Recycling and limited resources

In a nutshell

The Earth has a finite (limited) supply of resources, which must be used sustainably. Sustainable means using resources in a way that minimises harm to the environment and leaves enough resources for future generations. Overuse of resources, lack of recycling and pollution-producing resources are issues in sustainability.

Resources

Resources are useful materials. Humans compete with other animals for natural resources, such as:

Food
Water
Space

Fossil fuels

Fossils fuels are fossils, formed from the remains of dead organisms millions of years ago, which are used as fuel. Fossil fuels are natural resources. Coal and crude oil are fossil fuels that humans use for:

Electricity
Heat
Engine fuel

Fossil fuels are unsustainable because they are non-renewable. This means they cannot be remade as quickly as we use them up - they take millions of years to make. Another reason why fossil fuels are unsustainable is that they release pollution, when they are burned. Pollution refers to harmful substances in the environment, which can harm humans, animals and plants.


Dead vegetation and animals in fossil fuels

Types of pollution

Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are some of the most common air pollutants.

Sulfur dioxide is produced when sulfur impurities in fossil fuels are burned, which causes acid rain
- Oxides of nitrogen, such as nitrogen dioxide, are produced when nitrogen impurities in fossil fuels are burned, which causes acid rain
Carbon monoxide is produced when fossil fuels don't burn completely (incomplete combustion)
- Carbon monoxide is toxic to humans and animals because it prevents the blood from carrying oxygen
Carbon dioxide is produced when fossil fuels burn completely (complete combustion)
- Carbon dioxide contributes to global warming and climate change

Renewable energy resources

Renewable energy resources are sources of energy that do not run out. These resources are therefore more sustainable than fossil fuels.

Examples

Solar energy from the sun
Wind energy from wind turbines
Geothermal energy from the Earth's internal heat

Another benefit of these energy sources over fossil fuels is that they produce very little pollution, when being used. However, they can be less reliable than fossil fuels. For example, the speed and strength of wind is not always enough to produce energy in wind turbines. It can also be very expensive to produce and run the equipment for renewable energy resources.

Science; Earth and atmosphere; KS3 Year 7; Recycling and limited resources — Solar panels are used to capture energy from the Sun.

Science; Earth and atmosphere; KS3 Year 7; Recycling and limited resources — Wind turbines used to convert energy from the wind into electricity.

Recycling

Converting resources, that have already been used, into other useful materials. Recycling is a sustainable practice and there are many materials which can be recycled.

Examples

Metal
Paper
Glass

Materials that can be recycled are marked with the recycling symbol.

Science; Earth and atmosphere; KS3 Year 7; Recycling and limited resources — Recycling symbol