Current scenario and challenges of plastic pollution in Bangladesh: a focus on farmlands and terrestrial ecosystems

Abstract

Plastic is considered one of the most indispensable commodities in our daily life. At the end of life, the huge ever-growing pile of plastic waste (PW) causes serious concerns for our environment, including agricultural farmlands, groundwater quality, marine and land ecosystems, food toxicity and human health hazards. Lack of proper infrastructure, financial backup, and technological advancement turn this hazardous waste plastic management into a serious threat to developing countries, especially for Bangladesh. A comprehensive review of PW generation and its consequences on environment in both global and Bangladesh contexts is presented. The dispersion routes of PW from different sources in different forms (microplastic, macroplastic, nanoplastic) and its adverse effect on agriculture, marine life and terrestrial ecosystems are illustrated in this work. The key challenges to mitigate PW pollution and tackle down the climate change issue is discussed in this work. Moreover, way forward toward the design and implementation of proper PW management strategies are highlighted in this study.

An in-depth analysis and review of management strategies for E-waste in the south Asian region: A way forward towards waste to energy conversion and sustainability

“…The management and recycling of electronic waste negatively influence the environment, affecting air, soil, and water quality, in addition to posing threats to aquatic ecosystems and human health [ [152] , [153] , [154] ]. If E-waste is abandoned, inadequately disposed of, or recycled without proper regulations, hazardous chemicals like mercury-gold amalgam or cyanide may leach or get washed out by heavy rainfall, contaminating drinking water sources such as rivers, ponds, and underground water [ 9 , 155 ]. Producers and recipients of E-waste take different pathways based on factors like treatment facilities, the condition of the E-waste, and convenient transportation options [ 18 ].…”

Plastic Waste: Challenges and Opportunities to Mitigate Pollution and Effective Management

“…However, only a small portion of the agricultural plastic waste is recycled, but this varies widely from country to country and also depends on facility available at regional level. The majority of agricultural plastic waste is either buried in the soil or burned uncontrollably in the fields, or discarded infields and most of them ends up in the landfills or in nearby the rivers or canals (Islam et al 2022 ). Table 3 represents a source of plastic waste in agricultural sectors and their relative impact on waste management strategies.…”