WAMITAB - Chartered Institution of Wastes Management Recycling and Resource Recovery Questions and Answers

Question 1

A Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) needs to separate aluminium cans from a mixed stream of dry recyclables that has already had ferrous metals removed.
Which piece of equipment is specifically designed for this purpose?

Accepted Answer

Eddy Current Separator

Answer

Trommel Screen

Answer

Near-Infrared (NIR) Sorter

Answer

Air Classifier

Question 2

The PAS 110 specification is a critical quality standard in the UK resource recovery sector. To what waste treatment process and its primary output does it apply?

Accepted Answer

Anaerobic Digestion and the resulting whole digestate.

Answer

The recycling of waste aggregates into secondary construction materials.

Answer

Production of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) for energy recovery.

Answer

In-Vessel Composting and the resulting compost-like output.

Question 3

Which of the following is considered a major contaminant in a paper and card recycling stream that significantly reduces the quality and value of the final recycled product?

Accepted Answer

Grease and food residue from a pizza box

Answer

Metal staples from office documents

Answer

A plastic window from a billing envelope

Answer

Corrugated cardboard packaging tape

Question 4

An Energy from Waste (EfW) facility produces two primary solid residues from the combustion process: Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA) and Air Pollution Control residues (APCr). Which statement correctly distinguishes between them?

Accepted Answer

IBA is the non-combustible material from the furnace grate, often recycled as aggregate, while APCr is the hazardous fly ash captured from the flue gas.

Answer

IBA is a hazardous residue sent to specialist landfill, while APCr is a non-hazardous material used as an aggregate.

Answer

Both IBA and APCr are non-hazardous and are typically used together in construction projects.

Answer

IBA is the fine particulate matter captured by filters, while APCr is the coarse residue from the bottom of the furnace.

Question 5

In the context of household recycling collections, what is a primary advantage of a 'kerbside sort' system compared to a 'co-mingled' system?

Accepted Answer

It generally results in higher quality recycled materials with lower contamination rates.

Answer

Collection rounds are significantly faster and require less specialised vehicles.

Answer

It requires less public education and participation to be effective.

Answer

It allows for a much wider range of materials to be collected from households.

Question 6

A recycling facility processes various polymers. Which of the following plastic types is one of the most widely recycled in the UK, with a strong end-market, and is commonly used for beverage bottles and food trays?

Accepted Answer

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)

Answer

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Answer

Polystyrene (PS)

Answer

Polypropylene (PP)