Plastics !! - Haggard Earth

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Every day, the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic are dumped into the world's oceans, rivers, and lakes.UNEP Plastic pollution is a global problem. Every year 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste leaks into aquatic ecosystems, polluting lakes, rivers and seas. Plastic – not so fantastic. Since the 1950s,9.2 billion tonnes of plastic have been produced, of which 7 billion tonnes have become waste, filling up landfills and polluting lakes, rivers, the soil and the ocean/ Plastic’s durability means it can take thousands or even tens of thousands of years to degrade. We now produce and consume 430 million tonnes of plastic, two thirds of which are short-lived products which soon become waste. Without urgent action that figure will rise with devastating impacts for ecosystems and human health. It is therefore time to eliminate unnecessary plastic, redesign products so they can be reused, repurposed, repaired and recycled, switch to non-plastic substitutes and strengthen systems for sound waste management.

Plastic is embedded into every aspect of modern life, from what we wear, how we travel and what we eat. But where exactly is all this plastic coming from? And it will expandthree-fold by 2060, with devastating impacts for ecosystems and human health.It is therefore time to eliminate unnecessary plastic, redesign products so they can be reused, repurposed, repaired and recycled, switch to non-plastic substitutes and strengthen systems for sound waste management. Plastic pollution can alter habitats and natural processes, reducing ecosystems’ ability to adapt to climate change, directly affecting millions of people’s livelihoods, food production capabilities and social well-being. UNEP’s body of work demonstrates that the problem of plastic pollution doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The environmental, social, economic and health risks of plastics need to be assessed alongside other environmental stressors, like climate change, ecosystem degradation and resource use.

Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 Jointly published with the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), the report provides an update on global waste generation and the cost of waste and its management since 2018. The analysis uses life cycle assessments to explore what the world could gain or lose through continuing business-as-usual, adopting halfway measures, or committing fully to zero waste and circular economy societies. The report also evaluates three potential scenarios of municipal waste generation and management, examining their impacts on society, the environment, and the global economy. Furthermore, it presents potential strategies for waste reduction and enhanced management, following the waste hierarchy, to treat all waste materials as valuable resources. Explore the website https://www.unep.org/beatpollution/beat-plastic-pollution/gameplan-it-is-time-to-beat-plastic-pollution

Key findings.......Municipal solid waste generation is predicted to grow from 2.1 billion tonnes in 2023 to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050. In 2020, the global direct cost of waste management was an estimated USD 252 billion. When factoring in the hidden costs of pollution, poor health and climate change from poor waste disposal practices, the cost rises to USD 361 billion. Without urgent action on waste management, by 2050 this global annual cost could almost double to a staggering USD 640.3 billion. The report’s modelling shows that getting waste under control by taking waste prevention and management measures could limit net annual costs by 2050 to USD 270.2 billion. However, projections show that a circular economy model, where waste generation and economic growth are decoupled by adopting waste avoidance, sustainable business practices, and full waste management, could in fact lead to a full net gain of USD 108.5 billion per year. We need to act now in order to avoid the worst scenario. The report provides guidance and suggested actions for Multinational development banks, national governments, municipalities, producers and retailers, the waste management sector as well as citizens......read the report https://www.unep.org/resources/global-waste-management-outlook-2024

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FROM THE UN......For decades we have relied on plastics to keep us safe, insulate our homes and make sure our food stays fresh. From cell phones to car parts, PPE to syringes, the use of plastic has made our lives easier. But when does plastic’s life come to an end? Plastic waste can take anywhere from 20 to 500 years to decompose, and even then, it never fully disappears; it just gets smaller and smaller.Consider this figure: 8,3 billion tonnes is the total amount of plastic ever made, half of which has been produced in the last 13 years.
Microplastics in particular have been found in every corner of the globe, from the peak of Mount Everest to the trough of the Mariana Trench. In fact, it has been estimated that humans ingest a credit card worth of plastic per week!
Yet of all discarded plastic so far, 12% has been incinerated, only 9% has been recycled, and the remainder has either been disposed of in landfills or released into the environment.
The Basel Convention, the UN’s multilateral environmental treaty on the prevention, minimisation and sound management of waste, has established the Plastic Waste Partnership to provide a platform that unites multiple stakeholders under the common goal of eliminating the leakage of plastic waste into our environment. This year, we asked people from all walks of life around the world to share with us photos that showcase how the indiscriminate use of plastic waste is impacting their daily lives and surroundings. We are proud to present to you the top-tier entries. Let’s work together to find a sustainable way to co-exist with plastic. If #PlasticIsForever, then society needs to re-think and re-shape our relationship with this complex, useful and ubiquitous material.

