Solutions, Approaches and Mitigation Strategies for Plastic Waste Management

McGuinty, Eamonn; Walker, Tony R.

doi:10.1142/9789811259111_0013

Cited by 2 publications

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“…In 2019, global plastic production reached 368 million metric tons (Mt) (Plastics Europe, 2020), but is estimated to double in the next two decades (Lebreton and Andrady, 2019). As many consumer plastics are designed and intended for single-use, this has resulted in increasing quantities of plastic waste and widespread plastic pollution (McGuinty and Walker, 2023). Borrelle et al (2020) estimated that an astonishing 19–23 Mt of plastic waste generated across the globe in 2016 entered aquatic ecosystems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The tropics should not become the world's plastic pollution problem

Walker

2023

Journal of Tropical Futures: Sustainable Business, Governance &

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Unsustainable plastic production, use and mismanagement have resulted in increased plastic pollution in the environment threatening sustainability, especially in the tropics. Countries in the tropics have been disproportionally impacted by plastic pollution due to imports of plastic waste from developed countries, or because tropical Small Island Developing States have become overwhelmed by single-use plastics used widely in the tourism sector. However, plastic pollution is pervasive and is not just limited to the tropics. Plastic pollution has resulted in widespread environmental, economic and social impacts globally. Most plastics are derived from fossil fuels which contribute to climate change via greenhouse gas emissions, and plastic pollution also harms wildlife threatening biodiversity, thus placing enormous pressure on earth’s limited resources. Although downstream strategies to curb plastic pollution exist, they are infective in the face of increased upstream plastic production. Therefore, the international community has recognized that a more holistic approach is required to reduce plastic pollution. Current plastic production and waste generation are still outpacing existing plastic reduction regulations. This viewpoint shows why unsustainable global plastic production has resulted in increased global plastic pollution, including in the tropics, but also highlights how ambitious plastic pollution reduction policies can help transition towards a more sustainable plastics future.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The tropics should not become the world's plastic pollution problem

Walker

2023

Journal of Tropical Futures: Sustainable Business, Governance &

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Plastic Pulse of the Public: A review of survey-based research on how people use plastic

Walker¹,

Baechler²,

Markley³

et al. 2023

Camb. prisms Plast.

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Plastics pollute all environmental compartments because of human activities and mismanagement. Public perceptions and knowledge about plastic pollution differ among individuals and across different jurisdictions. Targeted survey-based research tools can help measure consumer awareness about the impacts of mismanaged plastics and help identify trends and solutions to reduce plastic use and plastic pollution. This review primarily focused on survey-based research from presenters at the scientific track session TS-2.15 Plastic Pulse of the Public at the 7th International Marine Debris Conference (www.7imdc.org) and supplemented by contemporary literature. Survey-based research helps provide new insights about public opinions related to the pervasiveness of plastic pollution. This review includes results about consumer use and perceptions of plastic pollution impacts from diverse studies from nine countries including Ghana, Kenya, Bangladesh, Pakistan, United States, Canada, Norway, Germany, and United Kingdom. Overwhelmingly, public perceptions and consumer awareness of the negative impacts of plastic pollution were extremely high, regardless of geographic location. Awareness about the environmental impacts of plastic waste and plastic pollution was highest within younger, white, female, and well-educated demographic groups. However, differences were observed in public attitudes toward willingness to pay for sustainable alternatives, end-of-life plastic uses, unintended consequences, recycling, and mismanagement.

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Solutions, Approaches and Mitigation Strategies for Plastic Waste Management

Cited by 2 publications

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The tropics should not become the world's plastic pollution problem

The tropics should not become the world's plastic pollution problem

Plastic Pulse of the Public: A review of survey-based research on how people use plastic

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