📋 Written Ability Test (WAT)/Essay Analysis Guide: Should Governments Ban the Import of Non-Recyclable Plastics?

🌍 Understanding the Topic’s Importance

The essay highlights environmental, economic, and policy dimensions, aligning with B-school themes of sustainability, strategy, and governance.

📑 Effective Planning and Writing

• Time Allocation:
  • Planning: 5 minutes
  • Writing: 20 minutes
  • Review: 5 minutes
• Preparation Tips: Research import/export data, key stakeholders, and global benchmarks.

💡 Introduction Techniques for Essays

• Contrast Approach: “While nations like Germany lead with 65% recycling rates, others continue importing non-recyclables, exacerbating global waste.”
• Solution-Based Approach: “Banning non-recyclable imports can encourage local innovation and sustainable practices.”

📚 Structuring the Essay Body

• Achievements: Showcase examples like South Korea’s high recycling rates and India’s plastic road projects.
• Challenges: Discuss gaps in infrastructure and reliance on cheap imports.
• Future Outlook: Advocate for R&D in biodegradable alternatives and stringent regulations.

✅ Concluding Effectively

• Balanced Template: “Banning non-recyclables is a necessary step but must be complemented by infrastructure upgrades and international cooperation.”
• Global Comparison Template: “As countries like Germany and South Korea innovate in waste management, India must chart its unique path balancing bans with economic considerations.”

📊 Analyzing Successes and Shortcomings

• Key Achievements: Policy reforms like India’s single-use plastic ban.
• Ongoing Challenges: Infrastructure gaps, illegal imports.
• Global Context: EU’s Plastic Strategy and South Korea’s model offer valuable insights.

🌱 Recommendations for Sustainable Progress

• Invest in scalable recycling technologies.
• Introduce incentives for biodegradable materials.
• Strengthen import inspection to curb illegal non-recyclable plastic entry.

✍️ Sample Short Essays

• Balanced Perspective: “While banning non-recyclable plastics is critical for environmental health, achieving this requires concurrent upgrades in recycling capacity and economic safeguards for dependent industries.”
• Solution-Oriented: “Governments must ban non-recyclable imports and simultaneously incentivize R&D in biodegradable materials, fostering sustainable alternatives.”
• Global Comparison: “By emulating South Korea’s 54% recycling success, countries can mitigate the harmful impact of non-recyclables while fostering innovation.”