Waste and Pollution
Everyday, millions of things that could be reused or recycled end up being
thrown away. Waste, and how we deal with it, is fast becoming Earth’s biggest
problem. We all waste too much and we all need to do more to reduce this.
There are 5 different types of waste:
• liquid waste
• solid waste
• hazardous waste
• organic waste
• recyclable waste
Most waste falls under the category of
liquid or solid, some of which may or may not be hazardous.
Liquid waste includes dirty water from homes and liquids used for cleaning in
industries. Solid waste is predominantly rubbish that we make in our homes
and other places such as food and plastic waste.
Food Waste
According to the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation, the world wastes
one third of the food that is produced each year. The majority of this food waste
occurs in wealthier countries such as America, Canada and European countries.
In the UK alone, 1.9 million tons of food is wasted every year. This is especially
alarming as it is estimated that 8.4 million people in the UK struggle to afford
a meal.
There is an inequality in how food is wasted around the world. 40% of the
food wasted in wealthier countries is thrown out by consumers. This is usually
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Waste and Pollution
because shoppers buy too much food and then end up throwing a lot of it away
once it has gone off. This is known as food waste.
In poorer countries, most food waste occurs on farms or on its way to market.
In South Asia for example, half of all the cauliflower grown is lost due to a lack
of refrigeration. This is known as food loss. Very little food is thrown out by
consumers in poor countries as it is too precious.
Did You Know…?
Fruits and vegetables are the most common food to be
wasted. This is because they go off quickly and easily.
Plastic Waste
Plastic pollution is destroying our planet. Since plastic
was first mass produced just 60 years ago, experts estimate
that 8.3 billion metric tons of it has been created. More
shockingly, 6.3 billion of it has ended up as waste.
It takes more than 400 years for plastic to degrade and
when it does, it releases chemicals and pollutants into the
environment.
If serious changes are not made, experts predict that by 2050, there
will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic in landfills. This is 35,000
times heavier than the Empire State Building.
What Can We Do?
By making some of the following changes, we can all make a big and positive
impact on the environment:
• Buy smaller amounts of food so that less ends up being thrown away.
• Plan meals and only buy the food needed for that meal.
• Keep fruit and vegetables in the fridge so that it lasts longer.
• Recycle food and plastic; don’t just throw it in the bin.
• Refuse to buy single-use plastics such as water bottles and straws.
• Take reusable bags with you when you go shopping.
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Waste and Pollution
Questions
1. How many types of waste are there? Tick one.
3
6
5
10
2. Find and copy a word which means dangerous.
3. Explain why it is shocking that the UK wastes 1.9 million tons of food every year.
4. Explain in your own words what food waste is.
5. How much plastic waste has been created in the last 60 years?
6. How long does it take plastic to degrade? Tick one.
200 years
400 years
1000 years
40 years
7. Fill in the missing words in the sentence below:
If serious changes are not made, experts that by 2050, there will be
12 metric tons of plastic in landfills.
8. Explain in detail how people can reduce how much food they waste.
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Waste and Pollution
Answers
1. How many types of waste are there? Tick one.
3
6
5
10
2. Find and copy a word that means dangerous.
hazardous
3. Explain why it is shocking that the UK wastes 1.9 million tons of food every year.
Pupil’s own response, such as: It is shocking that the UK wastes so much food every
year because it is estimated that 8.4 million people in the UK struggle to afford a meal.
They could be fed using some of the food that is wasted.
4. Explain in your own words what food waste is.
Pupil’s own response, such as: Food waste is when consumers buy too much food, don’t
eat it before it goes off and then throw it away. This is different to food loss.
5. How much plastic waste has been created in the last 60 years?
8.3 billion metric tons
6. How long does it take plastic to degrade? Tick one.
200 years
400 years
1000 years
40 years
7. Fill in the missing words in the sentence below:
If serious changes are not made, experts predict that by 2050, there will be 12 billion
metric tons of plastic in landfills.
