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Microplastics in fine fraction of biologically treated waste
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Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in fine fractions of biologically treated waste from a landfill and composting facilities in Estonia and Lithuania. Microplastics were detected in all samples, raising concerns about plastic contamination in materials used as soil amendments. The study highlights that biological waste treatment does not remove microplastics and may spread them to agricultural soils.
Recently, microplastics have become widely distributed in the environment, so its extraction and identification according to the specific type of plastics has become an important object of research. Scientists and engineers have proposed several different methods for extraction of microplastics. In this work, microplastics were detected and identified in the small fraction of Torma landfill (Estonia), in the compost obtained at the Kaunas green waste composting facility and in the waste aerobic treatment products obtained at Kaunas waste mechanical-biological treatment facility. During the research, the methodology for the separation of different types of plastic Microparticles from waste fine fraction was improved.
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Microplastics and impurities in digestates and compost: A comparative study of waste-derived soil amendments
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Researchers analyzed five types of compost and digestate from organic waste treatment facilities over three months, finding microplastics in all samples at concentrations comprising 30–65% of total plastic content, with fibers, films, and fragments of polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET being most common — highlighting how even properly managed biowaste streams can introduce plastics into agricultural soils.
Microplastic pollution of organic waste products used for soil amendment
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Researchers measured microplastic contamination in various organic waste products intended for use as soil amendments, including composts, green waste, manure, and sewage sludge. All materials tested contained microplastics, with types and concentrations varying by source. The findings highlight a significant pathway for microplastic contamination of agricultural soils through the use of organic fertilizers and soil conditioners.
Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in treated organic wastes of Kaunas and Alytus regional waste management centres, Lithuania
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Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in treated organic waste from two Lithuanian waste management centres. They found that stabilized organic waste from mixed municipal processing contained the highest levels, with up to 17,407 particles per kilogram, while even separately collected green and food composts contained thousands of particles per kilogram. The study highlights that over 83% of the microplastics were smaller than 1 mm, underscoring the need to control small particle contamination in organic waste fertilizers to prevent soil pollution.
Microplastics extraction and quantification in organic waste samples from Kaunas MBT
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Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in organic waste at a mechanical-biological treatment (MBT) facility in Lithuania. They found significant microplastic concentrations in processed organic waste, suggesting MBT plants may be an underappreciated pathway for microplastic dispersal into the environment via compost or soil amendment. The study calls for standardized protocols for microplastic analysis in solid waste processing.
Microplastics identification and quantification in the composted Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste
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Researchers quantified microplastics in composted organic municipal solid waste from five facilities, finding contamination levels that raise concerns about compost quality and the potential transfer of microplastics to agricultural soils through organic waste recycling.
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.