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Managing Microplastics in the Kingston, Ontario, Community: A Novel One Health Innovation
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A One Health community initiative in Kingston, Ontario proposes repurposing plastic bags — diverted from entering waterways — into sleeping bags for unhoused people, combining environmental plastic reduction with direct social benefit. The paper argues that local circular economy projects addressing the "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" framework are a scalable model for reducing microplastic precursors from entering ecosystems.
The adverse impacts of microplastics on human health, non-human animals, and the environment are long-standing issues that affect communities across Canada and worldwide. The slow degradation of plastics and their bioaccumulation in plants, animals, and ecosystems can lead to poor growth outcomes and physiological side effects. Comprehensive initiatives that address the "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" principles for plastic are urgently needed. To support Kingston City Council's mission to reduce plastic and waste contamination in waterways, this proposed initiative aims to redirect plastic bags from entering the environment and repurpose them into sleeping bags.
More Papers Like This
Second Life Plastic Project: Using a One Health Lens to Address Plastic Bottle Pollution
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Not relevant to microplastics — this paper proposes a One Health initiative to collect and 3D-print plastic bottles into furniture as a community-scale plastic pollution reduction strategy, without investigating microplastic contamination or health effects.
Strategic pathways for sustainable plastic management through a circular economy approach in India
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This paper analyzed strategic pathways for sustainable plastic waste management in India through a circular economy lens, examining the environmental and health risks posed by microplastics from inadequate plastic disposal. The authors identify policy, infrastructure, and behavioral interventions needed to reduce India's microplastic burden.
Replacing single use plastic bags with compostable carriers: socio-economic approach
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This paper examines socioeconomic factors driving disposable plastic bag use and argues that replacing single-use plastic bags with compostable carriers could reduce the downstream formation of microplastics from plastic bag fragmentation in the environment.
Management of the Plastic Waste Towards Sustainability Goal for Circular Economy
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This review paper looks at how the world can better reuse plastic waste—like turning it into building materials, sports equipment, or energy—instead of letting it pile up or pollute the environment. Reducing plastic waste this way matters for your health because unmanaged plastic often breaks down into microplastics that contaminate our water, food, and air. By recycling plastic into new products, communities can cut pollution while also creating economic value, a win-win approach known as a "circular economy."
Recycling and Reusing Strategies to Prevent Microplastic Generation: a Review
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This review examines recycling and reusing strategies for plastic materials as a means of preventing microplastic generation, grounding the analysis in circular economy principles emphasizing resource efficiency through repair, reuse, and recycling. The authors evaluate current methodologies and propose strategies to reduce plastic waste degradation into microplastics, linking waste management practices to pollution prevention outcomes.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.