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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Enhancing Decentralised Recycling Solutions with Digital Technologies
ClearDigital Innovations for a Circular Plastic Economy in Africa
This paper is not about microplastics; it is a book examining digital innovations and circular economy approaches to plastic waste management in sub-Saharan Africa.
Digitally enabled business models for a circular plastic economy in Africa
Researchers explored how digital technologies are enabling circular economy business models for plastic waste management across African retailing and distribution systems. Drawing on focus group discussions and interviews with frontline organizations, the study examined the impact of digital innovations on plastic waste collection, sorting, and recycling. The findings highlight how digital tools can complement ecological goals by creating economic incentives for managing plastic waste in developing economies.
From polymers to microplastics
This review examines Africa's plastic value chain from production and import through use and end-of-life phases, drawing on existing literature and online data resources. Although Africa currently has low plastic production and consumption relative to other regions, the chapter argues that a lifecycle perspective and digital tools are essential for accelerating the continent's transition to a circular plastic economy.
Introduction
This book chapter introduces the concept of a circular plastic economy for sub-Saharan Africa, arguing that recycling-focused solutions need to be adapted to local infrastructure and waste management realities. Developing effective plastic waste management in this region is critical to reducing the ocean plastic pollution that Africa contributes.
Assessing Plastic Circular Economy Policies and the Use of Digital Technology in Africa
Researchers assessed plastic waste reduction policies across Africa using the Chatham Database, DITCh Plastic Survey, and a Nigeria case study, applying machine learning text analysis to policy descriptions. The analysis found that predominantly punitive ban-based policies are ineffective at driving circular economy transitions due to shallow regulation, exclusion of informal recyclers, enforcement gaps, and limited awareness, proposing digital technology as a strategic tool for improvement.
Quantifying Plastic Waste and Microplastic Contamination in African Aquatic Systems: An Imperative for Sustainable Waste Management
This review assessed the scale of plastic waste and microplastic contamination in African aquatic systems, finding that inadequate waste management infrastructure amplifies plastic pollution in rivers, lakes, and coastal waters across the continent.
Innovations for Sustainable Plastic Waste Management in Nigeria
This paper reviews the current state of plastic waste management in Nigeria and proposes innovations for more sustainable disposal and recycling. Inadequate plastic waste management in rapidly urbanizing countries is a major driver of microplastic pollution in freshwater and marine environments.
Big-Stream
This chapter reviews how a range of digital technologies, from mobile applications to data analytics, can optimize and accelerate the transition to a circular plastic economy. Digital tools that improve collection, sorting, and recycling efficiency can reduce the amount of plastic that escapes into environments where it becomes microplastic pollution.
Macro problems from microplastics: Toward a sustainable policy framework for managing microplastic waste in Africa
Researchers critically reviewed regulatory and policy approaches to managing microplastic pollution across African countries. They found that while environmental monitoring studies demonstrate an urgent need for action, the effectiveness of existing plastic waste policies in Africa remains poorly understood. The study proposes a sustainable policy framework tailored to the unique challenges African nations face in reducing microplastic waste generation and environmental contamination.
Gravity Concentration in Urban Mining Applications—A Review
Not relevant to microplastics — this review covers gravity-based separation techniques used in urban mining to recover materials from plastics, construction debris, and electronic waste, with no focus on environmental microplastic contamination.
Efficient Plastic Recycling and Remolding Circular Economy Using the Technology of Trust–Blockchain
This paper proposed integrating blockchain technology into plastic waste recycling supply chains to improve collection efficiency, tracking, and stakeholder coordination, arguing that unique digital identifiers assigned to plastic items can enable transparent, automated sorting and accountability throughout the plastic lifecycle from manufacturer to recycler.
Impact of Policy Design on Plastic Waste Reduction in Africa
This paper is not about microplastics; it analyzes the design and effectiveness of single-use plastic bag policies across 39 African countries, identifying policy gaps that allow plastic waste to persist despite widespread bans.
