018 household waste

Suggest two pollution management strategies that could be used to decrease the carbon impacts from paper waste in Scotland.

Question 8

[Maximum number: 5]
Municipal-waste recycling rates in Europe

Figure:Municipal-waste recycling rates in Europe

Figure 4: The figure shows changes in the amount of municipal waste recycled as a percentage of total generated waste in 32 European countries.

Evaluate the use of incineration as an alternative to recycling for the management of solid waste.

Question 9

[Maximum number: 2]
Figure 1(a): Municipal solid domestic waste (MSW) produced versus income level

Figure 1(a): Municipal solid domestic waste (MSW) produced versus income level

Figure 1(b): Waste disposal methods by per capita income

Figure 1(b): Waste disposal methods by per capita income

Key for Figure 1(b)

Key for Figure 1(b)

Outline two strategies that Canada's government could use to reduce the country's per capita waste production.

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