1. 1
   A local council introduces a scheme to collect used aluminium drinks cans separately from general waste, so that the metal can be melted down and reformed into new cans.

   (a)

   What is the main reason councils promote this kind of scheme?

   [1 mark]

   • ARecycling metals uses less energy and conserves limited raw materials compared with extracting new metal
   • BRecycled aluminium is chemically different from newly extracted aluminium
   • CRecycling produces more waste than mining new ore
   • DRecycling is required because aluminium cannot be extracted from ore at all

   (b)

   Extracting aluminium from its ore requires electrolysis, which uses very large amounts of electrical energy. Compared with this, what is the main energy advantage of recycling aluminium cans instead?

   [1 mark]

   • ARecycling requires no energy input at all
   • BRecycling only requires melting the metal, which uses far less energy than extracting it from ore
   • CRecycling uses the same amount of energy as extraction by electrolysis
   • DRecycling requires more energy because the metal must be purified twice

   (c)

   Explain why recycling metals such as aluminium is considered beneficial in terms of the use of limited resources.

   [2 marks]

   Total for question 1: 4 marks

2. 2
   A scrapyard collects old steel car bodies to melt down and reuse the iron and steel in new products, rather than sending the scrap to landfill.

   (a)

   Which of the following best explains why this reduces environmental damage?

   [1 mark]

   • ALandfill sites have no negative environmental effects, so this makes no difference
   • BMelting steel scrap produces no carbon dioxide at all
   • CIt avoids the need for further mining and quarrying of iron ore, which damages landscapes and habitats
   • DSteel cannot be extracted from ore, so recycling is the only source of iron

   (b)

   Which statement best describes the effect of recycling steel on the amount of energy needed compared with extracting the equivalent amount of iron from ore in a blast furnace?

   [1 mark]

   • AExtraction from ore uses no energy because it happens naturally
   • BRecycling steel uses significantly more energy than extracting from ore
   • CThere is no measurable difference in energy use between the two processes
   • DRecycling steel uses significantly less energy than extracting the same mass of iron from ore

   (c)

   Explain, in terms of energy use and environmental effects, why recycling steel is generally considered more sustainable than extracting new iron from ore.

   [2 marks]

   Total for question 2: 4 marks

3. 3
   A manufacturer of drinks cans is deciding whether to use newly extracted aluminium or recycled aluminium in its next production run.

   (a)

   Describe the process of extracting new aluminium from its ore, and state one major resource used in this process.

   [3 marks]

   (b)

   Compare this with the process of recycling used aluminium cans, and explain why the manufacturer might choose recycled aluminium instead.

   [4 marks]

   Total for question 3: 7 marks

4. 4
   A government is considering introducing a national scheme requiring all metal packaging (aluminium cans, steel tins) to be collected and recycled, rather than sent to landfill.

   (a)

   Explain the environmental and economic case for such a scheme, referring to the extraction processes for aluminium and iron/steel.

   [6 marks]

   (b)

   Evaluate possible challenges the government might face in implementing this national metal recycling scheme, and suggest how these challenges could be addressed.

   [6 marks]

   Total for question 4: 12 marks

End of questions