We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Delineating and preventing plastic waste leakage in the marine and terrestrial environment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers outline the global challenge of plastic waste leaking into marine and land environments, tracing the problem to poor waste management, limited recycling technology, and low public awareness. The commentary calls for upstream design changes and downstream cleanup strategies to reduce plastic litter worldwide.
Plastics are nowadays considered to be the workhorse material of our modern society with an ubiquitous presence that has increased manifold over the past 60 years, providing several benefits to the global economy. However, inappropriate and/or uncontrolled disposal practices, poor waste management infrastructure and application of insufficient recycling technologies, coupled with a lack of public awareness and incentives, have rendered plastic waste omnipresent, littering both the marine and the terrestrial environment with multi-faceted impacts. This short communication/commentary aims at delineating the plastic litter global challenge providing, at the same time, scientific views and perspectives on properly dealing with this material type, both upstream and downstream.
More Papers Like This
An Overview of the Current Trends in Marine Plastic Litter Management for a Sustainable Development
AI summary Read the abstract
This review summarizes current knowledge about marine plastic litter, from its land-based origins to its distribution across ocean environments, and evaluates recovery and recycling strategies. Researchers found that while technologies for collecting and recycling marine plastics are advancing, significant economic and logistical barriers remain. The study emphasizes that a circular economy approach, combining prevention, collection, and material recovery, is essential for addressing ocean plastic pollution.
Plastic Waste: Challenges and Opportunities to Mitigate Pollution and Effective Management
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed plastic waste generation and management strategies globally, identifying lack of technical skills, inadequate recycling infrastructure, and poor regulatory awareness as the main barriers to addressing the ~400 million tons of plastic produced annually.
Current scenario and challenges of plastic pollution in Bangladesh: a focus on farmlands and terrestrial ecosystems
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed the sources, dispersion routes, and environmental consequences of plastic waste across global and Bangladesh-specific contexts, finding that inadequate infrastructure and limited resources make plastic pollution — including microplastics entering agricultural soils, marine environments, and food chains — an especially acute threat in developing countries.
Marine Litter: Solutions for a Major Environmental Problem
AI summary Read the abstract
This paper reviews the sources, distribution, and impacts of marine litter — primarily plastics — on beaches and oceans, and surveys proposed solutions ranging from improved waste management to policy interventions and cleanup technologies. It provides a broad overview of the challenge of reducing plastic pollution at a global scale.
Plastic Waste Management for Zero Waste to Landfills: Potential, Challenges, and Opportunities
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers assessed global plastic waste management performance within a zero-waste-to-landfill framework, finding that the linear economy model driving plastic production has outpaced collection and recycling infrastructure, leaving significant contamination across all environmental compartments even in regions with market access.
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.