Challenges and prospects in managing plastic waste

Catalytic processing of plastic waste on the rise

Waste is a problem that is quite difficult to solve in Indonesia. This happens because people's habits as consumers always produce waste, especially plastic waste. Plastic is a material consisting of inorganic substances made from chemicals that are difficult to decompose and are dangerous for the environment (Ekonomis et al., 2017). Garbage is an environmental problem because its quantity and danger hinder the survival of living things. Creativity is a pretty good solution for processing plastic waste so that it can be reused. There are many ways to increase a person's creativity, one of which is handicrafts from plastic waste which can be used for handicrafts, such as pencil cases, shopping bags, room decorations, wallets, decorative lamps, baskets, etc. (Nasution et al., 2019 ). The method of implementing this program is education and training so that children become creative. This program is implemented in the form of providing knowledge about plastic waste and training children's creativity in recycling plastic waste. Activities were carried out offline in the residential area, East Kace Village. This program aims to reduce plastic waste in the community as part of the waste recycling program. This plastic waste recycling program is also carried out for elementary school children up to adults. Implementation of plastic waste recycling education and training programs by utilizing plastic cup waste which takes place in the community, which lasts for one day according to group agreement. This program aims to increase the sense of awareness and creativity in children. Before carrying out the program, student members held discussions with foundation administrators regarding plastic cup waste in the community. After conducting discussions, it was shown that the plastic waste in the residential area was not being utilized properly, and knowledge about processing plastic waste into crafts was very minimal. In the implementation of the craft making program which took place in the East Kace Residential Area, it was running smoothly and well. This is because there is a lot of enthusiasm from the student children who take part, as well as friends who continue to be enthusiastic and never give up in implementing and running this program. The conclusion obtained from this program is the increase in knowledge and creativity of children in the environment regarding plastic cup waste. Children's creativity increases because they can process and create plastic waste around them into items that can be reused and also have economic value.

Excessive production, consumption, and indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste contribute to plastic pollution, which has a negative impact on the environment and human health. The KAP (knowledge, attitude, and practices) study is thought to be useful in mitigating plastic pollution because understanding the public’s knowledge, attitude, and practices toward plastic pollution can help identify problems and challenges, allowing appropriate policy decisions to be made to set up plans or implement interventions. This study assesses Malaysians’ level of knowledge, attitude, and practices toward plastic pollution, as well as the variation of plastic pollution related to KAP among various socio-demographic groups. For this study, an online survey received 294 valid responses. Descriptive statistics, KAP scoring, and response cross-tabulation were calculated. This study received 294 valid responses via an online survey. Descriptive statistics, KAP scoring, and response cross-tabulation were estimated. A one-way analysis of variance, paired t-test, and binary logistic regressions was performed. Respondents’ overall knowledge score (95% CI mean score: 3.88–10.94 on a scale of 11) and practice score (95% CI 1.09–6.53 on a scale of 6) were poor across socio-demographics when a cut point of 80% was used. Older (>46 years) respondents seemed to have more knowledge than younger (18–30 years) respondents (odds ratio, OR 4.304; p < 0.01). However, respondents between the ages of 31 and 45 reported significantly (p < 0.01) higher attitudes (OR 4.019) and practices (OR 4.056; p < 0.05). Respondents with environmental-related university education had a higher likelihood of knowing about plastic pollution (OR 10.343; p < 0.01). To encourage good practices toward minimizing plastic use and pollution, conclusions are drawn about undertaking interventions such as raising environmental awareness, incorporating plastic pollution topics into formal and informal education, and providing recycling facilities in nearby communities.

Local waste management successfully reduces coastal plastic pollution

Charting success for the Plastics Treaty

The use of plastic has become an important and inseparable part of people's daily lives, but rapid population growth and increasing human activities produce significant amounts of plastic waste. This research aims to reduce pollution caused by plastic waste, utilize plastic waste as a source of renewable energy in the form of Fuel Oil (BBM), and analyze the ratio of waste types to the quantity of fuel produced. In this research, data was collected from various commonly found waste, such as plastic bag waste, plastic bottle waste and styrofoam waste. Then, to produce fuel, a pyrolysis process is carried out with a waste mass of 1:1:1. Based on the results obtained, plastic bottle waste produces a product in the form of 0.019kg/30 ml kerosene. Furthermore, plastic bag waste produces 0.05kg/50 ml kerosene products, as well as 2.5 ml petrol oil. And styrofoam waste produces products similar to plastic bag waste, namely kerosene 0.171kg/98 ml, and petrol oil 2.5 ml. Based on the data obtained, Styrofoam waste produces more kerosene products compared to plastic bag and plastic bottle waste. With this research, we hope that society can maximize plastic waste into economic income and reduce environmental pollution caused by plastic waste.