8. Explain in detail how people can reduce how much food they waste.
Pupil’s own response, such as: People can reduce how much food they waste by buying
smaller amounts of food when they go shopping, planning their meals so that they only
buy what they need, keeping fruit and vegetables in the fridge so that they last longer
and recycling food rather than just throwing it in the bin.
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Waste and Pollution
Around the world, every day, millions of items that could be
reused or recycled end up being disposed of. Waste, and
how we deal with it, is fast becoming Earth’s most
serious problem. We all waste too much and we
all need to do more to reduce this.
There are 5 different types of waste:
• liquid waste
• solid waste
• hazardous waste
• organic waste
• recyclable waste
The majority of waste falls under the category of liquid or solid, some of which
may or may not be hazardous, and some waste can be more than one type.
Liquid waste includes contaminated water from homes, liquids used for cleaning
in industries and toxic waste from factories. Solid waste is predominantly
rubbish that we make in our homes and other places such as food and plastic
waste.
Food Waste
According to the UN’s FAO (Food and Agricultural Organisation), the world
wastes one third of the food that is produced each year. The majority of this
food waste occurs in wealthier countries such as America, Canada and European
countries. In the UK alone, 1.9 million tons of food is wasted every year. The
waste charity, WRAP, claim that 400,000 tons of this wasted food could actually
be redistributed to those in need. This is particularly relevant as it is estimated
that 8.4 million people in the UK struggle to afford a meal.
There is an inequality in how food is wasted around the world. 40% of the
food wasted in wealthier countries is thrown out by consumers. This is usually
because shoppers buy too much food and then end up throwing a lot of it away
once it has gone off. This is known as food waste.
In poorer countries, most food waste occurs at production level on farms or on
its way to market. In South Asia for example, half of all the cauliflower grown
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Waste and Pollution
is lost due to a lack of refrigeration. This is known as food loss. Very little food
is thrown out by consumers in poor countries as it is too precious.
Did You Know…?
Fruits and vegetables (especially root vegetables)
are the most common food to be wasted. This is
because they do not have a very long shelf life
and need to be eaten soon after purchase.
Plastic Waste
Plastic pollution is devastating our planet. Mass production of plastic and plastic
goods only began around 60 years ago and yet experts estimate that 8.3 billion
metric tons of it has been created in that time. More shockingly, 6.3 billion of it
has ended up as waste in our landfills and oceans. It takes more than 400 years
for plastic to degrade and when it does, it releases chemicals and pollutants into
the environment.
Unless serious changes are made, experts predict that by 2050, there will
be 12 billion metric tons of plastic in landfills, which is 35,000 times
heavier than the Empire State Building.
What Can We Do?
By making some of the following changes, we can all make a
big and positive impact on the environment:
• Buy smaller amounts of food so that less ends up being
thrown away.
• Plan meals and only buy the food needed for that meal.
• Refrigerate fruit and vegetables to prolong their lifespan.
• Recycle food and plastic; don’t just throw it in the bin.
• Refuse to buy single-use plastics such as water bottles
and straws.
• Take reusable bags with you when you go shopping.
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Waste and Pollution
Questions
1. Find and copy a word or phrase that means thrown away.
2. Explain in your own words what type of waste you think grass cuttings would be and
why.
3. What does FAO stand for? Tick one.
Farming and Agricultural Organisation
Food and Animal Organisation
Food and Agricultural Organisation
Food and Agricultural Order
4. How much of the food produced each year is wasted around the world?
5. What do WRAP think should be done to help the 8.4 million people in the UK who struggle
to afford a meal.
6. Explain in your own words what food loss is.
7. What food type is the most commonly wasted?
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Waste and Pollution
8. How much plastic do experts predict will be in landfills by 2050? Tick one.
35 000 million metric tons
12 million metric tons
6.3 billion metric tons
12 billion metric tons
9. Explain in detail how people can reduce how much plastic they use and waste.
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Waste and Pollution
Answers
1. Find and copy a word or phrase that means thrown away.
disposed of
2. Explain in your own words what type of waste you think grass cuttings would be and why.
Accept solid waste, organic waste, recyclable waste or a combination of any of the three
with an explanation.
