Interventions of citizen science for mitigation and management of plastic pollution: Understanding sustainable development goals, policies, and regulations

Abstract

Plastic pollution in the natural environment has been overlooked, which leads to potential risks to human health and wildlife. This paper discusses and provides an overview of the citizen science approach to mitigate and manage plastic pollution based on information summarized on the sources and abundance of plastic particles in natural environments. Also, this paper highlights the importance of citizen science in raising public awareness of environmental issues and promoting sustainable practices. Case studies and different projects like “Plastic Pirates”, “litterati”, “Trash Hunter”, “International Pellat Watch”, and many more projects on the role of citizen scientists are presented, which monitor and collect plastic resin pellets from beaches, seas, and rivers and engage various stakeholders, such as citizen scientists, students, academic and research organizations, non-profits, government agencies, industry, and Local communities in monitoring coastal waters and marine litter quality. Additionally, the paper discusses the different methodologies like surveys, using mobile apps, different instruments, and kits to collect the data. Importantly, it discusses the need for global partnerships and policies to address plastic waste management and prevent conflict. Likewise, this review emphasizes the citizen sciences and impacts of plastics on both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems to conserve, preserve, and monitor biodiversity through citizen participation. The study also highlights the significance of community involvement, such as local, coastal, marginalized, or vulnerable communities, in environmental research and the potential benefits of citizen science programs. Overall, this paper provides insights into citizen science as a valuable resource tool for researchers, policymakers, and the public interested in understanding and addressing the problem of plastic pollution.