Plastics are cheap, lightweight, and durable and can be easily molded into many different products, shapes, and sizes, hence their wide applications globally, leading to increased production and use. Plastic consumption and production have been growing since its first production in the 1950s. About 4% of global oil and gas production is being used as feedstock for plastics, and 3–4% is used to provide energy for their manufacture. Plastics have a wide range of applications because they are versatile and relatively cheap. This study presents an in-depth analysis of plastic solid waste (PSW). Plastic wastes can be technically used for oil production because the calorific value of the plastics is quite comparable to that of oil, making this option an attractive alternative. Oil can be produced from plastic wastes via thermal degradation and catalytic degradation, while gasification can be used to produce syngas. Plastic pyrolysis can be used to address the twin problem of plastic waste disposal and depletion of fossil fuel reserves. The demand for plastics has continued to rise since their first production in the 1950s due to their multipurpose, lightness, inexpensiveness, and durable nature. There are four main avenues available for plastic solid waste treatment, namely, reextrusion as a primary treatment, mechanical treatment as secondary measures, chemical treatment as a tertiary measure, and energy recovery as a quaternary measure. The pyrolysis oil has properties that are close to clean fuel and is, therefore, a substitute to fresh fossil fuel for power generation, transport, and other applications. The study showed that plastic wastes pyrolysis offers an alternative avenue for plastic waste disposal and an alternative source of fossil fuel to reduce the total demand of virgin oil. Through plastic pyrolysis, plastic wastes are thermally converted to fuel by degrading long-chain polymers into small complex molecules in the absence of oxygen, making it a technically and economically feasible process for waste plastic recycling. The process is advantageous because presorting is not required, and the plastic waste can be directly fed without pretreatment prior to the process. Products of plastic pyrolysis are pyrolysis oil, a hydrocarbon-rich gas, with a heating value of 25–45 MJ/kg, which makes it ideal for process energy recovery. Hence, the pyrolysis gas can be fed back to the process to extract the energy for the process-heating purpose, which substantially reduces the reliance on external heating sources.

Plastic waste management, a matter for the 'community'.

Plastic waste is a serious problem for the survival of all creatures on Earth. Recycling is one solution to reduce the negative impact of environmental pollution caused by plastic waste. A lot of plastic waste that pollutes the Earth comes from plastic bottle waste (PET). There had been many studies that discussed the use of plastic bottle waste (PET); however, this research used the plastic bottle waste (PET) as a geocell for subgrade reinforcement. To this date, the use of plastic bottle waste as geocell is still rare. The main purpose of this study was to determine the effect of adding geocell of plastic bottle waste on the subgrade using a capping layer that had a low bearing capacity. This research was expected to reduce the impact of environmental pollution due to plastic bottle waste, and be an alternative solution for additional reinforcement in the capping layer. Therefore, it could increase the ultimate bearing capacity and reduce the thickness of the cover layer on subgrades that had a CBR value below 5%. The results of the analysis using the Plaxis program showed that the geocell from plastic bottle waste could be used to save the use of capping layer materials by up to 65%.

