Plastic Waste Generation Research Articles

DETERMINATION OF RECYCLE WATER TECHNOLOGY FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT AT UNIVERSITAS PERTAMINA AREA WITH ANALYTICAL HIRACHY PROCESS (AHP)

<p><em>The wastewater treatment plant (</em><em>WWTP</em><em>) at the </em><em>Universitas Pertamina</em><em> </em><em>area </em><em>is one of the campus's efforts to reduce the environmental impact of wastewater production. The processed WWTP can be processed into ready-to-drink water as an effort to reduce plastic waste. This plastic waste is usually produced by the consumption of mineral water products. The availability of ready-to-drink water in the campus complex is expected to increase the interest of campus residents to use tumblers and reduce the generation of plastic waste as well as university proactive efforts. The purpose of this study was to analyze the units needed to process WWTP effluent into ready-to-drink water by looking at various alternatives. This study uses the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) in determining the best alternative. The units required for each alternative are equalization tub, slow sand filter, and disinfection. Meanwhile, for processing, there are three alternatives, namely microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), and combined microfiltration – ultra-filtration (MF-UF). The selection of these alternatives was adjusted to the criteria of cost, required membrane area, flux recovery after backwashing, and the effectiveness of total coliform removal. MF filtration technology is the largest weight, which is 0.381. Where the use of MF in the </em><em>Universitas Pertamina</em><em> </em><em>area</em><em> is cheaper and requires better area than UF and MF-UF technology.</em></p>

Transforming Plastic Waste into Porous Carbon for Capturing Carbon Dioxide: A Review

Plastic waste generation has increased dramatically every day. Indiscriminate disposal of plastic wastes can lead to several negative impacts on the environment, such as a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution. Therefore, it is wise to think of other alternatives to reduce plastic wastes without affecting the environment, including converting them into valuable products using effective methods such as pyrolysis. Products from the pyrolysis process encompassing of liquid, gas, and solid residues (char) can be turned into beneficial products, as the liquid product can be used as a commercial fuel and char can function as an excellent adsorbent. The char produced from plastic wastes could be modified to enhance carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption performance. Therefore, this review attempts to compile relevant knowledge on the potential of adsorbents derived from waste plastic to capture CO2. This review was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The plastic-waste-derived activated carbon, as an adsorbent, could provide a promising method to solve the two environmental issues (CO2 emission and solid management) simultaneously. In addition, the future perspective on char derived from waste plastics is highlighted.

Effect of COVID-19 lockdown measures on the plastic waste generation trends and distribution of microplastics in the Northwestern Arabian/Persian Gulf

Microplastics (MPs) have been recognised as a persistent pollutant within environmental sinks, classed as a pollutant of priority in the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions. In this work, we relate one of the longest COVID-19 recent pandemic lockdowns enforced in the State of Kuwait to the plastic waste generation and MPs accumulation which were released from a selected site known for leisure and fishing activities on the Northwestern part of the Arabian/Persian Gulf. After 15 days from the release, the coverage area was the widest for the distribution and transport plume of MPs. The particles were retained at known areas for fishing activities in Kuwait and were controlled by the hydrodynamics of the modelling configuration rather than the MPs release strength (i.e., number of particles). Moreover, during the period between January to April 2020; the MPs covered almost a double dispersed area which was linked to the hydrodynamics of the release model exercise. Generally, the most affected areas of the MPs distribution were along the Kuwait City coastline and the COVID-19 lockdown measures didn't affect the MPs particle distribution as much as environmental conditions.

Mapping the environmental impacts and policy effectiveness of takeaway food industry in China

The takeaway food industry, involving more than 0.4 billion consumers in China, has brought mass of packaging waste and salient environmental burden. Here we mapped the distribution of takeaway food industry across China including the industry scale, diet structure and order time based on the analysis of more than 35 million takeaway food orders. The real use situation of various packaging materials in the takeaway food industry market has been clarified. The life cycle assessment of “a piece of takeaway food delivery order” has been carried out in different regions. Results show that in addition to plastic waste generation, takeaway food industry causes more types of environmental impacts. In terms of the national resource consumption, greenhouse gases emission, water pollution and health damage risk, the top 5 ranked provinces in each accounted for 44%, 48%, 43% and 49%, respectively. Under the latest Chinese plastic pollution control policy, the industry needs to reduce 1.12 million tons of non-degradable plastic packaging by the end of 2025, and 65% of the pressure is clustered in the metropolis and provincial capitals. However, without targeted and regionally differentiated plastic pollution control policies, the environmental impact control of takeaway food industry is still ineffective. It is urgent to explore the control measures applicable to different regions. Overall, packaging reduction is more effective than material substitution.

