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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to US plastics and recycling troubles will worsen
ClearTiny pollutants, big changes: Progress in microplastics research and U.S. policy
This commentary reviewed the current state of U.S. federal policy on microplastic pollution, noting that legislation is largely limited to banning microbeads in personal care products and monitoring plastics in food and water. The authors argued that developing evidence-based national policies will require substantially more research on human health impacts.
The United States requires effective federal policy to reduce marine plastic pollution
This study argued that the United States lacks effective federal policy to address marine plastic pollution, examining gaps in regulation of single-use plastics and fishing nets and calling for comprehensive federal legislation given that the U.S. ranks among the top 20 countries for mismanaged plastic waste entering the ocean.
Plastic waste as a challenge for sustainable development and circularity in the European Union
This review examines the plastic waste crisis in the European Union, evaluating gaps between recycling policy ambitions and actual outcomes. It argues that without major improvements in waste management infrastructure and circular economy practices, plastics will continue to fragment into microplastics and contaminate European ecosystems.
Look before you leap: Are increased recycling efforts accelerating microplastic pollution?
Researchers argue that current policies pushing for more plastic recycling may actually increase microplastic pollution, because degraded recyclate is used in more products and applications where it breaks down more easily. They propose a risk framework for evaluating how recycled plastics shed microplastics throughout their lifecycle — from production to disposal — and flag textiles and wood-plastic composites as high-concern areas.
Micro-consumerist bollocks in the fight against plastic pollution: when good intentions - and regulatory initiatives - go awry
This commentary critiques individual-level consumer actions as insufficient responses to plastic pollution, arguing that regulatory initiatives focused on micro-consumerism have very limited impact on the scale of plastic contamination. The authors call for systemic policy changes targeting production and industrial waste rather than consumer behavior.
Politics and the plastic crisis: A review throughout the plastic life cycle
This political science review analyzed over 180 studies on the governance of plastics across their full life cycle, finding that marine pollution and microplastics are driving the fastest growth in plastic policy research. The authors identify fragmented governance architectures and the absence of binding international agreements as major obstacles to addressing the global plastic crisis.
The present and future of microplastic pollution in the marine environment
This review assessed the current and projected state of microplastic pollution in the marine environment, examining evidence on sources, accumulation trends, and biological effects and arguing that the problem will worsen without significant intervention.
A Comprehensive Review of Plastic Recycling in the Construction Industry: Challenges and Opportunities in the U.S.
Despite its title referencing plastic recycling in the construction industry, this paper reviews the barriers and opportunities for incorporating recycled plastics into building materials in the United States — not microplastic pollution itself. It examines economic, technical, and regulatory challenges for construction-sector plastic recycling and is only indirectly relevant to microplastics through the lens of reducing plastic waste at source.
Analysis of Marine Plastic Pollution and Environmental Problems
This review examines the sources, environmental and socioeconomic effects, and policy responses to marine plastic pollution, finding that while scientific knowledge is substantial, policy and regulatory initiatives have so far been inadequate and inconsistent across countries. The paper calls for stronger international coordination and more effective governance tools to meaningfully reduce plastic inputs to the ocean.
Prediction of What Would Occur if Plastic Pollution Continues and Strategies for Reducing It
This paper reviews current plastic pollution levels, predicts future outcomes if current trends continue, and evaluates strategies for reducing plastic waste. If production and disposal patterns don't change, plastics could outweigh fish in the ocean by 2050, making the human health implications of microplastics increasingly severe.
Past, present, and possible future policies on plastic use in the United States, particularly microplastics and nanoplastics: A review
This review analyzed existing U.S. federal and state laws that could be used to regulate microplastics and nanoplastics, including the Clean Water Act and Toxic Substances Control Act. The study found that while multiple statutes exist that could address plastic pollution, none have been specifically invoked for micro- and nanoplastic waste, and current FDA thresholds for acceptable plastic ingestion are far below estimated actual daily exposure levels.
