On the Challenge of Plastic Wastes and Litter in Oceans: Some Policy Reflections

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Shailesh Nayak
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Marine Ecosystems ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Mechanical Breakdown ◽  
The World ◽  
Plastic Wastes ◽  
Effective Policy ◽  
Pelagic Ecosystems ◽  
Innovative Approaches

The increasing pollution in oceans, especially of the plastics litter, has degraded health of the oceans in many parts of the world. As plastic degrade very slowly, its accumulation in oceans expected to rise exponentially in coming decades and critically affect marine ecosystems, ocean fauna and humans. Microplastics, generated due to mechanical breakdown of plastic waste, is particularly affecting the pelagic ecosystems and can even alter them. It is necessary to generate and update scientific knowledge about production, transport, sink of plastics and their impacts, develop innovative approaches to manage plastic waste, and bringing awareness about effects of plastic pollution to communities. The issue of plastic pollution needs be tackled at local as well as regional levels through effective policy and multi-national cooperation.

scholarly journals Pyro-Oil and Wax Recovery from Reclaimed Plastic Waste in a Continuous Auger Pyrolysis Reactor

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2040 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sultan Majed Al-Salem ◽  
Yang Yang ◽  
Jiawei Wang ◽  
Gary Anthony Leeke
Keyword(s):  
Product Distribution ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Densification Process ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Waste Plastic ◽  
Diesel Fuels ◽  
Plastic Recycling ◽  
Plastic Wastes ◽  
Liquid Products ◽  
Pyrolysis Reactor

The increasing global waste plastic pollution is urging people to take immediate actions on effective plastic recycling and processing. In this work, we report the results of processing reclaimed plastic wastes from unsanitary landfill site in Kuwait by using a bench scale continuous auger pyrolysis system. The plastic feedstock was characterised. After a simple thermal densification process, the material was fed to the pyrolysis system at 500 °C. The pyro-oil and wax products were collected and characterised. The process mass balance was developed on dry basis, and the yields of pyro-oil, light wax, heavy wax and gases were 5.5, 23.8, 69.4 and 1.3 wt%, respectively. The findings have indicated that the reclamation of plastic waste from landfill was feasible in terms of the product distribution and characteristics. Further liquid analysis confirmed that the liquid products contained fractions that are comparable to petrol and diesel fuels. The wax products are viable and have potential application as coating, covering and lubrication.

scholarly journals Reducing plastic waste for the competitiveness of Vietnamese tourist attractions

2020 ◽  
Vol 210 ◽  
pp. 01011
Author(s):  
Minh Tuan Tran ◽  
Trung Luong Pham ◽  
Xuan Tung Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Public Education ◽  
Sustainable Tourism ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Tourist Attractions ◽  
Sustainable Tourism Development ◽  
The Past ◽  
Plastic Bags ◽  
Plastic Wastes ◽  
Plastic Products

Plastic usage in tourism activities has increased significantly in Vietnam over the past decades, leading to the burden of plastic pollution and the threat to sustainable tourism development. The Vietnamese government has recognized the importance of plastic waste management in sustainable tourism. Laws and regulations on controlling pollution due to non-biodegradable plastic bags. Public education activities have been organized to encourage people replace plastic products with natural materials, reuse plastic bags and reduce plastic wastes. Many tourism businesses have found ways to limit plastic consumption, such as replacing disposal plastic products with eco-friendly products. Vietnamese tourism has taken the first steps in reducing plastic waste pollution in tourism activities. This article proposed some solutions to limit and restrain plastic wastes from tourism in Vietnam.

scholarly journals Fuzzy Based Spatial Risk Evaluation of Plastic Pollution: A Case Study of Anambra State of Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Chibundo Chukwuma ◽  
Louis Chukwuemeka orakwe ◽  
Ejikeme Emmanuel Emenike ◽  
Chukwuma Chris Okonkwo
Keyword(s):  
State Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Drainage Density ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Terrestrial Environment ◽  
Anambra State ◽  
Spatial Risk ◽  
Plastic Wastes

