Conventional and advanced management techniques and policies adopted at the global level for microplastics

Microplastics (MPs) are synthetic polymers with dimensions less than 5 mm (European Food Safety Authority). Based on their origin, the MPs are classified as primary and secondary. Primary MPs are present in the form of microbeads in the formulation of products for personal care, cosmetics, etc., and fibers from laundry. Secondary MPs originate mainly from plastic discard that suffers fragmentation by photo-degradation, physical, chemical, or biological interaction. Environmental pollution by MPs is a potentially threatening global issue that needs to be urgently dealt with. This chapter summarizes the development of stringent clean techniques for reliable analysis and hence management of MPs starting from conventional methods like wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to advanced treatment methods like membrane bioreactors , rapid sand filtration, electrocoagulation, and photocatalytic degradation , which are capable of increasing the MPs removal efficiency even greater than 99%. Except for remedial measures, this chapter also focuses on various policies adopted globally to manage MPs pollution based on preventive measures like imposing taxes, bans, etc., and developing national and international rules and regulations increasing social awareness and encouraging the usage of biodegradable plastics, etc.