Model Answer 1:
In today's consumer-driven society, a concerning phenomenon has emerged where people are increasingly discarding old items instead of repairing them for further use. This essay will examine the factors contributing to this behaviour and explore the effects it has on individuals and the environment.

Several factors can be attributed to the trend of not repairing old items. Firstly, the rapid pace of technological advancements has led to the availability of new and improved products at affordable prices. As a result, people are enticed by the latest features and functionalities, making them more inclined to discard their old belongings and purchase new ones.

Secondly, the prevalence of planned obsolescence plays a significant role in this phenomenon. Many manufacturers intentionally design products with a limited lifespan to encourage frequent replacement. This marketing strategy creates a mindset of disposability, where individuals feel that repairing old items is not worth the time, effort, or cost, considering the availability of cheaper alternatives.

The consequences of this phenomenon are multifaceted. On an individual level, the habit of discarding rather than repairing reinforces a culture of instant gratification and overconsumption. People become accustomed to the idea of constantly upgrading and discarding items, which can lead to financial strain and unsustainable consumption patterns. Additionally, the act of discarding old items contributes to the accumulation of waste, placing a burden on already overwhelmed landfills and causing environmental degradation.

Moreover, this behaviour perpetuates a throwaway culture that undervalues the importance of resource conservation. By disregarding the potential value of repairing and reusing items, valuable resources and materials are squandered, exacerbating the strain on the environment and exacerbating issues such as deforestation, energy consumption, and pollution associated with the manufacturing of new goods.

To conclude, the tendency to discard old items instead of repairing them stems from factors such as technological advancements and planned obsolescence. However, this behaviour has significant effects on individuals, the economy, and the environment. It promotes unsustainable consumption patterns, strains financial resources, and contributes to the mounting waste problem.

Sample Answer 2:
A significant change has taken place in people's consumerism habits in recent years. People no longer repair old household items, and instead, replace them with new ones. I believe economic prosperity, increasing purchasing capacity, advertisements and improved quality of products ignite people's desire to buy the latest products and throw away old ones. However, it has many detrimental effects on the environment that leads to pollution, deforestation and the accumulation of massive amount of non-recycle rubbish.

There is no denying that people’s living standards have improved with economic prosperity leading to more consumerism. Higher payment and reduced prices of commodities have dramatically risen the buying capacity of people. Additionally, advertisement plays a pivotal role in attracting people’s attention toward new and modern products and alluring them to discard their old products. For example, attractive advertisements kindle people's appetite to buy products that are trendy, modern and advanced. Furthermore, people, in modern times, often lack the necessary skills to repair old items. They find buying a new one easier than fixing the old one. It also leads them to the situation when they prefer to buy new items rather than try to fix the old ones. They also throw away old items because they no longer have any value or importance to them.

This phenomenon has dire consequences for the environment and society. In order to fulfil the demands of people, companies are producing millions of new products each day and opening new factories every month. In the process, they are exploiting natural resources and reducing the durability of products. Deforestation, de-vegetation and lagging are prevalent in many societies due to their increasing consumerism habits. Moreover, people are producing more non-recyclable rubbish by discarding traditional items and adopting products with better features.

To conclude, consumerism has negative effects on our society and environment. So it is expected that governments and individuals should attempt to create awareness about fixing, reusing and recycling many household and technology items.

[Written by - Fahad Sultan]