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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Macro- and microplastics in composts from municipal solid waste industrial composting Plants in Uganda
ClearIdentification and Quantification of Microplastics in Compost: A case of landfills in Uganda
Researchers surveyed compost sites across 8 cities and 5 municipalities in Uganda, finding microplastics at all locations with fibers being the most abundant type (54.98%), indicating that poor waste management practices are driving plastic contamination into compost used in agriculture.
Microplastics identification and quantification in the composted Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste
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.
Breakdown of plastic waste into microplastics during an industrial Composting: A case study from a biowaste facility
A study of industrial composting facilities found that plastic waste items introduced into the compost feedstock broke down into microplastics during the composting process, with finished compost containing significant MP concentrations that could contaminate agricultural soils where the compost is applied.
Plastics and other extraneous matter in municipal solid waste compost: A systematic review of sources, occurrence, implications, and fate in amended soils
Researchers reviewed contamination in municipal compost made from household organic waste, finding plastics are the most prevalent pollutant — with some batches containing enough plastic to deposit over 500 kg per hectare of farmland each year. Repeated use of contaminated compost builds up microplastics in soil, threatening soil health and potentially moving plastic particles into crops and food.
Microplastic Abundance in the Locally Produced Commercial Compost and the Characteristics
Researchers measured microplastic abundance in locally produced commercial compost, characterizing particle morphology, size, and polymer type. The compost contained measurable microplastic concentrations dominated by polyester fibres and polyethylene fragments, confirming that commercial composting does not eliminate microplastic contamination and may serve as a route for soil plastic input.
Plastic contamination of composts derived from feedstocks with and without food waste
Researchers investigated plastic contamination levels in composts derived from feedstocks with and without food waste, examining how organic waste amendments may act as vectors for introducing plastic fragments into terrestrial soils. A vermiculture composting approach was used to assess the fate of plastics through the composting process.
Plastic input and dynamics in industrial composting
Researchers quantified plastic input and dynamics at five stages of an industrial composting process, tracking macroplastics in municipal bio-waste collections from different municipalities (0.36-4.72 kg/ton, dominated by PE and PP) and measuring microplastic concentrations through shredding and screening to assess removal or enrichment.
Determination and quantification of microplastics in compost
Researchers analyzed commercially available compost products to determine how much microplastic contamination they contain. They found microplastics in all tested composts, with fibers and fragments being the most common forms, primarily made of polyethylene and polypropylene. The findings raise concerns that applying commercial compost to agricultural land may be an overlooked pathway for introducing microplastics into soil.
Makro- und Mikrokunststoffe in österreichischen Komposten
This German-language study analyzed macro- and microplastic contamination in Austrian composts from three modern composting facilities, finding between 13 and 111 plastic particles per kilogram of dry matter. The results highlight that even well-managed composting operations contribute to plastic pollution in agricultural soils when compost is applied.
Compost‐Hosted Microplastics – Municipal Solid Waste Compost
This review examines microplastics hosted in municipal solid waste compost, addressing a gap in research that has largely focused on marine ecosystems, and discussing the sources, prevalence, and potential impacts of microplastics in compost on terrestrial ecosystems, agriculture, and soil health.
Microplastics generation and concentration during mechanical-biological treatment of mixed municipal solid waste
Researchers found that mechanical-biological treatment of mixed municipal solid waste generates and concentrates microplastics across multiple processing stages, with the stabilized organic output containing significant microplastic loads — raising concerns about the use of this material as compost or soil amendment.
The Cost of Plastics in Compost
This study examined the cost and time associated with removing plastics from green waste before composting in Malawi, finding that plastic contamination is a major barrier to making composting economically viable. Plastic in compost feedstocks spreads microplastics into soils when the compost is applied to farm fields.
From waste to resource: unveiling the nexus between compost, microplastics, and agroecosystem
This review examines how compost derived from municipal waste introduces microplastics into agricultural soils, with polypropylene, polyethylene, and PET being the most commonly found polymers. Researchers found that smaller microplastic particles pose greater risks to agroecosystem sustainability, and that even bioplastics can persist as a non-point source of contamination. The study suggests that adding biochar during composting and stricter monitoring of feedstock quality could help reduce microplastic contamination.
