Registered Environmental Manager (REM) Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT a component of the resource cycle?

1. Extraction

2. Waste disposal

3. Marketing

4. Reuse/Recycle

The correct answer is: Marketing

The correct response identifies marketing as not being a component of the resource cycle. The resource cycle typically consists of stages such as extraction, which involves the removal of natural resources from the environment; waste disposal, where byproducts or unusable materials are managed; and reuse/recycle, which refers to the processes that allow materials to be reused or transformed into new products, ultimately reducing the need for new resource extraction. While marketing plays a critical role in promoting products and services, influencing consumer behavior, and driving demand, it does not directly involve the physical or environmental processes related to resource management or sustainability. The resource cycle focuses on the tangible stages that materials undergo from acquisition to final disposal or reuse, rather than the commercial activities that support those stages. Thus, distinguishing marketing from the core components of the resource cycle is essential for understanding the broader environmental management context.