We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Managing Plastic Waste─Sorting, Recycling, Disposal, and Product Redesign
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
More Papers Like This
Plastic Pollution & Solution
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines plastic waste management strategies across the plastic lifecycle, noting that landfilling remains the dominant approach despite its environmental and health drawbacks. It concludes that recycling and energy recovery offer better outcomes than landfilling, which is relevant to microplastics because improper disposal accelerates the fragmentation of plastics into smaller particles that enter ecosystems.
Recycling and Management of Microplastic Waste
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines recycling and management strategies for plastic waste, describing the technical and economic challenges of reducing plastic pollution and the remediation approaches that have been attempted to address microplastic accumulation in the environment.
A Review Paper On Plastic Waste Management & Recycling Innovations
AI summary Read the abstract
This review paper rounds up current research on how we handle and recycle plastic waste, since old methods like burying it in landfills or burning it aren't cutting it anymore and can pollute our air, water, and soil. The good news: newer approaches like chemical recycling, biodegradable plastics, and AI-powered sorting systems are making recycling more effective, but high costs, contaminated waste streams, and limited recycling infrastructure are still holding progress back. Better plastic waste management matters for your health because poorly managed plastic breaks down into microplastics that can end up in our water, food, and even our bodies, so improving these systems could m
The Devastation of Waste Plastic on the Environment and Remediation Processes: A Critical Review
AI summary Read the abstract
This review covers the full scope of plastic waste pollution, from sources and environmental damage to recycling and remediation strategies. It ranks common plastic polymers by the toxicity of their chemical building blocks and traces how plastic waste enters the environment. The review highlights that as plastics break down into microplastics, they become harder to clean up and more likely to enter the food chain, making prevention and recycling critical for reducing human exposure.
Integrated approaches for plastic waste management
AI summary Read the abstract
This review surveys the full spectrum of approaches — recycling, biodegradation by microbes, and chemical or physical treatment — for managing the enormous global volume of plastic waste that otherwise persists in the environment for hundreds of years. The authors argue that no single method is sufficient and that an integrated strategy combining multiple techniques is needed to prevent plastics from fragmenting into environmentally harmful microplastics. The review provides a useful overview for policymakers and researchers looking to reduce plastic pollution at scale.
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.