21 What did Brendan find most surprising about the initial campus waste survey?
A Students were unaware of the recycling guidelines.
B The volume of takeaway coffee cups was lower than expected.
C The majority of waste came from the science labs.
22 When discussing the ‘Mug Shots’ reward campaign, Sophie is concerned that it
A would require too much funding to maintain.
B will take too much time to administer.
C might be seen as publicly shaming individuals.
23 Why do the students decide to focus their pilot program on the campus vending machines?
A The supplier has agreed to provide alternative packaging.
B The machines are due to be replaced anyway.
C It is the easiest area to monitor over time.
24 Regarding the proposed ban on polystyrene food boxes, both students agree that
A the university should subsidize the cost of biodegradable options.
B an outright ban is currently impractical.
C local businesses should be given a transition period.
25 What problem did the university face when they previously tried to implement a ‘Plastic-Free Week’?
A There was a lack of clear communication.
B Faculty members refused to participate.
C The event clashed with academic exams.
Questions 26-30
What solution do Brendan and Sophie agree to propose for each of the following campus areas?
Choose FIVE answers from the box and write the correct letter, A-G, next to Questions 26-30.
Solutions
A Require a refundable container fee
B Install large refillable wall units
C Use biodegradable alternatives
D Ban the items entirely
E Add a tax on synthetic packaging
F Provide price reductions for reusable mugs
G Set up additional drinking fountains
Campus Areas
26 Dining hall takeaway containers
27 Library cafe coffee cups
28 Sports centre water bottles
29 Washroom soap
30 Promotional giveaways
Keys
21 B
22 B
23 A
24 C
25 A
26 A
27 F
28 G
29 B
30 D
Transcripts
Part 3: You will hear two environmental science students, Brendan and Sophie, discussing a campus waste reduction project.
BRENDAN: Hi Sophie. Ready to plan our campus plastic reduction project?
SOPHIE: Yes. The initial waste survey results were surprising. I assumed students were unaware of the recycling guidelines, but our interviews showed they know the rules perfectly.
BRENDAN: That was a relief. It means we don’t have to spend a large part of our budget on basic awareness campaigns. We can jump straight into actionable steps.
SOPHIE: Exactly. So looking at the breakdown of where the rubbish is actually coming from…
BRENDAN: Right. I expected the science labs to generate the most waste, but the main dining halls produced far more. But what really caught me off guard was the data on takeaway coffee cups. I was certain they’d make up a massive portion of the rubbish, but their numbers were remarkably low.
SOPHIE: Definitely a positive revelation. It seems the student union’s recent push for using ceramic mugs in the cafes has actually paid off. Now, what about the ‘Mug Shots’ reward campaign for reusable cup users?
BRENDAN: It would appeal widely, especially if we feature the winners on the university’s social media pages.
SOPHIE: I have my doubts. Not because it might be seen as publicly shaming individuals – the tone is positive. My main concern is the administration involved. Tracking down winners will take up far too much of our time.
BRENDAN: Funding isn’t an issue since the union covers the budget, but you’re right about the time. We both have our final year dissertations to write, so we cannot afford to be managing this every single day. Let’s drop it. What about piloting our initiative on the vending machines?
SOPHIE: Since tracking sales data is difficult, it won’t be easy to monitor progress. And they aren’t due to be replaced, having just got a new five-year contract. However, the beverage supplier recently made a formal commitment to swap all plastic bottles for aluminum cans.
BRENDAN: Perfect target, then. It shows that corporate partners are willing to collaborate. Regarding the proposed ban on polystyrene food boxes at local cafes, I think we should push for an immediate ban.
SOPHIE: An outright ban is impractical right now. Small business owners are already struggling with rising rent costs.
BRENDAN: Should the university subsidize biodegradable options?
SOPHIE: They’ve explicitly refused to offer financial subsidies. Instead, we must allow local businesses a transition period, say six months, to use up their existing stock.
BRENDAN: I can agree to that. It is a much fairer approach. We also must learn from last year’s ‘Plastic-Free Week’. It didn’t clash with academic exams, did it?
SOPHIE: No, it was held well before the exam period. And faculty members were actually incredibly supportive. The issue was the administration sent emails late and the posters were confusing. The lack of clear communication ruined it.
BRENDAN: Let’s quickly decide on a solution for specific areas. Starting with the dining hall takeaway containers.
SOPHIE: We could use biodegradable alternatives.
BRENDAN: The industrial composter is closed. Let’s require a refundable container fee. Students pay an extra charge for a box and get it back upon return.
SOPHIE: That’s a brilliant idea. It encourages responsibility without creating more single-use trash.
BRENDAN: For the library cafe coffee cups, we could add a tax on synthetic packaging.
SOPHIE: Students resent extra fees. A better approach is to provide price reductions for bringing a reusable mug.
BRENDAN: You’re probably right. Let’s go with the reduced price. It feels much more encouraging.
SOPHIE: Now, the sports centre goes through thousands of water bottles. Should we ban the items entirely across all fitness facilities?
BRENDAN: That’s dangerous for athletes. If we simply set up additional drinking fountains around the gym, people will naturally refill their own bottles.
SOPHIE: Agreed. For the washrooms, should we switch to biodegradable wrappers for the soap?
BRENDAN: That would be far too expensive for our current budget. We should just ask the maintenance team to install large refillable wall units. They can easily top them up, eliminating those small pump bottles entirely.
SOPHIE: Good thinking. Finally, the promotional giveaways at student union events. Should we use eco-friendly materials?
BRENDAN: Even bamboo items end up in the bin. We should just ban the items entirely. We don’t need freebies at all.
SOPHIE: I completely agree with you. It will save money and reduce waste significantly.