The Management of Agriculture Plastic Waste in the Framework of Circular Economy. Case of the Almeria Greenhouse (Spain).

In recent decades, ecosystems have suffered diverse environmental impacts caused by anthropogenic activities, including the dumping of plastic waste. This situation has prompted the European Union to introduce a new policy based on the circular economy. In this study, the present state and future perspectives on the generation and treatment of plastic waste in the intensive agriculture of Almeria (Spain) are analyzed. This activity generates 1503.6 kg·ha−1·year−1, on average, of plastic waste with an approximate treatment cost of 0.25 €/kg. The present study shows that the volume of plastic waste from intensive agriculture in Almeria is constantly increasing (48,948.2 tons in 2020/21) and it is suggested that the current management system does not meet the needs of the sector. Although it presents great opportunities for improvement under the framework of the circular economy. Furthermore, this work reports a direct relationship between the price of the raw materials needed for the production of plastic and the volume of recycled plastics. For this reason, it would be advisable for the administration to consider the implementation of a tax rebate system for the sector and specifically when the petroleum derivatives used to manufacture plastic are less expensive, and the recycling option is not so attractive.

Do Social Media Posts Influence Consumption Behavior towards Plastic Pollution?

The continuous generation of plastic wastes is one of the most serious environmental problems that we are facing. Information campaigns have been used to encourage people to reduce plastic consumption. Moreover, social media has become the most prevalent and influential form of communication in this current era. This study seeks to analyze the influence of social media on consumer behavior towards plastic products. The survey includes 213 individual observations wherein four information posts that represent the overall facets of plastic usage problem were presented. These scenarios include (1) a general information post on sachet use, (2) an information post discouraging use of plastic bottles in celebration of zero waste month, (3) an information post on the adverse health effects of plastic food storage and (4) an information post on the harmful effects of plastic use to marine life and its indirect effect to human health. Results show that, prior to any information, most participants consume products in plastic packaging except for the usage of single-use plastic containers for storing food. For the first three scenarios, it has been found that social media intensifies the probability of avoiding plastic consumption when the likelihood on the involvement of self-interest on the topic, as well as the ability to read the link attached to the post, increases. However, for the scenario that shows harmful effects of plastic use to marine life, the probability of avoiding the use of plastic packaged products after seeing the post is only affected by the likelihood that the respondent will recommend the link to friends or network. This study establishes that social media can effectively influence consumer behavior towards plastic consumption if the information presented are from confirmed studies that can easily translate to results based on their own action and has a direct impact on their health. The contrasting findings based on the different scenarios can be used as palettes in constructing modulated social media posts that can effectively influence consumer behavior towards reducing plastic pollution.

The Journey of Alternative and Sustainable Substitutes for “Single‐Use” Plastics

AbstractPlastics are excellent materials owing to their multipurpose uses. They are simple synthetic macromolecules with versatile properties. On the disposal front, nearly 90% of the plastic products are discarded only after a single use, which keeps accumulating, impacting both terrestrial and marine life. About 6.3 billion tonnes of plastic waste have accumulated worldwide from the time of the plastic revolution. Around 79% of plastic waste amasses in landfills every year, and 2.41 million tonnes of the waste enters oceans. The accumulation of this waste poses harmful threats to the environment and flora and fauna of land and aquatic habitats. To keep a check on the generation and collection of plastic waste, the utilization of alternative materials developed from biodegradable polymers as substitutes to plastics seems quite sound. The present perspective highlights single use plastic's (SUP) challenges and the importance of biodegradable polymers as possible substitutes to SUPs. The scope of different biodegradable polymers and their suitability for developing alternative materials to SUPs is discussed. In addition, the current market status of alternative materials produced from biodegradable polymers is described. Finally, a perspective on the future of biodegradable polymers as substitutes to plastics for envisaging a green world is outlined.

Dog poop bags: A non-negligible source of plastic pollution

Plastic pollution derived from the disposal of plastic bags in the environment is clearly evidenced. However, little attention has been directed towards plastic waste derived from plastic dog poop bags (DPBs), which are widely used and can never be recycled. Herein, we raise concerns about the contribution of DPBs to plastic pollution in the environment. Combining the weight of each DPB, the number of bags daily used for a dog, and the number of pet dogs around the world, we estimated the number of annual consumed and disposed DPBs at more than 415 billion, or equivalently 0.76–1.23 million tons of plastics based on various weights of different DPBs. Although plastic waste produced by DPBs only accounts for a small fraction (0.6%) of the total plastic waste generation, the extremely short life cycle of DPBs has made them a non-negligible source of plastic pollution in the environment.

