NZQA registered unit standard
22636 version 3
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Title
Explain concepts relating to sustainability, resource use, recycling,
and the environment
Level
3
Credits
Purpose
8
This unit standard is for people working or training to work in
the public or private sectors of the resource recovery and
residual waste industries.
People credited with this unit standard are able to explain
concepts relating to sustainability, resource use, recycling, and
the environment.
Classification
Resource Recovery > Resource Recovery Theory
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
Evidence must be consistent with The New Zealand Waste Strategy: Reducing
Harm, Improving Efficiency 2010 Ministry for the Environment, available at
http://www.mfe.govt.nz.
2
Definitions
Ecosystem services are the processes by which the environment produces resources
of value such as clean water, timber, scenic views, and pollination of native and
agricultural plants.
NIMBY stands for not in my back yard.
The precautionary principle means where significant environmental damage may
occur, but the knowledge on the matter is incomplete. Decisions made and
measures implemented err on the side of caution.
Residual waste is also called rubbish, refuse, or mixed waste. It refers to the fraction
of the waste stream remaining after recyclable materials have been removed.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Explain concepts relating to sustainability, resource use, recycling, and the environment.
Evidence requirements
1.1
The term sustainability is explained in context.
Range
context – environmental, social, cultural, economic;
evidence is required of two contexts.
NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation
(Incorporated) (MITO)
SSB Code 101542
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
1.2
The life cycle of a product is explained in terms of resource use and
environmental cost.
Range
1.3
life cycle includes but is not limited to – resource extraction,
production, consumption, end-of-life, recycling, disposal;
product may be household or industrial;
evidence of one product is required.
Resource use is explained in terms of linear and cyclical production systems.
Range
1.4
22636 version 3
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one example of each system.
Terms used for resource use are explained.
Range
explanation with one example each of – renewable energy, nonrenewable energy; virgin resource, recycled resource; energy use,
energy efficiency.
1.5
Ecosystem services are explained in terms of value to the economy and human
well-being.
1.6
The precautionary principle is explained in relation to the environmental policy
of a local government and a business.
1.7
Influences on classifying material as a waste (for disposal) or a resource (for
recovery and recycling) are explained in relation to a local government and/or a
business.
Range
1.8
influences may include but are not limited to – personal attitude,
education, convenience, social norms, available infrastructure,
cost, legal compliance;
two influences.
Resource or waste management practices that can enhance the sustainability
of land, air, and water are explained, and real world case studies are used to
show how environmental issues have been resolved.
Range
environmental air issues may include but are not limited to –
methane and other green house gas emissions, CFC use,
degassing of refrigerators and/or LPG cylinders, composting bioaerosols, odour, pollution from incineration;
environmental land issues may include but are not limited to –
landfill, toxic chemicals, volume of waste, fly tipping of waste,
contaminated sites, heavy metals in soils, land degradation,
windblown litter, dust, NIMBY;
environmental water issues may include but are not limited to –
landfill leachate, liquid trade waste discharge, wastewater
treatment, motor oil disposal, chemical spills, land-based
treatment;
evidence is required of one issue for each of land, air, and water.
NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation
(Incorporated) (MITO)
SSB Code 101542
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
Planned review date
22636 version 3
Page 3 of 3
31 December 2019
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
26 January 2007
31 December 2012
Revision
2
20 May 2011
31 December 2017
Review
3
16 April 2015
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0114
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMRs). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation (Incorporated) (MITO)
info@mito.org.nz if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation
(Incorporated) (MITO)
SSB Code 101542
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016