Waste Management

• What is biodiversity?

  The variety of different species of organisms
• Why is maintaining biodiversity important?

  It makes ecosystems more stable
• How has the human population changed in the last 100 years?

  It has increased massively
• What has increased alongside the human population?

  The average standard of living
• What is a consequence of increased resource use by humans?

  More waste is produced, leading to pollution
• What does sewage contain?

  Urine and feces
• How is sewage treated in the UK?

  It is treated before being released
• What can happen if untreated sewage is released?

  It can accidentally pollute rivers or streams
• What effect do fertilizers have on rivers and streams?

  They cause dissolved oxygen levels to fall
• What can toxic chemicals from factories do to rivers?

  They can kill animals in the river
• How does waste from human activity affect aquatic ecosystems?

  It reduces biodiversity in these ecosystems
• What is one way air is polluted by human activities?

  Burning coal in power stations
• What can burning coal release into the air?

  Acidic gases that cause acid rain
• What is a consequence of air pollution?

  It can kill plants and animals
• What is one way land is polluted?

  Dumping millions of tons of waste in landfills
• What do landfills destroy?

  Habitats for plants and animals
• What can toxic chemicals from landfills do?

  They can leach out and pollute the soil
• What happens when toxic chemicals are dumped directly onto land?

  They can kill living organisms
• How does waste from human activities impact biodiversity?

  It reduces biodiversity across ecosystems
• Why is it important to handle waste materials carefully?

  To avoid harming the environment