Biomedical waste generation and management during COVID-19 pandemic in India: challenges and possible management strategies.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the massive generation of biomedical waste (BMW) and plastic waste (PW). This sudden spike in BMW and PW has created challenges to the existing waste management infrastructure, especially in developing countries. Safe disposal of PW and BMW is essential; otherwise, this virus will lead to a waste pandemic. This paper reviews the generation of BMW and PW before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the regulatory framework for BMW management, policy interventions for COVID-19-based BMW (C-BMW), the capacity of BMW treatment and disposal facilities to cope with the challenges, possible management strategies, and perspectives in the Indian context. This study indicated that policy intervention helped minimize the general waste treated as C-BMW, especially during the second pandemic. Inadequacy of common BMW treatment facilities’ (CBMWTFs) capacity to cope with the BMW daily generation was observed in some states resulting in compromised treatment conditions. Suggestions for better management of BMW and PW include decontamination of used personal protective equipment (PPEs) and recycling, alternate materials for PPEs, segregation strategies, and use of BMW for co-processing in cement kilns. All upcoming CBMWTFs should be equipped with higher capacity and efficient incinerators for the sound management of BMW. Post-pandemic monitoring of environmental compartments is imperative to assess the possible impacts of pandemic waste.Graphical abstract

Determinants of Unsafe Plastic Waste Disposal among Households in the Tamale Metropolitan Area, Ghana.

Background The global discourse on plastic waste generation and disposal has over the last two decades, gained traction with the aid of research-based evidence. Though observed globally, the situation is quickly deteriorating in developing countries such as Ghana. In Ghana and Africa as a whole, rapidly increasing population and rural to urban migration have been cited as factors that exacerbate the existing struggles with plastic pollution. This study aimed at identifying the determinants of unsafe plastic waste disposal among households. Methods The study was carried out in three communities in Tamale in the Northern Region of Ghana. Data were collected from 270 randomly selected households through household surveys, key informant interviews, and direct field observations. Results The study revealed that the majority (63.3%) of the total respondents used and disposed of their plastic waste “unsafely.” The analysis showed that the education level and household wealth were significant determinants of unsafe plastic disposal. Conclusion The study concludes that challenges of plastic waste management are not limited to economic, technical, and institutional factors, but social factors such as human behavior are key aspects of waste management that need attention. The study, therefore, recommends strict enforcement of sanitation by-laws, promotion of education, and provision of alternatives to plastics that will minimize the need for importing and manufacturing plastics, as potential steps towards addressing unsafe disposal of plastics in the domestic environment.

Identifying hot-spots for microplastic contamination in agricultural soils—a spatial modelling approach for Germany

Microplastic (MP) contamination in agricultural soils has recently gained significant attention in science and society. The continuous plastic waste generation and its low degradation rates indicate a cumulative effect of MP in the environment that calls for more research on the amounts and impacts of this contaminant. The most discussed agricultural sources for MP contamination of cropland are sewage sludge, compost, and plasticulture residues. However, knowledge about how much MP has been emitted into agricultural soils is scarce. Since MP distribution in soils is expected to be highly heterogeneous, its analysis in field samples provides mainly point information. To quantify the various MP sources and pathways within and across ecosystems, data-driven models represent crucial tools to scale these analytic results to a landscape level and to simulate effects of mitigation measures. Some recent modelling studies have estimated MP emissions based on production and consumption statistics at national level, but as of yet, spatially explicit regional quantification of MP emissions into agricultural soils are virtually missing in the scientific literature. Using data on MP analysis results from the literature in combination with national and regional statistics on sewage sludge, compost and organic waste production, as well as speciality cropping areas, we estimated the spatial distributions of cumulative MP mass inputs into agricultural soils in Germany. Although these estimates are based on limited data availability, our results provide first indications about locations where detailed soil analysis could be useful to investigate in situ processes and impacts. The methodology can be applied to other regions and continuously adapted when more knowledge on relevant sources, transport, accumulation, and degradation rates of MP in soils is gained in the future.

