Waste Sorting, Collection, And Disposal - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Recent Actual Test 1 Academic Listening Test 5 · Part 2 · Questions 11–20
Audio
Questions
Questions 11–20 Form Completion
Complete the form below.
Write ONE WORD AND / OR A NUMBER for each answer.
| Waste sorting, collection, and disposal | |
|---|---|
| Necessary characteristics of dustbins: Solid and 11 | |
| Waste sorting | Three kinds:
Recyclable garbage (blue or green bin) Unrecyclable garbage (yellow bin) Toxic waste (red bin) |
| Waste collection | Commercial waste collection:
It mainly refers to 12 waste. Warning signs state not to 13 blue/green bins. Those 14 metals will cause environmental pollution. Household waste collection: All kitchen garbage should be put into a 15 bag. |
| Waste disposal | The garbage disposal plant is situated in an 16 space or field.
The waste is disposed of at least once every 17. The dustbin should be cleared at night because of 18. The waste is mainly produced by 19, industry, retail, and offices. Please do not dispose of 20 in any of the bins. |
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q11 | waterproof | Also, since these things sit out on the curb overnight rain or shine, they have to be waterproof | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that because the trash bins are left outside on the sidewalk during the night, regardless of whether it is raining or not, it is necessary for them to be able to resist water. Answer Explanation: The answer "waterproof" means that something is made to keep water out or prevent water from getting into it. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is correct because the speaker describes the requirements for the garbage bins. They mention that the bins are made of a "solid material" and must be "waterproof" because they stay outside where it might rain. |
| Q12 | building | The first is commercial waste collection, or trash collection from buildings | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that commercial waste collection is simply the process of picking up garbage from buildings. Answer Explanation: The answer "building" refers to the type of location where commercial trash comes from. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "building" because the speaker defines commercial waste collection as the collection of trash from buildings. She also uses the phrase "building waste" in the following sentences to describe the items found in those locations, such as paper and metals. |
| Q13 | overfill | You'll notice in your office buildings there are signs that warn you not to overfill these bins | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that there are warning signs in office buildings telling people not to put too much garbage inside the recycling bins. Answer Explanation: The answer 'overfill' means to put too much trash into a container so that it becomes full or spills out. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'overfill' because the speaker mentions that there are signs in office buildings (commercial locations) instructing people not to put too much paper in the blue or green recycling bins. This is because bins that are too full are much harder for trash workers to carry and empty into the truck. |
| Q14 | heavy | Metals such as tin and aluminium can be put in the yellow recycle bins, but metals like lead and copper should be disposed of in the red bins. These heavy metals are harmful to the environment and exacerbate our city's existing pollution problem | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that while some metals are okay for yellow bins, others like lead and copper are "heavy metals." It clearly states that these types of metals hurt the environment and increase pollution. Answer Explanation: The answer "heavy" refers to a specific group of metals (like lead and copper) that are very dangerous for nature and the environment. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "heavy" because the speaker discusses different types of metals found in building waste. She mentions that metals such as lead and copper are called "heavy metals" and notes that they are harmful to the environment and make the city's "pollution problem" worse. The form asks for the specific word describing metals that cause this damage. |
| Q15 | plastic | Please remember to keep garbage like kitchen waste in a plastic bag | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that people should use a bag made of plastic for their kitchen trash. Answer Explanation: The answer "plastic" is the type of material the bag must be made of. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "plastic" because the speaker tells the people living in the city to put their food trash into a plastic bag. Using this kind of bag makes it easier for workers to pick up the trash and also helps reduce the bad smell of old food. |
| Q16 | open | We take all the garbage to one of a number of garbage disposal plants, each of which is located in the middle of an open space of some sort | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the facilities used to process trash are built in areas where there is a lot of empty land. Answer Explanation: The answer 'open' describes a place that is not enclosed and has a lot of empty room around it. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on the section of the talk where the speaker describes the location of the garbage disposal plants. She mentions that these plants are placed in the middle of a large area with no nearby houses or offices. Using the word 'open' fits the description of a space or field that is empty and clear. |
| Q17 | 4 weeks | Waste is collected and then disposed of once every four weeks | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the garbage is picked up and destroyed every four weeks. Answer Explanation: The answer "4 weeks" means that the trash is taken away and gets destroyed one time in a period of four weeks. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "4 weeks" because the speaker says that trash is picked up and processed one time every four weeks. While the city wants to do this more often in the future, the current schedule for disposing of the waste is once every four weeks. |
