Reducing plastic litter for a cleaner planet
Nitin Agarwala
Abstract
The use of plastics since they were first mass produced in the 1940s has increased by over 250% owing to their versatility, high durability and low cost. Increased usage with irresponsible disposal and the high molecular weight of plastic that prevents quick and natural degradation has made this versatile material into an environmental hazard that is threatening life both on land and in the oceans. With estimates of more plastics in the ocean than the fish by 2050 under a business-as-usual scenario, marine plastic litter has begun to affect human sustenance. This paper aims to provide a review of the efforts to reduce plastic litter worldwide.
Topics & Concepts
SustenancePlastic wasteLitterMarine debrisWaste managementEnvironmental scienceMarine lifePlastic pollutionEnvironmental hazardFish <Actinopterygii>Environmental protectionHazardBusinessNatural resource economicsEngineeringMicroplasticsEcologyFisheryBiologyGeographyDebrisMeteorologyEconomicsMicroplastics and Plastic PollutionRecycling and Waste Management Techniquesbiodegradable polymer synthesis and properties