Pupil’s own response, such as: I think that grass cuttings would be solid and organic
waste because it is something that you can hold in your hands which means that it is
solid but it is from the ground and so is organic.
3. What does FAO stand for? Tick one.
Farming and Agricultural Organisation
Food and Animal Organisation
Food and Agricultural Organisation
Food and Agricultural Order
4. How much of the food produced each year is wasted around the world?
one third
5. What do WRAP think should be done to help the 8.4 million people in the UK who struggle
to afford a meal.
Pupil’s own response, such as: WRAP think that 400,000 of the 1.9 million tons of
wasted food in the UK should be redistributed to those in need such as the 8.4 million
people who cannot afford a meal.
6. Explain in your own words what food loss is.
Pupil’s own response, such as: Food loss is when food is ruined or destroyed whilst it is
being produced on farms or when it is on its way to the market. This is different from
food waste.
7. What food type is the most commonly wasted?
fruit and vegetables
8. How much plastic do experts predict will be in landfills by 2050? Tick one.
35 000 million metric tons
12 million metric tons
6.3 billion metric tons
12 billion metric tons
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Waste and Pollution
9. Explain in detail how people can reduce how much plastic they use and waste.
Pupil’s own response, such as: People can reduce how much plastic they use and waste
by recycling plastic rather than just throwing it in the bin, not buying single-use
plastics like water bottles and straws and using reusable shopping bags rather than
buying more.
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Waste and Pollution
Millions of goods that could and should be reused or recycled actually end up
being thrown away on a daily basis around the world. Waste, and how we deal
with it, is fast becoming Earth’s most serious problem. We all waste too much
and we all need to do more to reduce this.
There are 5 different types of waste. These include: liquid waste, solid waste,
hazardous waste, organic waste and recyclable waste. The majority of waste
is classified as either liquid or solid and some may or may not be hazardous.
Some waste can also fall under several categories, such as batteries, which are
both solid and hazardous.
Liquid waste includes contaminated water from homes, cleaning products
used and produced in industries and toxic waste from factories. Solid waste is
primarily rubbish that we make in our homes and other places such as food and
plastic waste.
According to the UN’s FAO (Food and Agricultural Organisation), the world
wastes one third of the food that is produced each year. This is equivalent to
1.3 billion tons of food; the same weight as around 300 million elephants!
The majority of this food waste occurs in wealthier countries such as America,
Canada and European countries. In the UK alone, 1.9 million tons of food is
wasted every year. The waste charity, WRAP, claim that 400,000 tons of this
wasted food could actually be redistributed to those in need. This particularly
relevant as it is estimated that 8.4 million people in the UK struggle to afford
a meal.
Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic objects and particles in the
Earth’s environment that has a negative and devastating affect on wildlife and
humans. Mass production of plastic and plastic goods only began around six
decades ago and yet experts estimate that in this time, 8.3 billion metric tons
of it has been created. More shockingly, 6.3 billion of it has ended up as waste
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Waste and Pollution
in our landfills and oceans. This is hazardous as it takes more than 400 years
for plastic to degrade and as it does, it releases chemicals and pollutants into
the environment.
WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) works with businesses,
individuals and communities to help them reduce waste, develop sustainable
products and use resources in an efficient way.
Countries do not waste food equally or in the same way. 40% of the food
wasted in wealthier countries is simply thrown out by consumers. This is
usually because shoppers buy too much food and then end up throwing a
lot of it away once it has gone off. This is referred to as food waste.
Elsewhere in poorer parts of the world, most food waste occurs either during
production or transportation. In South Asia for example, half of all the
cauliflower grown is lost due to a lack of refrigeration. This is referred to as
food loss. In comparison to richer countries, very little food is thrown out
by consumers in poor countries; food is simply too scarce.
Did You Know…?
Fruits and vegetables (especially root vegetables) are the most commonly
wasted food. This is because they are perishable goods and need to be
consumed shortly after purchase.
