Practice IB Environmental systems and societies (ESS) Topic 7.3 Solid Waste with authentic exam-style questions for both SL and HL students. This question bank focuses on the exact syllabus content for 7.3 Solid Waste and mirrors Paper 1, 2 style where relevant.
Get instant solutions, detailed explanations, and build confidence with questions aligned to IB examiner expectations.
Table 1: Changes in the composition of solid domestic waste (SDW) in a rapidly urbanizing region (1995–2020)
| Waste Category | 1995 (% by weight) | 2020 (% by weight) |
|---|---|---|
| Organic matter (food and garden waste) | 62 | 35 |
| Paper and cardboard | 10 | 22 |
| Plastics | 4 | 18 |
| Glass and metals | 6 | 10 |
| Miscellaneous (including textiles and e-waste) | 18 | 15 |
With reference to Table 1, identify the waste category that experienced the greatest percentage point increase between 1995 and 2020.
Outline one reason why the proportion of organic matter in the waste stream typically decreases as a region becomes more urbanized and affluent.
In 2020, the total mass of solid domestic waste produced by the region was 12 million tonnes. Calculate the mass of paper and cardboard waste generated in that year.
Evaluate the use of incineration as a management strategy for the high proportions of plastics and paper observed in 2020.
Outline one way in which a "pay-as-you-throw" (unit-based pricing) policy can influence the total volume of solid domestic waste produced by a household.
Outline the reasons why natural capital has a dynamic nature.
Explain how the inequitable distribution of natural resources can lead to conflict.
The management of a resource can impact the production of solid domestic waste.
To what extent have the three levels of the pollution management model been successfully applied to the management of solid domestic waste?
Distinguish between domestic and agricultural sources and types of waste.
Using named examples, discuss the usefulness of consequentialist ethics in helping us make decisions regarding our choice of energy source.
Strategies for energy conservation are mainly ecocentric, while those for energy efficiency are mainly technocentric. Discuss this statement in relation to the strategies needed to achieve energy security.
The following table shows the average composition of solid domestic waste (SDW) for a metropolitan area in a High-Income Country (HIC).
| Waste Component | Percentage of total SDW (%) |
|---|---|
| Food and organic waste | 25 |
| Paper and cardboard | 30 |
| Plastics | 12 |
| Glass | 8 |
| Metals | 5 |
| Other (textiles, wood, etc.) | 20 |
Total annual waste produced: million tonnes.
Calculate the total mass of paper and cardboard waste generated by this metropolitan area annually.
Explain why the proportion of food and organic waste is typically much higher in the waste streams of Low-Income Countries (LICs) than in High-Income Countries (HICs).
Evaluate the use of incineration as a strategy for managing solid domestic waste.
Figure 1: A systems diagram of a pond ecosystem
Referring to Figure 1, state one storage of matter within the pond ecosystem.
Distinguish between a transfer and a transformation process, providing one example of each from Figure 1.
Explain, with reference to Figure 1, why the pond is classified as an open system.
Suggest two advantages of using models, such as the diagram in Figure 1, to study environmental systems.