Tutorial 5 Waste Resource 12 for Question 4

Objectives: Global distribution of Municipal solid waste

Section A:

IJC 2017 Prelims

Management of solid waste

4 Resource 12 shows how much Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) each urban-dweller produces
per country (figures are for 2012, the latest year for which data is available).
The World Bank defines MSW as including ‘non-hazardous waste generated in households,
commercial and business establishments, institutions, and non-hazardous industrial
process wastes, agricultural wastes and sewage sludge. In practice, specific definitions vary
across jurisdictions.’
Resource 13 shows US municipal waste (not recycled) between 1960-2010. Resource 14
is a photograph of the Smokey Mountain at Tondo, The Philippines.

(a) With reference to Resource 12, describe the global distribution of MSW. [4]

(b) Outline, and suggest reasons for, the generation of MSW shown in Resource 12. [5] Resource 13 for Question 4

(c) Explain how Resource 13 illustrate the linear nature of urban metabolism. [4]

(d) Explain why some people in the low-income countries continue to live near/on the waste
disposal sites as shown in Resource 14. [3]

(e) Using the resources 12 and 13 and your own knowledge, evaluate the effectiveness of two
strategies to manage non-hazardous solid waste in developed countries. [9]

1 2
 NYJC 2017 H2 Prelims

Resource 10 for Question 4

Resource 14 for Question 4

Photograph of Smokey Mountain, Tondo in The Philippines

Global average waste collection rates by country per income level

Source: https://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTURBANDEVELOPMENT/Resources/336387-
1334852610766/What_a_Waste2012_Final.pdf

3 4
 Resource 11 for Question 4 Resource 12 for Question 4

Waste disposal methods in The United Kingdom

Rubbish collection calendar in Oldham, United Kingdom

Landfill

2%
Compost
8%

17% Recycled

9% 64%
Waste to
Energy/
Incineration

Others

Source: https://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTURBANDEVELOPMENT/Resources/336387-
1334852610766/What_a_Waste2012_Final.pdf

Source: https://dianewilliamson.mycouncillor.org.uk/files/2015/08/New-Bin-Collection-1.jpg

5 6
 Resource 13 for Question 4 Waste Collection and Disposal in United Kingdom

Distribution of municipal waste to landfill sites around London NYJC 2017 H2 Prelims

2. Resource 10 shows the global average waste collection rates by country per income level
in 2012. Resource 11 shows the rubbish collection calendar in Oldham, United Kingdom.
Resource 12 shows the waste disposal methods in The United Kingdom. Resource 13
shows the distribution of municipal waste to landfill sites around London in 2010.

(a) Describe the global pattern of waste collection rates by country per income level
shown in Resource 10. [2]

(b) Using Resources 10 and 11 and your own knowledge, explain the waste collection
rate for high income countries. [5]

(c) With reference to Resource 10, suggest reasons for the waste collection rates for the
other income categories. [6]

(d) With reference to Resource 12, explain the ecological footprint of London shown in
Resource 13. [4]

(e) Using Resources 12, 13 and your own knowledge, recommend changes to London’s
waste disposal methods in order to achieve sustainable development. Justify your
decision. [8]

Essays

TPJC H1 Prelims 2017

Source: https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/municipal_waste_final.pdf

NYJC H1 Prelims 2017

5 (a) Explain the linear nature of production, consumption and disposal of non-hazardous
solid waste and how it affects the goal of sustainable development. [9]

5 (b) Assess the effectiveness of strategies used to manage non-hazardous solid waste in
countries at different levels of development. [16]

7 8
Answers shared by NYJC

9 10
11 12
13 14
 (d) R-U migrants or urban poor with limited skills and employment opportunities would have
no income to afford better housing, hence they would have to live in peripheral locations
such as the waste dumps.

There is no demand for waste dumps (dirty, smelly and located in unfavourable conditions)
and people can choose to stay there with little interference from the government.

Waste dumps often also provide an alternative source of income where dwellers can
scavenge for scrap materials for a source of income.

(f) Any 2 strategies: Landfills, incineration, Recycling and Taxes.

Resource 12: Solid waste. Unlikely to be effective.
Resource 12: Show that recycling and reusing is not effective.
IJC Prelims 2017

(a)

• There is an uneven distribution of MSW, higher levels of MSW is shown in the

developed, industrialised countries located North of the Brandt Line. And lower
levels of MSW are located mostly in the developing regions, South of the Brandt Line
• Highest amount of MSW of more than 2.5 kg per person is located in the countries
located North of the Brandt Line, these include the US, NZ, Norway, Switzerland and
Ireland.
• High MSW of 2 is mostly in the developed countries of North America, Europe,
Australia with the exception of South Africa.
• Lowest MSW of 0-0.49 is located mostly in the developing regions of Asia and Africa
located South of the Brandt Line.
• 1.0-1.49 MSW is located mostly in South America, China and Russia.

(b) The developed countries North of the Brandt Line have higher affluence levels and
disposable income, so they consume and produce more waste. Aside from the consumption
habits, they have industries and technology allows for more waste to be produced compared
to agricultural-based societies. Lifestyle choices in the North such as suburbanisation,
reliance of private transport and heating during winters etc, all increase the consumption
habits.

The countries located South of the Brandt Line, generally have lower affluence levels and
their sectors of economy are more agricultural based. Hence the amount of waste produced
is lower. Though there is a rise in consumption habits due to the growth of the middle class
as well as offshoring of industries to developing nations due to lower production cost, the
waste produced is still lower than the DCs.

(c) Linear production: Raw materials are extracted, combined and processed into consumer
goods that eventually end up as rubbish which is not reabsorbed into nature.

Resource 12 shows the amount of waste not recycled. Paper and plastics produced at least
25 million tons of waste. Glass and aluminium has less than 8 million tons and 1 million tons
respectively. The amount of waste has recycled has increased over the years as well.

15 16