The theme of Waste Processing Activities with Ecobrick The problem of plastic waste management in Nagari Tanjung Betung is still an unresolved problem. The absence of a landfill makes the people in the Nagari Tanjung Betung tend to litter on vacant land/land and also on the banks of rivers. In addition, many people in Nagari Tanjung Betung still use river water in their daily lives, be it for washing, bathing, defecating and urinating, and other activities. This poor sanitation will certainly trigger various diseases that can threaten the public's health status. Until now, conventional processing, such as dumping it in landfills or burning, has not been able to cope with the growing amount of plastic waste. Solution Along with the times and science, a solution is offered for managing plastic waste which is considered more effective, namely converting it into ecobricks. Ecobrick is an environmentally friendly brick made from plastic bottle waste filled with leftover plastic waste that is no longer used. The size of the plastic bottles used are free as available. Plastic bottles are filled with unused scraps of plastic waste so that there is no space left in the bottle nor is there any air left in the bottle so that the ecobrick doesn't slosh. Purpose The aim of waste management with ecobrick is to reduce waste scattered around the Nagari Tanjung Betung environment. The benefits of ecobricking are useful for more effective waste management so that later it will be able to make the environment cleaner and healthier. Besides being useful for waste management, the function of ecobricks can also be seen from an economic and functional perspective. Ecobricks can be a source of income if managed properly because the ecobricks themselves can be used as basic materials for making furniture, furnishings, and building materials such as the walls of a room. In addition to saving the cost of making these products, ecobricks can also be traded on the market with the same purpose as above. Methods and Stages of Implementation The methods and stages of implementing this activity start from licensing activities, identification and problem solving, preparation of tools and materials, ecobrick counseling. Results and Outcomes (Prototypes and/or Products) “Eco” and “brick” means environmentally friendly bricks. Called "brick" because it can be an alternative to conventional bricks in constructing buildings. Therefore, ecobrick is usually used as a raw material for making furniture. An ecobrick is a plastic bottle filled densely with non-biological waste to make reusable building blocks. Processing waste with Ecobrick will later be able to provide many benefits and benefits for the community. Conclusions and Suggestions Management of plastic waste in Nagari Tanjung Betung is still an unresolved problem. As the times progress, a solution for managing plastic waste is offered which is considered more effective, namely turning it into ecobricks. Ecobrick is an environmentally friendly brick made from plastic bottle waste filled with leftover plastic waste that is no longer used. It takes the desire and willingness of the community to directly contribute and change attitudes to no longer litter.

Since plastic and food waste are both types of non-lignocellulosic biomass, these must be handled and managed correctly to avoid pollution problems and damage to the environment. Bio-oil, made from recycled materials, including plastic and food waste, is one focus of these attempts. The co-pyrolysis method is being investigated in this study as a technique of recycling plastic waste and food waste to produce biofuels with reduced environmental impact. In terms of energy efficiency, bio-oil is unequal to other fuels like coal or natural gas because of its high acidity, high oxygen content, and low thermal stability. Therefore, a vacuum distillation process is required to improve bio-oil quality by adjusting the distillation temperature from 300 to 350 OC and the percentage of plastic waste used from 30 to 50%. The bio-oil was analyzed using a Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS). The general compound showed that acids (60%) and alcohols (20%) were the most prevalent chemical compounds, followed by phenol (4%), aldehyde (14%), aliphatic (5%), Furan (14%), and ketones (11%) at maximum temperature (350 oC) for 30-50% plastic waste. Meanwhile, the final product is affected by temperature and plastic waste (PET) ratio factors. At 350 °C and a plastic waste addition of 50%, the highest bio-oil yield is 45%.

Plastic bag wastes (PE) are used to improve the workability of concrete and expected to reduce the plastic wastes in our environment. Polymer products such as synthetic fibers, plastics and rubbers are belonged to petrochemical compound and considered as non-biodegradable materials. One way of reducing the plastic wastes is by utilizing the plastic wastes in the production of concrete. This study investigates the dry density properties of concrete that utilize plastic wastes and polymer fiber to replace the cement, followed by finding the compressive, tensile and flexural strength of the concrete and finally, to compare the performance of concrete that utilize plastic wastes and polymer fiber vs. concrete with plastic wastes only. An extensive experimental study has been performed by utilizing the plastic wastes in concrete using a percentage of 10%, 20% and 30% and polymer fiber with percentage of 2%, 4% and 6% respectively. Results have showed the tendency of lower density in the polymer modified concrete. The utilization of waste polymer in the replacement of cement reduces compressive and flexural strength of concrete. This is probably due to bridging action provided by the fibers which absorbed more energy and prevent the sudden failure of the concrete. On the other hand, lower mechanical properties of the modified concrete that used plastic wastes and polymer fibers has been recorded in the study. Keywords: Waste polymers, Polymer Fibers, Concrete, Cement Replacement, Compressive Strength, Flexural strength, Dry density

