Methods of Waste Disposal in Four Countries

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 - Bar Graph

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IELTS Writing Task 1 Question

The graph below shows four methods of dealing with waste in four countries.

128 - Methods of Waste Disposal in Four Countries

Common questions for the waste disposal graph

1. Graph Type: Column graph (bar chart).

2. Title: Methods of Waste Disposal in Four Countries

3. What are the units of measurement?: Percentage of waste disposed of by each method (landfilling, recycling, composting, incineration).

4. Who: The data compares the methods of waste disposal in four countries: the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and the UK.

5. When: The data is not time-specific, but it likely represents current waste disposal methods used by these countries.

6. Where: The countries being compared are the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and the UK.

7. Topic: The graph shows the distribution of waste disposal methods across four countries.

Process Showing and Trends

Comparison 1: Recycling

The Netherlands is the leader in recycling, with about two-thirds (66%) of its waste being recycled. In comparison, the UK only recycles 13% of its waste, making recycling the least popular method there.

Comparison 2 : Landfilling

Landfilling is the most common waste disposal method for Italy, Spain, and the UK. Italy and Spain landfill about 40% of their waste, while the UK landfills a larger percentage, around 65%. In contrast, the Netherlands uses landfilling for only 8% of its waste.

Comparison 3 : Composting and Burning

Landfilling is the most common waste disposal method for Italy, Spain, and the UK. Italy and Spain landfill about 40% of their waste, while the UK landfills a larger percentage, around 65%. In contrast, the Netherlands uses landfilling for only 8% of its waste.

Sample Answer

The given column graph illustrates waste disposal methods used in four countries: the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and the UK.

The Netherlands stands out for its high recycling rate, recycling two-thirds (66%) of its waste. In contrast, the UK recycles only 13% of its waste, with landfilling being the dominant method at 65%. Spain and Italy also primarily use landfilling, with both countries landfilling about 40% of their waste. Recycling is much less common in both these countries, with the Netherlands leading in this area.

When it comes to composting, the Netherlands uses 14% of its waste for composting, while the UK composts 17%. Burning, or incineration, is more widely used in Italy and Spain. Spain burns 30% of its waste, while Italy incinerates 22%, making burning the second most popular disposal method in these countries. The UK uses burning the least, at only 5%.

Overall, the Netherlands focuses on recycling, while landfilling and incineration are more prevalent in the UK, Italy, and Spain.

Top 25 Vocabularies

Vocabulary	Meaning	Synonyms	Examples	Type
Dominant	Having the most influence or power	Leading, primary	“Landfilling is the dominant method of waste disposal in the UK.”	Adjective
Incineration	The process of burning waste to convert it to ash	Burning, combustion	“Spain incinerates 30% of its waste, making burning the second most popular method there.”	Noun
Prevalent	Widespread, commonly occurring	Common, widespread	“Landfilling is the most prevalent method in Spain, Italy, and the UK.”	Adjective
Distribution	The way something is spread or arranged	Allocation, dispersion	“The distribution of waste disposal methods varies greatly between these countries.”	Noun
Conversion	The process of changing something into a different form or use	Transformation, change	“About 17% of the UK’s waste is converted into compost.”	Noun
Method	A way of doing something, a procedure or technique	Approach, process	“Recycling is the preferred method of waste disposal in the Netherlands.”	Noun
Focus	The center of attention or interest	Emphasis, concentration	“The Netherlands focuses on recycling more than other methods.”	Noun/Verb
Waste	Unwanted or unusable material	Rubbish, garbage	“The percentage of waste recycled varies greatly between countries.”	Noun
Prominent	Important or well-known	Noteworthy, distinguished	“Recycling is the prominent waste disposal method in the Netherlands.”	Adjective
Allocate	To distribute or assign resources or duties	Assign, allot	“The countries allocate a significant percentage of waste to landfilling.”	Verb
Contrast	To compare two things in order to highlight differences	Comparison, differentiation	“The graph contrasts waste disposal methods across four countries.”	Noun/Verb
Popular	Liked or enjoyed by many people	Well-liked, favored	“Incineration is the most popular method in Italy and Spain.”	Adjective
Emphasize	To give special importance to something	Highlight, stress	“The Netherlands emphasizes recycling, which is the highest in the region.”	Verb
Proportion	A part or share of a whole	Percentage, fraction	“A large proportion of the UK’s waste is landfilled.”	Noun
Predominant	The most important or noticeable	Dominant, principal	“Landfilling is the predominant waste disposal method in the UK.”	Adjective
Measure	A standard or method used to quantify or assess something	Gauge, indicator	“The graph measures the percentage of each waste disposal method used.”	Noun/Verb
Shift	A change or movement from one position to another	Change, transition	“There has been a shift in waste disposal methods in recent years.”	Noun/Verb
Ratio	A relationship between two numbers or amounts	Proportion, correlation	“The ratio of recycling to landfilling is much higher in the Netherlands.”	Noun
Utilize	To make use of something	Use, employ	“The UK utilizes composting and burning more than recycling.”	Verb
Shift	A change in direction or tendency	Transition, adjustment	“The waste disposal shift in Spain and Italy emphasizes more burning.”	Noun
Widely	To a large extent, in many places	Universally, extensively	“Burning is widely used in Italy and Spain.”	Adverb
Subsequent	Following in time or order	Next, ensuing	“Subsequent years saw an increase in the focus on recycling.”	Adjective
Variation	A change or difference in condition or amount	Difference, fluctuation	“There is a great variation in the waste disposal methods of these countries.”	Noun
Contribute	To give or add to something to help achieve something	Add, donate	“Incineration contributes significantly to waste management in Spain.”	Verb
Absence	The lack or nonexistence of something	Nonexistence, lack	“The absence of proper recycling infrastructure leads to more landfilling.”	Noun

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