Inventories of plastic pollution sources, flows and hotspots as a baseline for national action plans: The experience of Mexico.

This article explores the development of Mexico's National Inventory of Plastic Pollution Sources (NIPPS), designed to establish a baseline for the country's National Action Plan. The study employed a multifaceted approach, combining material flow analysis tools, literature reviews, and stakeholder workshops. This methodology successfully identified critical leakage points within the waste management system, such as deficiencies in collection and the prevalence of uncontrolled disposal sites. It also recognized priority geographic regions and fostered engagement with relevant stakeholders. However, a comprehensive assessment was hampered by data limitations, including a lack of information on waste composition, inconsistent recycling data, and the use of varied methodologies in field studies of plastic pollution. By highlighting the strengths and limitations of the process, this article underscores the critical role of standardized data collection and analysis in creating robust national plastic pollution inventories. Such inventories serve as a cornerstone for effective National Action Plans and contribute significantly to broader efforts tackling the global plastic pollution crisis. The valuable lessons from Mexico's experience offer insights for other countries facing similar challenges.