Forecasting plastic waste generation and interventions for environmental hazard mitigation

Plastic waste and its environmental hazards have been attracting public attention as a global sustainability issue. This study builds a neural network model to forecast plastic waste generation of the EU-27 in 2030 and evaluates how the interventions could mitigate the adverse impact of plastic waste on the environment. The black-box model is interpreted using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) for managerial insights. The dependence on predictors (i.e., energy consumption, circular material use rate, economic complexity index, population, and real gross domestic product) and their interactions are discussed. The projected plastic waste generation of the EU-27 is estimated to reach 17 Mt/y in 2030. With an EU targeted recycling rate (55%) in 2030, the environmental impacts would still be higher than in 2018, especially global warming potential and plastic marine pollution. This result highlights the importance of plastic waste reduction, especially for the clustering algorithm-based grouped countries with a high amount of untreated plastic waste per capita. Compared to the other assessed scenarios, Scenario 4 with waste reduction (50% recycling, 47.6% energy recovery, 2.4% landfill) shows the lowest impact in acidification, eutrophication, marine aquatic toxicity, plastic marine pollution, and abiotic depletion. However, the global warming potential (8.78 Gt CO2eq) is higher than that in 2018, while Scenario 3 (55% recycling, 42.6% energy recovery, 2.4% landfill) is better in this aspect than Scenario 4. This comprehensive analysis provides pertinent insights into policy interventions towards environmental hazard mitigation.

Challenges and Opportunities for Recycled Polyethylene Fishing Nets: Towards a Circular Economy.

Plastic waste generation has become an important problem that critically affects marine and oceans environments. Fishing nets gear usually have a relatively short lifespan, and are abandoned, discarded and lost, what makes them one of the largest generators of ocean plastic waste. Recycled polyolefin resins from fishing nets (rFN), especially from polyethylene (PE), have poor properties due to the presence of contaminants and/or excessive degradation after its lifetime. These reasons limit the use of these recycled resins. This work aims to study the incorporation of recycled fishing nets PE-made to different grades of virgin PE, in order to evaluate the potential use of these rFN in the development of new products. The recovered fishing nets have been fully characterized to evaluate its properties after the collection and recycling process. Then, different PE virgin resins have been mechanically blended with the recovered fishing nets at different recycling contents to study its feasibility for fishing nets or packaging applications. Critical mechanical properties for these applications, as the elongation at break, impact strength or environmental stress cracking resistance have been deeply evaluated. Results show important limitations for the manufacture of fibers from recycled PE fishing nets due to the presence of inorganic particles from the marine environment, which restricts the use of rFN for its original application. However, it is proved that a proper selection of PE raw resins, to be used in the blending process, allows other possible applications, such as non-food contact bottles, which open up new ways for using the fishing nets recyclates, in line with the objectives pursued by the Circular Economy of Plastics.

Assessment of plastic waste generation and its feasibility for establishment of plastic waste refinery

Assessment of plastic waste generation and its feasibility for establishment of plastic waste refinery

Application of material flow analysis for plastic waste management in the Republic of Korea

The indiscriminate use of plastics and careless management of plastic waste have caused serious environmental challenges globally. The Republic of Korea (ROK) aims to address the issue by reducing plastic waste generation by up to 50%, and increasing recycling rate by up to 70%, by 2030. To determine the status and future directions for plastic waste management in the ROK, the present study undertook two tasks: (i) a material flow analysis of plastic waste material from industrial sectors to assess the current status of plastic waste recycling and treatment, (ii) an analysis of the material flow of plastic waste based on the “Waste Classification Code.” According to the findings, 6.202 million metric tons of plastic waste were generated in 2018, out of which 69%, 25%, and 0.5% was recycled, incinerated, and landfilled, respectively. The recycling rate of synthetic resin waste, which accounts for 96% of synthetic waste polymers discharged in the industrial sector, was 69%, which is a very high rate. However, the closed-loop recycling rate was only 33%. Therefore, the system of management of synthetic resin waste discharge without classification of raw materials should be improved to increase the closed-loop recycling rate of synthetic waste polymers. Furthermore, to increase the closed-loop recycling rate, we suggest the subdivision of synthetic resin waste (51-03-01) in plastic waste classification to improve the discharge separation system, which has been mismanaged. Furthermore, we suggest the formulation of a new management strategy for plastic waste, in accordance with those of other hazardous substances, as regulated by the Waste Control Act.

Recovery of Arenes from Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) over a Co/TiO2 Catalyst.

Upcycling of spent plastics has become a more emergent topic than ever before due to the rapid generation of plastic waste associated with the change of lifestyles of the human society. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a major aromatic plastic and herein, the conversion of PET back into arenes was demonstrated in a one-pot reaction combining depolymerization and hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) over a Co/TiO2 catalyst. The effectiveness of the Co/TiO2 catalyst in HDO and the underlining reaction pathway were established using the PET monomer terephthalic acid (TPA) as the substrate. Quantitative TPA conversion together with 75.2 mol% xylene and toluene selectivity under 30 bar initial H2 pressure at 340 °C was achieved after 4 h reaction. More encouragingly, the catalyst induced both depolymerization and HDO reaction via C-O bond cleavage when PET was used as a substrate. 78.9 mol% arenes (toluene and xylene) was obtained under optimized conditions.

