Waste disposal, recycling and land reclamation

Transcription

1 ACTIVITY BRIEF Waste disposal, recycling and land reclamation The science at work Human activity has led to the generation of increasing amounts of waste. All of this has to be disposed of is some way. The traditional method for waste disposal was to bury it out of sight in huge landfill waste disposal sites or to dump it at sea. This has had major environmental impacts. For example, huge areas of the ocean floor have been rendered devoid of life by the disposal of rubbish and sewage from New York. The city does not have land available for waste disposal and has used the sea for many years. Waste buried in a landfill site is only hidden, it is not contained but causes environmental problems through emissions. Gases from decay including methane, a major greenhouse gas, enter the atmosphere. Leachate, the runoff containing cocktails of hazardous chemicals, and contaminated surface water enter streams and rivers and find their way into groundwater reservoirs. These emissions can continue for hundreds of years. Our treatment of waste has also been extremely wasteful. Diminishing finite resources have been thrown away. While scientists work to find better methods of waste disposal, our best strategy is to improve recycling, which conserves valuable resources; it also has the potential to hugely reduce the amount of waste that remains. Scientists are involved throughout industry in finding ways to create less waste and make recycling easier and more efficient. In the UK, local authorities are striving to reduce waste by increasing recycling. In the meantime, we have to remedy the environmental damage that has already been done. Land used for waste disposal can be reclaimed and made safe. It can be converted from causing harm to the environment to enhancing it. Scientists at waste disposal sites are investigating the best ways to restore the land to conserve species and increase biodiversity. Your brief Your task is to research some of the activities of the local authorities in Somerset and relate them to national issues associated with waste disposal, environmental damage, recycling and conservation. Use Study sheet: Waste disposal, land reclamation and recycling in Somerset Waste disposal, recycling and land reclamation: page 1 of 7

2 STUDY SHEET Waste disposal, land reclamation and recycling in Somerset Introduction Recycling has become a major local, national and international issue. The best way to reduce the problems caused by waste disposal is to reduce the amount of waste that we produce. The UK government has been introducing legislation which requires local authorities to increase recycling to meet nationally set standards. While the dependency on landfill sites for the disposal of rubbish is being reduced, many of the problems created by old sites and the associated environmental damage still remain. Scientists can help in land reclamation that aids conservation and increases biodiversity. Work being done in Somerset illustrates how some of the problems can be tackled. This study sheet helps you to research what is happening in Somerset, so that you can get ideas to find out about the work being done in your own area (or you could continue with Somerset, especially if you live there!). You will be able to consider aspects of the unit specification sections on Environmental change and damage, Managing conservation and Recycling materials. Managing waste in Somerset: a case study Work with one or two other students to: research the websites provided extract relevant information (see Instructions which follow) report your findings to your class. Websites Note: You will not have time to read through all of the websites. Skim through and select those which seem most useful Waste disposal, recycling and land reclamation: page 2 of 7

3 environmental_probl.html Instructions 1 For each section, review the websites. Extract and make short notes to record any of the relevant information that you can find. Concentrate on those aspects for which you can find useful information. Recycling The specification requires you to write a report which describes the recycling of a chosen material by a local authority including: one material to be recycled current government targets in relation to this material government policies and strategies which have been developed to allow the local authority to meet this target whether or not the local authority meets the targets set by the government for the recycling of the chosen material and the penalties imposed for not meeting the target how the material is collected by your chosen local authority how the collected material is processed. Does the local authority processes the material or is it passed to a processing centre? how the local authority encourages participation in the scheme to ensure it meets the government target for the chosen material the local and global environmental and economic significance of recycling the material. Environmental change and damage / Managing conservation The specification requires you to write a report which could include an urban development, the immediate impact of a new development and the longer term impact of the development. In Somerset this could be related to major new housing developments in the area served by the Carymoor/Dimmer landfill site, which (amongst other effects) would increase the amount of household waste. The report should describe: the identification of the reason for one cause of actual or potential damage to the environment by humans the explanation of the effects of this actual or potential damage Waste disposal, recycling and land reclamation: page 3 of 7

4 how this actual or potential damage can be/has been reduced the identification of any conservation measures that would be put in place to address this damage any conservation measures put in place to reduce damage to a habitat as a result of the activity you have chosen, which could include: o conservation of species o conservation of habitats, land reclamation and the recycling of urban land and protected areas such as green belts and national parks. 2 Make summarising notes to report back to your class: list each bullet point for which you have found useful information summarise the important information. 3 In class: take each bullet point in turn each group that has useful information should report their findings at each stage: critically assess the information that has been found. And now Decide which local authority, environmentally damaging activity and recycled material you will investigate and report on. Waste disposal, recycling and land reclamation: page 4 of 7

