IB Geography Topic 3.2.3 Waste Disposal and Recycling Revision Notes (SL/HL)

IB Geography Topic 3.2.3 Waste Disposal and Recycling Revision Notes (SL/HL) | RevisionDojo

Written by official IB examiners

Managing Global Waste Flows

Imagine buying a new smartphone.
What happens to your old one?
In many cases, it becomes e-waste, part of the 50 million tonnes of electronic waste generated globally each year.
Most of this waste doesn’t stay in high-income countries (HICs) instead, it’s exported to low-income countries (LICs), creating a complex web of environmental and social challenges.

E-Waste and Consumer Waste: A Global Problem

The Journey of E-Waste

E-waste includes discarded electronic devices like phones, computers, and televisions.
HICs often export this waste to LICs for cheaper disposal and recycling.
However, these countries often lack the infrastructure to manage e-waste safely, leading to severe consequences.

Example

Ghana’s Agbogbloshie is one of the world’s largest e-waste dumps. Workers, including children, dismantle electronics by hand, exposing themselves to toxic chemicals like lead and mercury. These pollutants contaminate soil and water, affecting local ecosystems and human health.

Why Is E-Waste Exported?

Cost Savings: Storing and recycling in LICs is cheaper due to lower cost of land and labor and fewer regulations.
Loopholes: E-waste is often mislabeled as "second-hand goods" to bypass international laws like the Basel Convention, which restricts hazardous waste exports.
Lack of Infrastructure: HICs may lack sufficient recycling facilities, making export an attractive option.

Common Mistake

Note

Many students assume e-waste is always recycled in LICs. In reality, much of it ends up in informal dumps, where only a small fraction is recovered in rather primitive conditions.

The Impact on LICs

Environmental Damage: Burning e-waste releases toxic gases, while chemicals leach into soil and water.
Health Risks: Workers face exposure to carcinogens and heavy metals, leading to respiratory issues, neurological damage, and other health problems.

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Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

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Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

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Note

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Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit.

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

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Managing Global Waste Flows

Imagine buying a new smartphone.
What happens to your old one?
In many cases, it becomes e-waste, part of the 50 million tonnes of electronic waste generated globally each year.
Most of this waste doesn’t stay in high-income countries (HICs) instead, it’s exported to low-income countries (LICs), creating a complex web of environmental and social challenges.

E-Waste and Consumer Waste: A Global Problem

The Journey of E-Waste

E-waste includes discarded electronic devices like phones, computers, and televisions.
HICs often export this waste to LICs for cheaper disposal and recycling.
However, these countries often lack the infrastructure to manage e-waste safely, leading to severe consequences.

Example

Why Is E-Waste Exported?

Cost Savings: Storing and recycling in LICs is cheaper due to lower cost of land and labor and fewer regulations.
Loopholes: E-waste is often mislabeled as "second-hand goods" to bypass international laws like the Basel Convention, which restricts hazardous waste exports.
Lack of Infrastructure: HICs may lack sufficient recycling facilities, making export an attractive option.

Common Mistake

Note

Many students assume e-waste is always recycled in LICs. In reality, much of it ends up in informal dumps, where only a small fraction is recovered in rather primitive conditions.

The Impact on LICs

Environmental Damage: Burning e-waste releases toxic gases, while chemicals leach into soil and water.
Health Risks: Workers face exposure to carcinogens and heavy metals, leading to respiratory issues, neurological damage, and other health problems.

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

1 Changing Population3 subtopics

2 Global Climate - Vulnerability and Resilience3 subtopics

3 Global Resource Consumption and Security3 subtopics

4 Power, Places and Networks (HL only)3 subtopics

5 Human Development and Diversity (HL only)3 subtopics

6 Global Risks and Resilience (HL only)3 subtopics

Option A Freshwater - Drainage Basins4 subtopics

Option B Oceans and Coastal Margins4 subtopics

Option C Extreme Environments4 subtopics

Option D Geophysical Hazards4 subtopics

Option E Leisure, Tourism and Sport4 subtopics

Option F The Geography of Food and Health4 subtopics

Option G Urban Environments5 subtopics

IB Geography 3.2.3 Waste Disposal and Recycling Notes

1 Changing Population3 subtopics

2 Global Climate - Vulnerability and Resilience3 subtopics

3 Global Resource Consumption and Security3 subtopics

4 Power, Places and Networks (HL only)3 subtopics

5 Human Development and Diversity (HL only)3 subtopics

6 Global Risks and Resilience (HL only)3 subtopics

Option A Freshwater - Drainage Basins4 subtopics

Option B Oceans and Coastal Margins4 subtopics

Option C Extreme Environments4 subtopics

Option D Geophysical Hazards4 subtopics

Option E Leisure, Tourism and Sport4 subtopics

Option F The Geography of Food and Health4 subtopics

Option G Urban Environments5 subtopics

Managing Global Waste Flows

E-Waste and Consumer Waste: A Global Problem

The Journey of E-Waste

Why Is E-Waste Exported?

The Impact on LICs

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Managing Global Waste Flows

E-Waste and Consumer Waste: A Global Problem

The Journey of E-Waste

Why Is E-Waste Exported?

The Impact on LICs

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account