Pengaturan Larangan Plastik Sekali Pakai: Kritik Terhadap Putusan Mahkamah Agung Nomor 29 P/Hum/2019 Dari Perspektif Teori Dan Hukum Perundang-Undangan

This article discusses the Supreme Court Decision Number 29 P/HUM/2019 on the Judicial Review of Article 7 and Article 9 paragraph (1) of Governor of Bali Regulation No. 97 of 2018 on Restrictions on the Generation of Single-use Plastic Waste. The Supreme Court (MA) rejected the applicant's application with a dedicendi ratio that the a quo Governor's Regulation was justifiable as it was based on the principle of decentralization and the impact of single-use plastic waste that pollutes or damages the environment. The legal issues highlighted relate to how the relationship between legal products in the form of legislation and regulations should be, as well as whether the Supreme Court's judicial considerations in its decisions are appropriate according to the law. The research method is done with conceptual and case study approaches. The results of the study that: First, legal products in the form of regulations are an elaboration of legislation, so that regulations may not create new legal norms. Second, the Supreme Court's judicial opinion is incorrect as it does not distinguish between legislation and regulation products, so there is an impression that everything can be regulated by regional legal products provided that it is in accordance with the regional conditions. In addition, the act of limiting Human Rights is only carried out through legislative products in the form of legislation (laws).

Photocatalytic Degradation of Plastic Waste: A Mini Review.

Plastic waste becomes an immediate threat to our society with ever-increasing negative impacts on our environment and health by entering our food chain. Sunlight is known to be the natural energy source that degrades plastic waste at a very slow rate. Mimicking the role of sunlight, the photocatalytic degradation process could significantly accelerate the degradation rate thanks to the photocatalyst that drastically facilitates the photochemical reactions involved in the degradation process. This mini review begins with an introduction to the chemical compositions of the common plastic waste. The mechanisms of photodegradation of polymers in general were then revisited. Afterwards, a few photocatalysts were introduced with an emphasis on titanium dioxide (TiO2), which is the most frequently used photocatalyst. The roles of TiO2 photocatalyst in the photodegradation process were then elaborated, followed by the recent advances of photocatalytic degradation of various plastic waste. Lastly, our perspectives on the future research directions of photocatalytic plastic degradation are present. Herein, the importance of catalytic photodegradation is emphasized to inspire research on developing new photocatalysts and new processes for decomposition of plastic waste, and then to increase its recycling rate particularly in the current pandemic with the ever-increasing generation of plastic waste.

Why Turkey should not import plastic waste pollution from developed countries?

Turkey became a major importer of global plastic waste after China banned plastic imports on January 1, 2018. Turkey imported only 261,864 tonnes of plastic waste annually before the ban, but annual imports increased to 772,831 tonnes by 2020. Turkey recently implemented restrictions on importing plastic waste (quotas, %1 contamination limit, banned mixed plastic waste imports), yet illegal dumping and burning is widely reported. Turkey ranks second in Europe and seventh worldwide for plastics production, yet current domestic waste management and recycling programs cannot handle domestic plastic waste generation. Roughly 90% of municipal solid waste produced in Turkey ends up in landfills. Plastic waste mismanagement results in plastic leakage into the Mediterranean Sea with Turkey contributing the highest share (16.8%) of European marine plastic pollution. With this latest import restriction, Turkey now has an opportunity to strengthen and improve its own domestic waste management infrastructure to reduce indiscriminate plastic marine pollution.

Multi-Scenario Model of Plastic Waste Accumulation Potential in Indonesia Using Integrated Remote Sensing, Statistic and Socio-Demographic Data

As a significant contributor of plastic waste to the marine environment, Indonesia is striving to construct a national strategy for reducing plastic debris. Hence, the primary aim of this study is to create a model for plastic waste quantity originating from the mainland, accumulated in estuaries. This was achieved by compiling baseline data of marine plastic disposal from the mainland via comprehensive contextualisation of data generated by remote sensing technology and spatial analysis. The parameters used in this study cover plastic waste generation, land cover, population distribution, and human activity identification. These parameters were then used to generate the plastic waste disposal index; that is, the distribution of waste from the mainland, flowing through the river, and ultimately accumulating in the estuary. The plastic waste distribution is calculated based on the weighting method and overlap analysis between land and coastal areas. The results indicate that 0.6% of Indonesia, including metropolitan cities, account for the highest generation of plastic waste. Indicating of plastic releases to the ocean applied by of developing three different scenarios with the highest estimation 11.94 tonnes on a daily basis in an urban area, intended as the baseline study for setting priority zone for plastic waste management.