Microplastic Pollution Prevention: The Need for Robust Policy Interventions to Close the Loopholes in Current Waste Management Practices
This review argues that current waste management policies have significant gaps that allow microplastic pollution to continue growing despite awareness of the problem. While cleanup technology is improving, prevention through better regulation of plastic production, use, and disposal is more practical and cost-effective. The authors call for stronger policy interventions including extended producer responsibility, bans on unnecessary single-use plastics, and standardized microplastic monitoring.
Microplastics in the environment: An urgent need for coordinated waste management policies and strategies
This review highlights that microplastic pollution affects marine ecosystems, farmland, and human health, but current waste management policies are fragmented and insufficient. The authors evaluate existing strategies and propose practical solutions including better recycling programs, product redesign to reduce plastic use, and coordinated international policy. Addressing the microplastic problem requires not just cleanup technology but systemic changes in how we produce, use, and dispose of plastics.
Our Plastic Planet is Hurting Humanity`s Health. Is there a Solution?
This commentary examines the global health impacts of plastic pollution and explores potential solutions ranging from individual behavior change to policy interventions and material innovation. The author argues that the scale of the problem demands coordinated action across governments, industries, and communities.
Plastic Waste Recycling is Insufficient to Mitigate Plastic Pollution: the Need for a Paradigm Shift
This review argues that plastic waste recycling is fundamentally insufficient to address global plastic pollution and calls for a paradigm shift away from end-of-pipe solutions toward upstream production reduction. The authors examine the structural limitations of current recycling strategies and the economic and policy barriers that prevent meaningful plastic pollution mitigation.
Plastic Pollution & Solution
This review examines plastic waste management strategies across the plastic lifecycle, noting that landfilling remains the dominant approach despite its environmental and health drawbacks. It concludes that recycling and energy recovery offer better outcomes than landfilling, which is relevant to microplastics because improper disposal accelerates the fragmentation of plastics into smaller particles that enter ecosystems.
Recycling and Management of Microplastic Waste
This review examines recycling and management strategies for plastic waste, describing the technical and economic challenges of reducing plastic pollution and the remediation approaches that have been attempted to address microplastic accumulation in the environment.
Plastic pollution- Think and act now!
This paper is not substantively about microplastics — it is a very brief editorial or opinion piece calling for action on plastic pollution with no scientific content.
The Role of Legislation, Regulatory Initiatives and Guidelines on the Control of Plastic Pollution
This review examines existing plastic pollution regulations globally, finding that despite many proposals and national bans, the overall effectiveness of legislation is unclear and most measures focus narrowly on marine plastics or single-use items. The authors argue that laws often lag behind science and face practical limitations given how deeply embedded plastics are in daily life.
Environmental Impact of Plastic Waste: Strategies for Sustainable Management
This systematic review summarizes the environmental and health impacts of plastic waste and evaluates strategies for sustainable management. It highlights that plastic pollution threatens ecosystems and human health through microplastic contamination, and examines approaches like recycling, biodegradable alternatives, and policy interventions to reduce exposure.
Plastic Pollution and Potential Solutions
This review provides a broad overview of plastic pollution, covering the full lifecycle from manufacturing through disposal and environmental degradation. Researchers note that of the 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic ever produced, roughly 79% has ended up in landfills or the natural environment, where it breaks down into micro- and nanoplastics that persist for centuries. The study discusses potential solutions including improved recycling, biodegradable alternatives, and policy interventions to reduce plastic waste.
Policy Implementation and Management of Microplastics in Freshwater and Soil
This review examines policy failures in managing plastic waste entering freshwater and soil environments, linking inadequate waste collection infrastructure and littering behavior to direct dumping of plastics and their subsequent fragmentation into microplastics in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
The Burden of Microplastics Pollution and Contending Policies and Regulations
This review examines the growing global burden of microplastic pollution and the policies being developed to address it. Researchers found that inadequate waste management systems allow massive amounts of plastic to contaminate terrestrial and aquatic environments, threatening ecosystems and the billions of people who depend on them. The study evaluates existing regulations and suggests that stronger, more coordinated policy frameworks are needed to curb microplastic pollution.
Plastic pollution: why is it a public health problem?
This commentary argues that plastic pollution is a public health problem due to the widespread human exposure to microplastics and plastic-associated chemicals, calling for regulatory action to address the full lifecycle of plastics including production, use, and disposal.