Describe four ways in which recycling metals reduces the environmental impact of obtaining and using resources.

AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462) — 4.10.1 Using the Earth's resources and obtaining potable water · Describe · 4 marks · View as Markdown

Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).

Model answer (4 marks)

1. It reduces the need for quarrying or mining of new ore deposits.
2. It conserves finite raw‑material reserves, extending the life of ore deposits.
3. It requires far less energy than extracting and refining metal from ore.
4. It cuts the amount of waste that would otherwise be sent to landfill.

Examiner tips

  • Use the exact phrases from the mark scheme (e.g., "reduces the amount of quarrying"),
  • Show each point as a separate bullet or numbered line to match the 4‑mark structure.
  • Include the word "finite" or "limited" when talking about raw materials.
  • Mention "energy" and "landfill" explicitly to hit the key words.

Common mistakes

  • Writing vague statements such as "recycling saves resources" without specifying quarrying or energy.
  • Using UK spelling inconsistently (e.g., "mining" vs. "mining" is fine, but avoid American spellings).
  • Omitting one of the four required points or combining two points into one sentence.

Mark scheme (4 marks)

  1. Recycling reduces the amount of quarrying or mining needed (to extract ore)
  2. Recycling conserves finite/limited raw materials (ore reserves last longer)
  3. Recycling uses less energy than extracting and processing metal from ore
  4. Recycling reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill / reduces waste produced

Key terms in this question

recycling

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