Recycling plastic waste holds considerable potential as a fuel source, especially when combined with agricultural waste. This study aims to evaluate the physical characteristics of charcoal briquettes - moisture content, ash content, volatile matter, calorific value, and fixed carbon content - produced from a mixture of plastic waste and organic waste. Three composition variations were tested: pure Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) plastic waste (100%) as the first treatment (S1), a combination of coconut shells and plastic waste in a 50%:50% ratio as the second treatment (S2), and a combination of corn cobs and plastic waste in the same 50%:50% ratio as the third treatment (S3). Testing was conducted according to SNI 01-6235-2000 standards. The results showed that all treatments produced charcoal briquettes with moisture content and calorific value that met SNI standards. Among the treatments, briquettes made entirely from plastic waste (S1) achieved the highest calorific value at 5921 cal/g, followed by the plastic-coconut shell mixture (S2) at 5574 cal/g and the plastic-corn cob mixture (S3) at 5100 cal/g. These findings indicate that plastic waste and agricultural waste have significant potential as fuel sources for power generation, supporting energy mix targets, and contributing to waste management and sustainable energy production. However, the study also identified areas for improvement. The ash content across all treatments failed to meet SNI standards, and the volatile matter content in S1 was below the acceptable range. These shortcomings highlight the need for further optimization in material formulation and manufacturing processes to enhance briquette quality. Future research should prioritize refining material combinations, improving ash content and volatile matter characteristics, and assessing the environmental impacts of using plastic-based briquettes. With continued innovation, this approach could play a pivotal role in achieving energy mix targets and addressing the challenges of plastic and agricultural waste, offering a sustainable and practical solution for energy generation.

Plastic solid waste has become a serious problem when considering the disposal alternatives following the sequential hierarchy of sound solid waste management. This study was undertaken to assess the quantity and composition of household solid waste, especially plastic waste to identify opportunities for waste recycling. A 1-month survey of 130 households was carried out in Can Tho City, the capital city of the Mekong Delta region in southern Vietnam. Household solid waste was collected from each household and classified into ten physical categories; especially plastic waste was sorted into 22 subcategories. The average household solid waste generation rate was 281.27g/cap/day. The compostable and recyclable shares respectively accounted for high percentage as 80.74% and 11%. Regarding plastic waste, the average plastic waste generation rate was 17.24g/cap/day; plastic packaging and plastic containers dominated with the high percentage, 95.64% of plastic waste. Plastic shopping bags were especially identified as the major component, accounting for 45.72% of total plastic waste. Relevant factors such as household income and household size were found to have an existing correlation to plastic waste generation in detailed composition. The household habits and behaviors of plastic waste discharge and the aspects of environmental impacts and resource consumption for plastic waste disposal alternatives were also evaluated.

A few times a year, volunteers fan out along the causeway that links the South Carolina mainland with the seashore community of Folly Beach to clean up plastic bottles, straws, bags, and other debris from along the road and the salt marsh. Some of this debris has come from cities miles away. On windy days, litter is often blown off city streets into waterways. During rainstorms, debris floats into drains that empty into rivers. Other trash probably came from places closer to home. “I see bags and other plastic flying off the beds of pickup trucks going down the causeway,” says Marty Morganello, who organizes the cleanups for the Charleston-area chapter of the nonprofit Surfrider Foundation. “I see them coming out the open windows of cars and out the backs of garbage trucks and even recycling trucks. This material is lightweight, and if you don’t secure it, it will fly away.” By one estimate, the volume of plastic debris going into the world’s oceans could more than double by 2025, assuming current trends in coastal development and plastics use. Some countries have begun identifying ways to improve management of plastic ... Beach cleanups yield enormous amounts of trash, with plastic items a major constituent.1 Although the human health impacts of this marine plastic pollution remain poorly characterized, it is widely seen as an emerging problem that deserves much more research attention.2 Likewise, there is a growing urgency among industry, government, nongovernmental organizations, and environmental groups to develop tools and policies to track, capture, and recycle plastic waste before it reaches the ocean.