Abstract Natural systems, human health, and artistic sensitivities are all threatened by plastic pollution in most developed and developing countries. Plastic has emerged as a major global threat with rivers serving as sink for transported plastics, emanating from the terrestrial environment as a result of human activities. Anambra State in Nigeria is arguably the business hub of the South-eastern part of Nigeria, with a massive output of plastic wastes daily from individuals, commercial activities and industries. Owing to an inefficient waste management system, plastic leakage into her drainage networks is a critical environmental challenge. The aim of this study is to geospatially model the vulnerability associated with the various plastic leakage factors to the environment. To achieve this aim, data on different thematic variables which include plastic waste density, slope, land-use, drainage density and distance to drainage network of the study area were modelled, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was used to delineate the variables in order to obtain final risk map for the study area. The result of the study indicates that a total area very high risk is 1840.03 km2, this constitutes about 40.11% of the study area. Local Governments Areas (LGA) located in the southern part of the study area is more susceptible to plastic waste leakage, this could be linked to factors like high dense population and increasing rate of urbanization in the region. It is recommended that waste collection should be frequent, strategic and higher priority should be attached to the high risked area from this study. Anambra State Government also needs to work together with plastic recycling companies, for effective collection of plastic wastes in the areas classified as hotspots in plastic litter accumulation as one of the mitigation measures.

scholarly journals Plastic Waste Recycle for Industrial

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Budi Haryono ◽  
Wikan Budi Utami
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Review Paper ◽  
High Income ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Global Problem ◽  
Major Disease ◽  
Plastic Wastes

The high-income countries are leading to higher consumption of plastic, despite prominent contribution to the global problem of plastic pollution. The high quantities of plastic wastes are extremely threatening to harm the environment and inhabitants due to mismanagement such as ingested in the fish and also harmful to human health (cancer is a major disease) if such consuming a fish. This review paper explored a solution to treating plastic waste to improve the sustainability of the environment. The use of recycled plastic wastes as a component has been found to be the most beneficial as it can be used to replace all solid components.

scholarly journals Measuring Indonesia's Commitment to Reducing Plastic Waste in the Sea Through A Legal Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-118
Author(s):  
Muhammad Insan Tarigan
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Literature Study ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Indonesian Government ◽  
International Obligation ◽  
The World

Indonesia is the second-largest producer of plastic pollution in the world after China. Based on the data in 2018, there were about 1.29 million tonnes plastic waste end up in the ocean per annum. With that regard, Indonesia needs to be responsible for the negligence in doing the international obligation to prevent, reduce, and manage the pollution that affect marine environment. The purpose of this research is to observe Indonesia’s commitment in reducing plastic pollution on marine environment by doing some legal approach. Therefore, this research conducted by normative juridical and using descriptive analysis. Data analysis that obtained is done through literature study. The conclusion of this research is that the commitment of Indonesian Government on preventing plastic waste in marine environment relatively needs to be improved. There are some of regulations which already targeted that has not established yet by Indonesian Government.

Reducing the Phenomenon of PPW (Pollution with Plastic Waste) Through Legislative and (Bio)Economic Solutions

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (11) ◽  
pp. 39-50
Author(s):  
Costica Roman ◽  
Ionel Bostan
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
The World ◽  
Life On Earth ◽  
Synthetic Assessment ◽  
The Eu

This undertaking, starting from a global synthetic assessment of the PPW phenomenon, aims at highlighting the most important/recent coordinates regarding PPW, the risks it involves, affecting the environment and, respectively, life on Earth, but - at the same time - the solutions for preventing/fighting the respective phenomenon. Our motivation is that PPW is currently experiencing an unprecedented expansion, given that not all countries of the world, especially some in Asia, are adequately involved, protecting the consequence of the massive spill of plastics into the seas and oceans. Focusing more on this issue, as manifested in the EU and Romania, taking into account the strategies adopted here, we try to identify solutions to reduce the phenomenon of PPW, located in the circular economy. Our options are clear for the nominated area, as it is suitable for protecting the environment from plastic pollution and can also stimulate growth and innovation.

scholarly journals RECYCLING AND PYROLYSIS OF WASTE PLASTICS

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (9SE) ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Amrita Khatri
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Waste Plastics ◽  
Technological Solution ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Mount Everest ◽  
Mechanical Recycling ◽  
Vast Amount ◽  
Plastic Wastes

