![]() 2018), with microplastic estimates ranging between 15 and 51 trillion items (van Sebille et al. ![]() Abundance estimates have predicted that tens of millions of metric tonnes of plastic debris is floating on global ocean surfaces (Lebreton et al. Not surprisingly, plastics make up about 80% of all marine debris (defined as any persistent manufactured or processed solid material discarded, disposed of or abandoned in the marine environment and coastal environment) (UNEP 2016). In 2010, an estimated 4.8–12.7 million tonnes of plastic entered the world’s oceans from land (Jambeck et al. From 1950 to 2015, the cumulative waste generation of primary and recycled plastic amounted to 6300 million tonnes (6300 Mt), with only 9% recycled and 12% incinerated, while at least 60% persists in landfills or in the natural environment (Geyer et al. Many developing countries lack the waste management practices, services, systems or infrastructure for garbage, let alone recycling. Although most developed countries have invested in recycling technologies, there are many factors that impact recycling success, including the lack of technology to recycle all plastic types, lack of collection points, recycling feedstock contamination (which occurs when plastic food containers are not properly cleaned) and consumer apathy (Law 2017). Plastic waste management is considered inadequate or non-existent in many parts of the world, despite high levels of plastic production and consumption (Bucci et al. 2009), making plastic waste management a global challenge. Although plastic can break into pieces that are invisible to the naked eye, plastic longevity is estimated to range from hundreds to thousands of years (Barnes et al. Plastic is extremely durable and non-biodegradable. The largest market demand of plastic is for single-use disposable packaging materials, with approximately 50% of all plastic production going towards single-use purposes (Hopewell et al. Plastic has shaped the development of modern society and has benefited many sectors, including healthcare, science and technology, agriculture, packaging, transportation, and construction (Napper and Thompson 2020 Plastics Europe 2017). Valued for being versatile, durable, lightweight and inexpensive to produce, plastic is used in all aspects of our daily life. Plastic production has grown exponentially, from 1.5 million tonnes in the 1950s (Plastics Europe 2012) to 359 million tonnes in 2018 (Plastics Europe 2019).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |