| Date | November 2021 | Marks available | 3 | Reference code | 21N.1.SL.TZ0.5 |
| Level | Standard Level | Paper | Paper 1 | Time zone | Time zone 0 |
| Command term | Evaluate | Question number | 5 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Figure 10(a): Recycling rates in London and England, 2000–2015
[Source: Greater London Authority, 2016. Draft Economic Evidence Base 2016. [online] Available at: https://www.london.
gov.uk/sites/default/files/draft-eeb-2016.pdf [Accessed 1 June 2020].]
Figure 10(b): Proportions of material recycled in London, 2006
With reference to Figures 10(a) and 10(b), suggest one reason why London’s recycling rates are lower than in the rest of England.
Evaluate the effectiveness of recycling as a waste management strategy for London
Markscheme
- difficult to access recycling points / fewer recycling bins;
- cost of collection too high due to population in London;
- lack of political action / lack of incentive to recycle;
- London produces a greater proportion of non-recyclables in its waste than the rest of the country;
- London is multicultural and not all cultures place the same emphasis on recycling;
- lack of awareness / not sufficient education campaigns to promote recycling;
Note: Do not accept only ‘London has a large population / people refuse to recycle / harder for people in London to recycle / London produces a lot of waste’.
Effective [2 max]:
- reduces waste going to landfill / reduces need for more land for landfill;
- reduction in GHG/methane from landfill;
- reduces need for incineration which adds to London’s air pollution;
- reduces demand for extraction of new resources/reduces EF;
- can contribute to green markets and create jobs;
Note: Do not accept only ‘reduces waste / less waste going into the environment (e.g. rivers/oceans)’.
Ineffective [2 max]: - currently a relatively low rate of recycling / not everyone is recycling effectively / requires change in lifestyle/behaviour / difficult to change behaviour;
- recycling schemes can be quite expensive;
- there may be a lack of recycling companies;
- not all waste can be recycled;
- recycling centres may need to be located outside the city (due to lack of available land), thereby increasing traffic/transport costs / recycling centres need infrastructure which may take up land (green space);
- recycling (is end of pipe measure that) does not tackle problem of high waste production/over-exploitation of resources/over-consumption/consumerism;
Conclusion [1 max] needs to be balanced considering both sides of the argument for credit.
Note: Conclusion is not mandatory and [3] marks can be achieved through consideration of both pros and cons.
Examiners report
There were very mixed responses to this question. A common error was to suggest that due to the high population in London more waste was generated rather than focusing on why the recycling rate was lower.
Most candidates achieved at least one mark for this question by recognising that the current rate of recycling was relatively low. Very few students achieved three marks.