Plastic has achieved such an extensive market due to fact that it is lightweight, cheap, flexible and reusable. But now it is regarded as a serious hazard. All recommendation for and against plastics finally land up on the reality that plastics are slow to degrade. By the end of the 20th century, plastics are found as persistent polluters of many environmental niches, from Mount Everest to the bottom of the sea. There are numerous ways by which plastic pollution can be controlled.  Pyrolysis is referred to as polymer cracking and its main advantages are that it can deal with plastic waste .This paper provides an overview of the science and technology of pyrolysis of waste plastics. The major advantage of the pyrolysis technology is its ability to handle unsorted, unwashed plastic. The production of gasoline, kerosene and diesel from waste plastics is an emerging technological solution to the vast amount of plastics that cannot be economically recovered by conventional mechanical recycling. The disposal and decomposition of plastics has been an issue which has caused a number of research works to be carried out in this regard. Currently, the paper reviews the production of Petroleum-based fuel viz. gasoline, kerosene and diesel from recycling of waste plastics is an emerging technological solution to the vast amount of plastic wastes that cannot be economically recovered by conventional mechanical recycling operations. This involves the use of pyrolysis which permits recovery of valuable gasoline and diesel-range hydrocarbons from waste plastics that are otherwise land filled.

scholarly journals Legal Approaches to Reduce Plastic Marine Pollution: Challenges and Global Governance

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-20
Author(s):  
Sajid Ali ◽  
Fozia Sarwar ◽  
Shaukat Hussain Bhatti ◽  
Saif ur Rehman
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Marine Pollution ◽  
Fishing Gear ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
The World ◽  
Plastic Wastes ◽  
Fundamental Cause ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Plastic Products

Plastic wastes have recently emerged as one of the alarming threats to the marine environment. The issue of contamination of marine plastic is not new; it has been recognized for over half a century. The problem can no longer be ignored, thanks to growing media attention and incidents such as the finding of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This issue is addressed by a number of legal approaches. Plastic litter reduction standards were adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 30 years ago. Annexes to the convention of MARPOL are designed to aid in the fight against plastic pollution. Other mechanisms of maritime law can be used to combat this issue as well. The fundamental cause of the issue, and thus the solution is located on land. The directives of the European Union can serve as useful models for decreasing marine pollution. In May 2018, the new European Union restrictions are proposed to target the ten most commonly detected single-use plastic products in coastal areas of Europe, as well as lost and abandoned fishing gear. These multinational conventions serve as a source of inspiration for the governments of other countries of the world. The acceptance and application of these legal approaches and conventions could change the game in the fight against marine pollution.

scholarly journals Role of Microorganisms in the Biodegradation of Plastics

2020 ◽  
pp. 645-650
Keyword(s):  
Social Issue ◽  
Biological Treatment ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Microbial Enzymes ◽  
Current Review ◽  
Plastic Wastes ◽  
Plastic Degradation ◽  
Innovative Approaches

The abundant growing accumulation of plastic wastes has become a severe environmental and social issue. As plastic remains in the environment for decades and centuries, it is very important to develop innovative approaches for the disposal of plastic wastes. Much of the recent research is mainly focussed on the identification of microorganisms and microbial enzymes that can degrade plastic waste. This probably offers new biological treatment strategies for plastic degradation. The current review mainly discusses the role of various microorganisms in the biodegradation of plastics.

Indigenous Environmental Justice, Knowledge, and Law

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah McGregor
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Justice ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Knowledge Systems ◽  
Indigenous Worldviews ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge Systems ◽  
The World ◽  
Innovative Approaches

This article aims to introduce a distinct conception of Indigenous environmental justice (IEJ) based on Indigenous legal orders, knowledge systems, and conceptions of justice. This is not to suggest in any way that the existing environmental justice (EJ) scholarship is flawed; in fact, the scholarship and activism around EJ have been central in diagnosing and drawing attention to injustices that occur on a systematic basis everywhere in the world. This article argues instead that such discussions can be expanded by acknowledging that concepts of environmental justice, including distinct legal orders informed by Indigenous knowledge systems, already existed on Turtle Island for thousands of years prior to the arrival of Europeans. It also suggests that environmental justice framed within Indigenous worldviews, ontologies, and epistemologies may make significant contributions to broader EJ scholarship, particularly in relation to extending justice to other beings and entities in Creation. This approach acknowledges ongoing colonialism and emphasizes the need to decolonize in order to advance innovative approaches to IEJ. 

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