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Managing Plastic Waste─Sorting, Recycling, Disposal, and Product Redesign
Summary
This review covers the full landscape of plastic waste management, from sorting and mechanical recycling to chemical recycling and disposal methods. The paper highlights that landfills remain the most common disposal method despite generating microplastics and toxic leachate, while advanced recycling technologies are still too expensive for widespread use. Better management of plastic waste is directly linked to reducing microplastic pollution and its associated human health risks.
Over the years, the petrochemical industry has developed a plethora of polymers that are contributing to the well-being of humanity. Irresponsible disposal of used plastics has, however, led to the buildup of litter, which is fouling the environment, harming wildlife, and wasting valuable resources. This paper critically reviews the challenge and opportunities in converting plastic waste into a feedstock for the industry. It discusses (a) the amount, quality, and sorting of plastic waste; (b) mechanical recycling and extraction or dissolution/precipitation; (c) chemical recycling to monomers and to feedstock and other chemicals; and (d) waste disposal by incineration, biodegradation, landfill, and microplastics. It will, finally, broaden the circularity discussion with life-cycle analyses (LCA), design for recycling, and the future role of renewable carbon as a feedstock.
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