Unveiling the abundance and potential impacts of microplastic contamination in commercial organic fertilizers/compost produced from different solid waste
Researchers analyzed commercial organic fertilizers made from different waste sources and found microplastics in 80% of the samples, with compost from mixed municipal waste containing the highest levels. The estimated amounts of microplastics being introduced into agricultural soils through these fertilizers exceeded previous reports. The study highlights the need for stricter regulations on organic fertilizer quality to prevent microplastic contamination of farmland.
Characterization and source apportionment of microplastics in Indian composts
This study characterized microplastics in municipal solid waste composts from Kochi and Kozhikode, India, finding elevated concentrations of microplastics along with associated heavy metal accumulation. The results highlight compost as a pathway for microplastic and metal co-contamination of agricultural soils.
Microplastics in composting of rural domestic waste: abundance, characteristics, and release from the surface of macroplastics
Rural domestic waste compost contained an average of 2,400 ± 358 MP items/kg (dry weight) dominated by polyester, PP, and PE fibers and films, with lab experiments confirming that macroplastics in compost feedstock shed microplastics during the composting process.
A systematic review of the occurrence of microplastics in compost: Understanding the abundance, sources, characteristics and ecological risk
Researchers reviewed 19 global studies and found microplastics in virtually all types of compost — including those made from animal manure, sewage sludge, and municipal waste — with concentrations reaching up to 288,000 particles per kilogram in some samples. Since compost is widely applied to farmland, these findings highlight a significant but overlooked pathway for microplastics to enter soils and the food chain.
Fate and dynamics of microplastics in the municipal waste composting process
Researchers tracked microplastic abundance and polymer composition across five consecutive composting stages of municipal waste at the Galuga landfill in Indonesia, finding stage-specific changes including process-based reduction and fragmentation dynamics that highlight both the capacity and limitations of composting for mitigating microplastic contamination.
Microplastics as an underestimated emerging contaminant in solid organic waste and their biological products: Occurrence, fate and ecological risks
This review identified solid organic waste streams including compost, sewage sludge, and food waste as important but underappreciated repositories of microplastics that can reintroduce particles into agricultural soils and water systems. The authors call for standardized monitoring of microplastics in organic waste before environmental application.
Distribution characteristics of microplastics in typical organic solid wastes and their biologically treated products
Researchers extracted and characterized microplastics from food waste, livestock manure, sludge, and their composted or digested products, finding MPs in all organic waste types with concentrations varying by matrix. The study highlights organic waste management pathways as an understudied route for microplastic transfer to agricultural soils.
Microplastic contamination and accumulation in municipal solid waste: A global review of sources, pathways, and impacts
This global review examines microplastic contamination in municipal solid waste, covering sources from landfills, sewage sludge, compost, and food waste, and how plastic particles from these land-based waste streams enter soil, groundwater, and eventually the food chain.
Comprehensive understanding of microplastics in compost: Ecological risks and degradation mechanisms
This review examines how microplastics enter soil through compost made from household waste, sewage sludge, and agricultural waste. Microplastics in compost can disrupt soil structure, reduce fertility, and persist in the environment long after application. Since compost is widely used in farming, this represents a significant pathway for microplastics to contaminate agricultural soil and potentially enter the food chain.
Identification and Quantification of Microplastics in Commercial Compost From a Wide Range of Composting Materials and Potential Environmental Impacts
Researchers identified and quantified microplastics in commercial compost derived from household waste, livestock manure, and vegetable straw using acid extraction, filtration, and FTIR spectroscopy. All compost types contained microplastics, with concentrations varying by feedstock type, raising concerns about microplastic introduction to agricultural soils via compost application.
The Extraction and Characterization of Microplastics of Biocompost and Water Samples Collected from the Different Semi-Urban Agronurseries
Researchers analyzed biocompost and water samples from semi-urban plant nurseries and found microplastic contamination in all samples, with fibers and fragments being the most common types. The microplastics came primarily from plastic packaging and materials used in the composting process. The findings suggest that compost intended for agricultural use may be an unintended source of microplastic pollution in soils.