Review
Engineering, Environmental
N. Navarre, J. M. Mogollon, A. Tukker, V Barbarossa
Summary: Plastic food packaging is a cost-effective tool to reduce food waste, but if mismanaged, it can have adverse effects on the environment. In the Netherlands, approximately 6.5 kt/yr of plastic food packaging waste leaks into the marine environment each year, with the majority resulting from exporting plastic waste to Asian countries. This raises questions about plastic recycle rate metrics and Dutch/EU plastic waste export policies.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Anelia Milbrandt, Kamyria Coney, Alex Badgett, Gregg T. Beckham
Summary: Spatially explicit data on plastic waste management in the United States were analyzed using statistical and geospatial methods. The study revealed that in 2019, 86% of the 44 Mt of plastic waste generated was landfilled, 9% was combusted, and 5% was recycled. The landfilled plastics resulted in significant economic losses and had a substantial impact on energy consumption. The researchers suggest that advanced sorting and recycling processes could recover a significant amount of landfilled plastic waste.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2022)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Fan Zhang, Yuting Zhao, Dandan Wang, Mengqin Yan, Jing Zhang, Pengyan Zhang, Tonggui Ding, Lei Chen, Chao Chen
Summary: The review summarizes advanced nonbiodegradable plastic waste treatment technologies, analyzes their mechanisms and development status, and proposes an outlook for industrial application to effectively address NPW issues.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xuri Dong, Lixin Zhu, Yanru He, Changjun Li, Daoji Li
Summary: There is a lack of detailed research on the changes of surface microbial species attached to microplastics (MPs) when they enter the ocean, as well as on changes to plastic-degrading bacteria during this process. In this study, bacterial diversity and species composition attached to surface water and MPs were studied in rivers and offshore areas in Macau, China. The results showed that the bacteria attached to MPs in rivers and offshore were different from planktonic bacteria. MPs could significantly enrich plastic-degrading bacteria in both rivers and offshore, with a higher proportion of plastic-related metabolic pathways on MPs in rivers. Salinity significantly affects the distribution of plastic-degrading bacteria. MPs may degrade more slowly in the oceans, posing a long-term threat to marine life and human health.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Joana C. Prata, Ana L. Patricio Silva, Armando C. Duarte, Teresa Rocha-Santos
Summary: As a member of the European Union, Portugal is required to reduce plastic waste and take integrative measures to improve the use and disposal of plastics. The amount of beach litter in Portugal is higher than the EU median, with 88% of it being plastic. The recycling rate for plastic packaging in Portugal is also below the EU average and needs to be improved. Portugal could benefit from the valorization of imported waste and explore alternative methods such as pyrolysis and gasification for producing value-added substances from plastic waste.
FRONTIERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Juhyun Cho, Byeongyoon Kim, Taehyun Kwon, Kwangyeol Lee, Sang-Il Choi
Summary: Plastic waste, when improperly disposed of, causes significant environmental damage. Traditional methods for plastic waste management have high energy requirements. Electrochemical upcycling, as a new alternative, offers the advantages of mild operation, eco-friendly energy sources, and increased energy efficiency, with the potential to generate value-added products.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Juhyun Cho, Byeongyoon Kim, Taehyun Kwon, Kwangyeol Lee, Sang-Il Choi
Summary: Plastic waste disposal has become a significant environmental issue, and finding appropriate methods for plastic waste management is crucial. Electrochemical upcycling has emerged as a new alternative for transforming plastic waste into valuable chemical compounds. This review article provides an overview of various electrochemical upcycling technologies for different types of plastic waste and explores their potential for generating value-added products. It also emphasizes the importance of understanding reaction mechanisms, electrochemical reaction systems, and catalyst development.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Md Sazzadul Haque, Shariar Uddin, Sayed Md Sayem, Kazi Mushfique Mohib
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown situation have led to a significant increase in waste volume, especially hazardous waste, posing challenges for waste management industry.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
Nahyeon Lee, Byungmin Ahn, Jechan Lee
Summary: This study developed a solvent-based method to recover acrylate polymer from display film waste. 2-butanol and methyl acetate were chosen as the organic solvents for the recovery process. The effects of different recovery parameters on the polymer recovery were explored, and 2-butanol was found to be the most effective solvent with a recovery yield of 8.28%.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Sunny Malik, Ankita Maurya, Sunil Kumar Khare, Kinshuk Raj Srivastava
Summary: Plastic materials are difficult to degrade in the open environment, leading to the infiltration of plastic wastes into natural resources. The current disposal methods are inefficient, and recycling is challenging due to the mixed composition of plastic waste. This research analyzed previously published reports on the biodegradation of different plastic types and found that microbial degradation patterns follow the chemical classification of plastic types. The study suggests potential genera for the bioremediation of mixed plastic waste.
Review
Environmental Studies
Jorge Mongil-Manso, Raimundo Jimenez-Ballesta, Juan Manuel Trujillo-Gonzalez, Ana San Jose Wery, Alexandra Diez Mendez
Summary: Plastic pollution has a negative impact on agricultural soils, especially in traditionally agricultural regions such as CYL, where farmlands, irrigation, and greenhouse soils are contaminated with plastic residues. The increasing volume of plastic waste poses challenges to environmental management and can potentially affect the economy, soil, food chain, and human health.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ittisak Jirapornvaree, Angkana Kreeratiratanalak, Aweewan Mangmeechai
Summary: The study found that there are still some issues with plastic waste management in Thailand, but progress has been made. Following the implementation of a plan to reduce plastic bag usage, there has been a decreasing trend in plastic bag usage and a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Claudia Vannini, Alessia Rossi, Flavia Vallerini, Virginia Menicagli, Maurizia Seggiani, Patrizia Cinelli, Claudio Lardicci, Elena Balestri
Summary: Most research on the plastisphere in coastal environments focuses on plastics floating in seawater, with less attention given to buried plastics in marine sediments and on coastal sand dunes. Limited information is available on the impact of plastics, especially biodegradables, on microbial organisms in their surroundings. Long-term studies revealed the influence of plastics on bacterial communities in marine and dune sediments.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hanna Dijkstra, Pieter van Beukering, Roy Brouwer
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive overview of entrepreneurial and SME-led solutions for marine plastic by analyzing a database of 105 SMEs. It reveals that small businesses are successfully commercializing goods and services to reduce plastic pollution in the marine environment, but efforts to manage marine plastic are still underdeveloped in areas such as microplastic management and monitoring.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Yasir Qayyum Gill, Mudasar Khurshid, Umer Abid, Muhammad Wajid Ijaz
Summary: Healthcare waste management is a major challenge for the world, particularly during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Illegal and unethical activities regarding hospital plastic waste management in Pakistan have been observed, highlighting the need for improvement and suggesting recommendations.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
