A manufacturer produces clay ceramic roof tiles. Explain why recycling these tiles at the end of their useful life helps to reduce environmental impacts.
Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).
Model answer (4 marks)
Recycling the tiles means that the clay and other raw materials are reused, so less raw material has to be extracted from the Earth.
Because less quarrying and mining are required, the destruction of habitats, landscape damage, dust and noise pollution are all reduced.
The energy needed to recycle the tiles is far lower than the energy required to produce new tiles from raw materials, so the use of limited energy sources is reduced.
Finally, recycling keeps the tiles out of landfill, decreasing the amount of waste and its environmental impact.
Because less quarrying and mining are required, the destruction of habitats, landscape damage, dust and noise pollution are all reduced.
The energy needed to recycle the tiles is far lower than the energy required to produce new tiles from raw materials, so the use of limited energy sources is reduced.
Finally, recycling keeps the tiles out of landfill, decreasing the amount of waste and its environmental impact.
Examiner tips
- Use the exact phrases from the mark scheme – e.g. ‘recycling reduces the amount of raw materials…’, ‘less quarrying/mining…’, ‘recycling reduces the use of limited energy sources’, ‘recycling reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill’. Include all four points to gain all 4 marks. Keep each point brief and to the point, no extra explanation needed.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up ‘recycling’ with ‘reuse’ – only recycling counts. Omitting one of the four required points. Using vague terms like ‘less impact’ instead of the specific points in the scheme.
Mark scheme (4 marks)
- Recycling reduces the amount of raw materials that need to be extracted from the Earth
- Less quarrying/mining is required, so habitat destruction / landscape damage / dust / noise pollution is reduced
- Recycling reduces the use of limited energy sources / less energy is used overall compared to producing new tiles from raw materials
- Recycling reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill / reduces waste and its environmental impact
Key terms in this question
recycling · environmental impacts
Related
- All AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462) revision notes →
- How to answer a "Explain" question →
- Decode the mark scheme abbreviations →
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