Many people today are worried about the large quantities of waste produced by ordinary households. What problems are caused by household waste, and what solutions may be possible in both the short and the long term?

As an introduction, it is inevitable that modern households will produce some
waste
, but the increasing volumes of refuse over recent years present a challenge for us all. There seem to be two main problems stemming from
this
situation, and
also
two steps we could take to address it fully. Possibly the major problem is the huge question of how to collect, process and dispose of
this
material. Household
waste
comprises elements ranging from foodstuffs to metal, paper and plastics, and local authorities sometimes struggle to handle
such
a diverse mix of materials. The historical solution has been incineration or landfill, but the problems of pollution and long-term ground contamination which arise have led to widespread efforts to recycle at least some of the
waste
.
This
leads us to the second concern, which is the high cost of disposing of refuse in an ecologically sound manner. We would all wish as much as possible of our rubbish to be recycled (
for example
by paper pulping or reusing plastics) but the expense involved must be met by higher taxes and charges for households. Regarding possible solutions, probably the most immediate short-term solution would be to divert far more government funds into
waste
processing and recycling facilities at a local level.
This
would reduce the environmental impact of the
waste
by reducing pollution, and
also
lower our demand for raw materials, as more recycled products would
consequently
be produced. A
further
, longer-term solution might be to raise the level of public understanding of the need to consume less material in households, especially in terms of packaging and wasted food. A campaign of education along these lines would gradually lessen the volume of
waste
, especially if reinforced by incentives for consuming less and penalties for excessive
waste
, as we see being trialled in the UK at present. In conclusion, the main problems are both environmental and financial. The possible solutions involve more immediate investment in facilities
,
Remove the comma
apply
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and
also
encouraging long-term changes in household behaviour.
Submitted by anushka75 on

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Use cohesive linking words accurately and appropriately

Linking words are very important in your essay.

To score effectively on your IELTS exam, you should make an effort to implement short concise sentences coupled with linking words.

Almost every sentence in your essay should have a linking word of some sort.

In fact, the only sentences that can omit linking words are your background sentence and thesis.

Linking word examples:

  • firstly
  • secondly
  • thirdly
  • in additional
  • moreover
  • also
  • for example
  • for instance
  • therefore
  • however
  • although
  • even though
  • despite

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You are not ready for IELTS Speaking, if you

  • Can’t speak smoothly without pauses.
  • Use simple words and lack vocabulary.
  • Feel nervous and anxious when speaking.
Topic Vocabulary:
  • Waste management
  • Sustainable packaging
  • Environmental pollution
  • Overflowing landfills
  • Recycling efforts
  • Waste segregation
  • Composting
  • Biodegradable
  • Waste-to-energy
  • Public awareness
  • Single-use plastics
  • Renewable resources
  • Toxic emissions
  • Environmental sustainability
  • Resource conservation
What to do next:
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