5 Teacher notes AQA Unit 16 Ecology, Conservation and Recycling The parts of the specification that are related to this activity are: In this unit you will learn about the environmental damage caused by an activity and how this damage may be reduced; the recycling, by a local authority, of one chosen material. You need to produce a portfolio of evidence which considers the ecology of an ecosystem and the impact mankind has had on the environment. Your portfolio of evidence should comprise B. a report which describes how humans may have caused, or may cause, damage to a habitat. How this actual or potential damage can be/has been reduced, and the relevance of any conservation measures, including: the identification of the reason for one cause of actual or potential damage to the environment the explanation of the effects of this actual or potential damage how this actual or potential damage can be/has been reduced the identification of any conservation measures that would be put in place to address this damage C. a report which describes the recycling of a chosen material by a local authority including: identification of one material to be recycled and current government targets in relation to this how the material is collected by your chosen local authority and how to encourage participation in the collection scheme the significance, economic and environmental, of recycling this material by a local authority 25.3 You need to know, understand and be able to demonstrate In order to complete the requirements of this unit you will need to know, understand and be able to demonstrate relevant knowledge of the following: environmental change and damage managing conservation recycling materials Waste disposal, recycling and land reclamation: page 5 of 7

6 Environmental change and damage All human activities have an impact on our environment. The land, water and air may be affected by these activities. We cannot avoid this but we can make sure we understand the impact of the activity and minimise it. We can use science and technology to develop efficient controls to reduce those impacts we cannot eliminate. You should consider the environmental damage caused by human activity and be able to explain how this damage is controlled or reduced in a habitat related to, one of the following activities an urban development the immediate impact of a new development and the longer term impact of the development Managing conservation You should consider any conservation measures put in place to reduce damage to a habitat as a result of the activity you have chosen. This could include: conservation of species conservation of habitats, land reclamation and the recycling of urban land and protected areas such as green belts and national parks Recycling materials All local authorities are under pressure from central government to ensure that they recycle a certain proportion of the waste generated in their area. You should identify a particular material for example paper, glass, metal, oil or fabric. You should be able to detail the issues relating to the recycling of your chosen material, including: the current government target in relation to the recycling of the chosen material. You will need to consider government policies and strategies which have been developed to allow the local authority to meet this target whether or not the local authority meets the targets set by the government for the recycling of the chosen material and the penalties imposed for not meeting the target how the chosen material is collected by the local authority from those who participate in the recycling scheme how the local authority encourages participation in the scheme to ensure it meets the government target in relation to the recycling of the chosen material how the collected material is processed. Does the local authority processes the material or is it passed to a processing centre? the local and global environmental and economic significance of recycling the material Waste disposal, recycling and land reclamation: page 6 of 7

7 Aims and teaching strategies The section of the specification that covers recycling requires students to have knowledge of the work of a local authority. Students are given URLs for websites associated with the activities of the local authorities in Somerset and asked to research these and associated websites for relevant information related to the requirements of the specification. The listed websites introduce The Friends of the Earth news releases as useful sources of information of national events, including government legislation. The activity is intended to be undertaken in small groups which then report back to each other for a class discussion. Individual students may then select their own local authority to investigate, looking for similar sources of information. If this is not successful, they can return to the Somerset example and use this for their research and reporting. Groups can be asked to tackle all the issues or they can be divided up between the groups, depending on the number of students and the time available. A double session could be used to introduce this part of the specification followed by the student research using the Study sheet with a single session used for the follow up and discussion. Requirements Each group of students will need a computer with access to the internet and a printer. Work will be facilitated if they have the Study sheet available on the computer so that they can click on the links rather than have to type in the URLs. In Somerset, part of the education process to encourage recycling focuses on Carymoor Environmental Trust. Students are introduced to this and to the wider issues engaged in by the Trust. The work of the Trust includes reclamation of a landfill waste disposal site, with a focus on wildlife conservation. There are a number of university funded research projects taking place on site, which still includes active landfill waste disposal. In addition to recycling, the requirements of the specification require one human activity (taken from a list) which damages the environment to be investigated. This includes an urban development, the immediate impact of a new development and the longer term impact of the development. One of the local area impacts is increased pressure on waste disposal services due to a rapidly rising local population with many nearby housing developments. This Somerset example, therefore also provides examples of responses to the specification sections on Environmental change and damage and Managing conservation. Managing student activity Local authorities are keen to publicise their work in recycling, conservation and other environmental areas. They frequently have free access to individuals through addresses and telephone numbers. Although credit needs to be given for individual work for this unit, it is likely that students will need to make contact with the same local organisations and individuals. To ensure their long term co-operation it is better to avoid each student approaching them separately. Students should be advised that all contact with centres or individuals outside their school or college must first be vetted by a teacher. Such contact can then be co-ordinated and the minimum pressure placed on those who may have most to contribute to this unit. Waste disposal, recycling and land reclamation: page 7 of 7