1. 1
   A town council is investigating why plastic waste continues to build up in its landfill sites year after year, despite ongoing waste collection.

   (a)

   A town council is struggling to manage the growing amount of plastic waste in its landfill sites. Which property of many common polymers is mainly responsible for this problem?

   [1 mark]

   • AThey are not biodegradable
   • BThey are highly flammable
   • CThey react rapidly with water
   • DThey are radioactive

   (b)

   What does it mean to say that a polymer is 'not biodegradable'?

   [1 mark]

   • AIt cannot be recycled under any circumstances
   • BIt is not broken down by microbes
   • CIt dissolves completely in rainwater
   • DIt is toxic to touch

   (c)

   Describe two problems caused by the fact that many polymers are not biodegradable.

   [2 marks]

   Total for question 1: 4 marks

2. 2
   A packaging company develops a new type of plastic bag made using cornstarch, aiming to reduce the environmental problems caused by ordinary, non-biodegradable plastic bags.

   (a)

   A company develops a new type of plastic bag designed to break down more easily than ordinary plastic bags. Which material is added to help achieve this?

   [1 mark]

   • ACopper
   • BSulfur
   • CBromine
   • DCornstarch

   (b)

   What is the main advantage of plastic bags made using cornstarch, compared with ordinary non-biodegradable plastic bags?

   [1 mark]

   • AThey cannot be produced on a large scale
   • BThey are completely indestructible
   • CThey break down more easily in the environment
   • DThey are heavier than ordinary plastic bags

   (c)

   Explain how using cornstarch in plastic bags could help to reduce the environmental problems caused by ordinary plastic bags.

   [2 marks]

   Total for question 2: 4 marks

3. 3
   An environmental group carries out a beach clean-up and compares samples of ordinary plastic litter with newer, cornstarch-based biodegradable plastic litter that has been in the environment for the same length of time.

   (a)

   An environmental group compares ordinary plastic litter with biodegradable, cornstarch-based plastic litter found on a beach. Explain why the ordinary plastic litter causes a longer-term environmental problem.

   [3 marks]

   (b)

   Describe how cornstarch-based biodegradable plastics help to address the problem of plastic litter, and describe one limitation of this solution.

   [4 marks]

   Total for question 3: 7 marks

4. 4
   A local government environmental committee is reviewing the long-term impact of plastic waste on the community and evaluating whether newer biodegradable plastics offer a realistic solution.

   (a)

   Discuss the problems caused by the fact that many polymers are not biodegradable, with reference to waste disposal, landfill sites and litter.

   [6 marks]

   (b)

   Evaluate the use of cornstarch-based biodegradable plastics as a solution to the problems caused by non-biodegradable polymer waste.

   [6 marks]

   Total for question 4: 12 marks

End of questions