Advancing Plastic Recycling: Challenges and Opportunities in the Integration of 3D Printing and Distributed Recycling for a Circular Economy
This review explores how combining 3D printing technology with distributed recycling could help communities process their own plastic waste locally rather than relying on centralized facilities. Researchers found that while this approach shows promise for creating a more circular economy, challenges remain around material quality, contamination, and economic viability. The study highlights community-based recycling as an important complement to traditional waste management systems.
A multi-stakeholder, multi-sectoral approach to a circular plastic economy in Eastern Africa
Researchers examined multi-stakeholder efforts toward a circular plastic economy in East Africa through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers. The study finds that collaborative synergy across sectors and digital innovations are critical enablers for overcoming barriers and changing consumer and producer attitudes in the transition away from single-use plastics.
Microplastic pollution in African countries’ water systems: a review on findings, applied methods, characteristics, impacts, and managements
This review synthesizes findings on microplastic pollution in water systems across African countries, highlighting methodological approaches, particle characteristics, sources, and impacts, while noting the limited but growing body of African microplastic research.
Removing barriers to plastic waste valorisation in Africa: Towards policies for value creation and capture in business ecosystems
This review examines the barriers preventing plastic waste valorisation in Africa and analyses why policy interventions have not yet led to substantial value creation and capture within low-income country business ecosystems. The authors propose policy frameworks targeted at stimulating circular economy approaches to plastic waste that account for the specific economic and institutional contexts of African markets.
Plastic Waste Recycling and Its Implications for Sustainable Development in Mbare, Harare, Zimbabwe
This study examined plastic waste recycling practices and their environmental and economic implications in Mbare, Zimbabwe, finding both mechanical and organic recycling approaches in use. Effective local recycling reduces the unmanaged plastic that breaks down into microplastics affecting urban environments and waterways.
Leveraging ICT in Karachi’s Solid Waste Management System by Involving Waste Pickers, Recyclers, and Community—An Integrated Approach
This study proposes integrating informal waste pickers and recyclers into Karachi's formal solid waste management system using information and communication technology (ICT). Better waste collection infrastructure, including for plastic waste, could reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in rivers and eventually the ocean.
Breaking the plastic cycle in Africa: Advancing sustainable solutions for single-use plastic reduction in marine ecosystem beyond current policies
This paper reviews the scale of single-use plastic pollution across Africa and evaluates current policies for reducing plastic waste in marine ecosystems. The analysis calls for stronger and more targeted interventions given Africa's rapidly growing plastic waste output and limited recycling infrastructure.
Microplastic pollution in aquatic environments in Africa: status and research opportunities
This review examines the status of microplastic pollution research in African aquatic environments, noting that Africa's high rate of plastic waste mismanagement has resulted in widespread contamination of freshwater and marine ecosystems. Researchers found significant research gaps in the region despite its outsized contribution to global plastic pollution, and identified opportunities for expanded monitoring given microplastics' capacity to adsorb persistent organic pollutants.
Role of Reverse Logistics Activities in the Recycling of Used Plastic Bottled Water Waste Management
Researchers investigated the role of reverse logistics activities in recycling used plastic bottles and waste management in Ethiopia, finding through surveys of 258 respondents that incineration, landfilling, and roadside dumping remain dominant disposal practices while reuse and remanufacturing are rarely implemented.
Blockchain Technology for Sustainable Waste Management
This paper examines how blockchain technology could improve transparency and traceability in waste management systems, helping ensure that materials are actually recycled rather than sent to landfill. Improved waste tracking is relevant to reducing the plastic waste that ultimately degrades into microplastics in the environment.
Ensuring sustainability in plastics use in Africa: consumption, waste generation, and projections
This review examines plastic consumption, waste generation, and future projections for African nations, finding rapidly increasing plastic use alongside limited waste management infrastructure. The study calls for African-specific sustainability policies to prevent a major escalation in plastic pollution as economic development accelerates across the continent.
Exploring the Plastic Collection and Recycling Trends in Sri Lanka
This paper is not about microplastics; it surveys plastic waste collection and recycling infrastructure in Sri Lanka, documenting correlations between tourism, rainfall, and recycling rates for different polymer types.