Unless serious changes are made, experts predict that by 2050, there will be 12
billion metric tons of plastic in landfills which is 35,000 times heavier than the
Empire State Building.
There are numerous small changes that we can all make in order to help reduce
the amount of food waste and plastic pollution that is created on a daily basis.
Buying smaller amounts of food in the first place means that less will be thrown
away. Planning meals will help to scale down your shopping list as you will
only buy food necessary for particular meals. Refrigerating fruit and vegetables
will help to prolong their lifespan, giving you more time to eat them before they
expire. Recycling food and plastic rather than simply binning it is an important
process to keep items from ending up on landfills. Avoiding single-use plastics
and using reusable bags two other simple ways in which we can try to improve
our planet.
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Waste and Pollution
Questions
1. Which of the following is NOT a type of waste? Tick one.
hazardous
organic
oxygen
recyclable
2. What three types of waste do you think grass cuttings and leaves would be classified as?
Explain your answer.
3. Find and copy a word which means poisonous.
4. What is the amount of food wasted in the world each year compared to?
5. What does WRAP stand for? Tick one.
Water and Resources Action Programme
Waste and Recycling Action Programme
Waste and Recycling Agricultural Programme
Waste and Resources Action Programme
6. Explain one way in which WRAP believe that food wasted could be reduced in the UK.
7. Explain the difference between food loss and food waste.
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Waste and Pollution
8. Why do you think fruits and vegetables are the most commonly wasted food? Explain your
answer fully.
9. Explain in your own words why plastic pollution is such a serious issue. Use evidence from
the text to support your answer.
10. Fill in the missing words in the sentence below:
fruit and vegetables will help to their lifespan,
giving you more time to eat them before they .
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Waste and Pollution
Answers
1. Which of the following is NOT a type of waste? Tick one.
hazardous
organic
oxygen
recyclable
2. What three types of waste do you think grass cuttings and leaves would be classified as?
Explain your answer.
Pupil’s own response, such as: Grass cuttings and leaves would be classified as solid,
organic and recyclable waste. Solid because it can be touched and picked up, organic
because it comes from the Earth and recyclable because it is biodegradable.
3. Find and copy a word which means poisonous.
toxic
4. What is the amount of food wasted in the world each year compared to?
300 million elephants
5. What does WRAP stand for? Tick one.
Water and Resources Action Programme
Waste and Recycling Action Programme
Waste and Recycling Agricultural Programme
Waste and Resources Action Programme
6. Explain one way in which WRAP believe that food wasted could be reduced in the UK.
Pupil’s own response, such as: WRAP believe that 400,000 tons of the 1.9 million tons of
wasted food in the UK could be redistributed to those in need such as those who struggle
to afford to buy a meal.
7. Explain the difference between food loss and food waste.
Pupil’s own response, such as: Food loss is when food perishes or is damaged or
destroyed whilst it is being produced or transported. For example, cauliflowers in South
Asia go off because they are not refrigerated. Food waste is when food is simply thrown
away after it has been purchased by consumers. They may have bought too much food
in the first place and then it goes off and is thrown away.
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Waste and Pollution
8. Why do you think fruits and vegetables are the most commonly wasted food? Explain your
answer fully.
Pupil’s own response, such as: I think that fruits and vegetables are the most commonly
wasted food because they do not have a very long lifespan and need to be eaten soon
after being brought. If they are not, they will go off and people then have to throw them
away.
9. Explain in your own words why plastic pollution is such a serious issue. Use evidence from
the text to support your answer.
Pupil’s own response, such as: Plastic pollution is such a serious issue because 8.3
billion metric tons of it have been produced in the last 60 years and 6.3 billion of it has
ended up in landfills and oceans. This is damaging for the environment because as it
degrades (which takes more than 400 years) it releases chemicals and pollutants into
the environment.
10. Fill in the missing words in the sentence below:
Refrigerating fruit and vegetables will help to prolong their lifespan, giving you more time
to eat them before they expire.
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