7.3.3—Waste variation
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2026
- Objective
- 7.3.3
- Level
- SL
Waste Changes When Systems Change
Waste volume and composition change over time and between societies as consumption and management systems change.
| Driver | Example pathway |
|---|---|
| Socio-economic | higher income can increase packaging and electronic waste |
| Political | bans, deposits or collection rules alter what enters each stream |
| Environmental | climate and available land affect decomposition and disposal choices |
| Technological | new products create e-waste, while sorting or repair technology can recover more material |
A bag ban may reduce plastic film but increase paper or reusable-bag flows, so compare mass, composition and downstream fate before and after the change.
Less waste in one bin does not prove less total material use or environmental impact.