Litter in Local Parks and Rivers

The question

How to approach this problem and solution question

A problem and solution essay needs specific causes or problems first, then realistic solutions that match them.

1. Introduce the issue and why it matters.
2. Body 1: the main problems or causes, with examples.
3. Body 2: solutions that clearly link to each problem, saying who should act.
4. Conclude by summarising the best solution.

How to plan this answer

Structure

1. Introduction: paraphrase the litter problem in parks and rivers and state that the causes are both behavioural and practical, so solutions must combine prevention and enforcement.
2. Body 1: the causes, covering single-use packaging, too few bins near takeaway areas and litter left at events.
3. Body 2: the solutions, covering more bins with regular collection, deposit return schemes for drinks containers and school education.
4. Body 3: the limitations, covering the cost of enforcement, temporary effects of clean-up days and the risk that bins overflow.
5. Conclusion: restate the causes and recommend a combination of solutions that addresses both the source and the behaviour.

Idea bank

• Plastic bottles and food packaging that wash into rivers after heavy rain, harming fish and birds.
• A busy summer weekend in a riverside park where picnic waste is left behind because bins are too far away.
• A deposit return scheme for bottles and cans, which gives people a financial reason to return containers.
• A fixed penalty notice for littering, which works only if officers are present to issue it.
• Counter-argument: placing the blame on individuals may let producers of single-use packaging avoid responsibility.

Useful vocabulary

• to dispose of: Visitors often dispose of packaging carelessly when bins are not nearby.
• a deposit return scheme: A deposit return scheme could raise recycling rates for bottles.
• a fixed penalty: A fixed penalty can deter littering, but only if it is enforced.
• to be washed downstream: Plastic waste can be washed downstream and harm wildlife far from the source.
• to tackle at source: Reducing single-use packaging tackles litter at source.
• to reinforce: Signs and regular patrols reinforce the message that littering is unacceptable.
• litter hotspots: Takeaway outlets are often litter hotspots after dark.
• to foster a sense of pride: Community clean-ups can foster a sense of pride in the local area.
• to be left to decay: Waste left at the water's edge can be left to decay and release pollutants.
• to carry out litter picks: Volunteers carry out litter picks on the riverbank every month.

Common mistakes

• Confusing litter with fly-tipping, which is the illegal dumping of large waste and needs different solutions.
• Describing solutions without explaining who would pay for them or how they would be run.
• Writing about parks in general and forgetting the question's specific focus on the damage to rivers and wildlife.
• Using unsupported claims such as 'people are lazy' instead of identifying realistic causes.

Examiner tip: Link each cause to a matching solution so the structure is clear. A paragraph that pairs a problem with its fix is easier for the examiner to credit.