| Q18 | traffic | The garbage trucks make their rounds to clear the bins at night in order to avoid traffic | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the trucks come to empty the trash bins when it is dark so they do not have to drive among too many other vehicles. Answer Explanation: The answer is the movement of many cars and trucks on the road at the same time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is traffic because the speaker explains that garbage trucks perform their collection duties during the night hours specifically to stay away from busy roads. Using the phrase 'in order to avoid' shows the reason why they choose to work at night instead of during the day. |
| Q19 | businesses | Yep, the main waste producers are actually businesses, industrial facilities, retail, and offices | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the groups responsible for making the most trash are businesses and other commercial or industrial sites. Answer Explanation: The answer "businesses" refers to companies or organizations that sell products or services. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "businesses" because the speaker identifies them as one of the primary sources of waste. While many people believe that homes produce the most trash, the transcript explains that the biggest creators of waste are actually businesses, industrial factories, retail stores, and offices. |
| Q20 | stones | Items such as stones, which should not be disposed of in our bins, are separated out and discarded | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explicitly states that stones should not be put into the waste bins provided by the city. Answer Explanation: The answer is stones. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is stones because the speaker mentions them as a specific example of items that are not allowed in the bins. These items are removed during the sorting process at the disposal plant because they do not belong there. Paying attention to words like 'should not' or 'discarded' helps identify items that are forbidden. |
Transcript
Hi folks, my name is Loretta Johnston, and I'm here from the Baltimore Department of Public Waste. Thank you for coming out to our community meeting tonight. I've got a few words to say about the waste collection here in Baltimore.
First, there's the sorted collection bins themselves. They're made of sturdy, solid material, so none of your trash can seep out or puncture the bin. Also, since these things sit out on the curb overnight rain or shine, they have to be waterproof. We can't have water getting up in it and filling up the bin. Remember to pay attention to which bin is which, and sort your waste accordingly. You should have a blue or green bin for recyclable garbage, a yellow bin for unrecyclable garbage, and a red bin for toxic waste.
Our citywide waste management is divided into two services. The first is commercial waste collection, or trash collection from buildings. The majority of building waste is paper, which goes in the blue or green bins. You'll notice in your office buildings there are signs that warn you not to overfill these bins. All that paper adds up, and an overflowing bin is infinitely harder for collectors to carry to the truck and empty.
Aside from paper, another large source of building waste is metals. Metals such as tin and aluminium can be put in the yellow recycle bins, but metals like lead and copper should be disposed of in the red bins. These heavy metals are harmful to the environment and exacerbate our city's existing pollution problem.
That's about all the information you need for building waste. Moving on to the second service, household waste collection is probably what you primarily think of when you think of what we do here... Many of the same guidelines apply - the sorting is the same, et cetera. Please remember to keep garbage like kitchen waste in a plastic bag. It makes collection easier and lessens the abominable rotten-trash smell.
So after we take your trash away, what happens to it? We take all the garbage to one of a number of garbage disposal plants, each of which is located in the middle of an open space of some sort. No one wants to have their home or office right next door to a waste disposal plant, right? Waste is collected and then disposed of once every four weeks. A lot of trash can build up in that time, so we're in the process of developing a plan to fund collection more frequently. Ideally it would be collected weekly, but we will likely have to settle for biweekly. The garbage trucks make their rounds to clear the bins at night in order to avoid traffic.
I'm sure you've seen how much waste your own household produces in a given week. Now imagine all the trash produced by all the households in Baltimore. It's a lot, right? It may surprise you that this amount is only marginal compared to commercial waste. Yep, the main waste producers are actually businesses, industrial facilities, retail, and offices. Hard to believe humans produce that much waste, right? No wonder we have pollution problems!
Anyway, after all incoming waste is sorted, recyclables are sent to a recycling plant, while garbage and toxic waste are transported to their respective areas of the plant for treatment. Items such as stones, which should not be disposed of in our bins, are separated out and discarded.
Once the trash has undergone the treatment process, it is compacted and disposed of with all the other trash and finally, when the landfill space is full, it is buried deep underground and in time something new is built on the land.
That's everything about waste collection. Thank you for listening. Are there any questions?