An overview of present treatment and valorification methods used for plastic waste

Abstract

Most frecquent used methods for recycling and treating plastic waste, with their advantages and disadvantages were analysed and investigated. Plastic waste present a slow degradation rate in nature, almost one thousand years, therefore it is important to address this type of pollution, by finding the most sustainable methods in reducing the percentage of plastic that ends up in landfills or in the ocean. The negative impact of plastic waste include bioaccumulation in organisms by exposure to micro and nano plastics that end up in the environment from degrading macro plastics or directly from products that contain microplastic, like exfoliating personal care products.