IB DP ESS 7.3 Solid Waste Management - Teaching Notes & PowerPoint 2026

IB DP ESS 7.3 Solid Waste Management Teaching Notes & PowerPoint 2026

This comprehensive teaching and revision resource covers the Solid Waste Management topic (Topic 7.3) from the IB Diploma Programme Environmental Systems and Societies course (first assessment 2026). It is designed to serve two purposes: as supplemental teaching notes for instructors and as revision material for students.

Editable PowerPoint Version Included

In addition to the printable PDF version, this resource includes an editable PowerPoint presentation that mirrors the full content. Teachers may adapt slides, add case studies, embed videos, or modify explanations to suit different classroom contexts. This makes it suitable for direct instruction, revision lessons, and blended or digital learning environments.

What Makes This Resource Useful for ESS Teachers

Follows the Subject Guide Directly
The content is organised according to the IB ESS subject guide and covers all required assessment statements for Topic 7.3 in a clear and logical sequence, ensuring full syllabus alignment and structured lesson delivery. Topic 7.3 focuses on waste generation, impacts, and management strategies.

Helpful for New Teachers
If you are new to teaching ESS, this resource provides a clear framework for teaching waste systems, disposal methods, and sustainability, significantly reducing planning time.

Dual-Purpose Design
Use the material as your own teaching notes during lessons or provide it directly to students as structured revision notes. The explanations are clear enough for independent study while maintaining the depth required for IB ESS assessments.

Content Included

• Sources of waste including domestic, industrial, and agricultural waste
• Types of solid waste such as organic waste, plastics, metals, glass, and e-waste
• Solid domestic waste (SDW) and changing waste composition over time
• Socioeconomic and technological factors influencing waste production
• Environmental and social impacts of waste generation
• Waste disposal methods including landfill, incineration, recycling, and composting
• Waste management hierarchy: reduce, reuse, recycle, recover, dispose
• Preventative vs restorative waste management strategies
• Circular economy and sustainable resource use
• Transboundary waste issues and global waste challenges
• Policy, education, and incentives for sustainable waste management
• Key terminology and definitions highlighted for revision
• Diagrams, charts, and structured summaries to support conceptual understanding

This is a straightforward, curriculum-aligned teaching tool that presents the Solid Waste Management topic in a clear, organised format, making complex waste systems and sustainability concepts easy to teach, understand, and revise for IB ESS assessments.