This exhibit is organized by the Basel Convention Plastic Waste Partnership, with the support of the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS) under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Geneva Environment Network, and the City of Geneva......SEE THE IMAGES https://www.un.org/en/exhibits/exhibit/in-images-plastic-forever

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Plastic is a revolutionized material, and is referred to as “a material with 1,000 uses”.

The world of plastic waste: A review. , Amila Sandaruwan Ratnayake 11 Mar 2024

Keywords Plastic- Waste management Environmental impacts Marine pollution Recycling Circular economy

People discover various materials from time to time that break the boundaries of traditional materials. Plastic is a revolutionized material, and is referred to as “a material with 1,000 uses”. This review summarized up-to-date research on plastic and its waste pollution. Plastic has a domain throughout human life with its versatile properties such as lightweight, high durability, flexibility, and low production cost. This article describes the applications, benefits, production, consumption, and classifications of plastics. Plastic commercialization began with the Second World War and grew all over the world within less than a century. The global annual production of plastic is more than 359 million tons. Despite all the benefits, plastics cause severe environmental and public health issues. Accordingly, this study addresses the major issues of plastic waste on the environment and human health. Plastics can degrade into micro to nano sizes, and those fine particles are more spreadable in air, water, and soil. Therefore, both terrestrial and aquatic animals go through various negative impacts such as ingestion, entangling, ulcers, low reproduction, and oxidative stress. Microplastics also degrade human health due to cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, birth defects, cancer, etc. The closing contains the developed end-of-life options (e.g., recycling and reprocessing, incineration with energy recovery, modification reuse, value addition, and landfilling) of biodegradable and non-biodegradable plastic wastes. Several international, regional/national level legislations and policies/concepts (e.g., plastic trade, 3R policy, and circular economy) are available to manage plastic and plastic waste generation. Plastic waste management is also discussed offering practical insights and real-world scenarios. Solutions and challenges in effective plastic waste management guide to create a more sustainable and environmentally responsible approach. Finally, this review article highlights the importance of judicious decisions and the involvement of all stakeholders to overcome the plastic waste crisis.

1. Introduction

The world has witnessed significant changes through past centuries due to incredible inventions such as plastics. The statement “plastic is the greatest finding in the millennium”, is undeniable. According to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, plastic is a “polymeric material that may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce costs”. The first plastic was invented in 1860 and the beginning of the global plastic industry was marked in 1907. However, industrial development happened in the 1920s, and plastic production expanded in the 1940s (Fig. 1). In 1950, plastic production was around 2 million tons, and it was boosted to 368 million tons in 2019 (Fig. 1). Plastic consumption has thus increased about 180 times from 1950 to 2018. The worldwide plastic production is calculated to be 400.3 million tons in 2022. Plastic production is thus expected to increase exponentially hereafter (Rafey and Siddiqui, 2021). Organic compounds such as synthetic or semi-synthetic substances (petrochemical, partially natural substances) have been used to form soft and flexible plastics. Typically, plastics can be categorized as ‘bio-based/organic polymers’ or ‘engineered’

Classification of plastics.....Plastics can be classified based on various facts such as origin, structure, molecular forces, polymerization mechanism, temperature-dependent behavior, and preservative techniques. Origin-based classification divides plastics into three subdomains: natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic. Natural polymers date back to the prehistoric period. Polymers (e.g., lignin, chitin, and starch), which are extracted from natural sources such as horn, amber and tortoiseshell, are known as natural plastics.

Synthetic polymers are derived from petrochemicals like silicone, polyethylene, polystyrene, and nylon (Khan et al., 2019, Napper and Thompson, 2020). Semi-synthetic plastics are chemically modified natural polymeric materials like cellulose-based plastics (Khan et al., 2019).The classification based on structure can be divided into linear, branched, or cross-linked. In addition, molecular-based classification can be divided into four forms: elastomers, fiber, thermoplastic, and thermosetting plastics.....read on- detailed text and excellent graphics- for example- Graphical representation of solid waste composition, important chronological events, plastic production by region, global plastic production and consumption, and per capita plastic waste generation. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772397624000042

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Plastic is one of the most ubiquitous materials in the economy and among Earth’s most pervasive and persistent pollutants. So when developing policy responses to the plastic crisis, it is essential to look beyond plastics to adjacent sectors, such as the chemicals, waste, and petrochemicals industries. Simply put, plastics are fossil fuels in another form, and they are relevant in any discussion of chemicals and waste because management is governed by interconnected policy frameworks (e.g., SAICM) and treaties (e.g., the Basel and Stockholm Conventions).

Understanding plastics and where they come from......Plastics are synthetic materials made from the energy-intensive conversion of feedstocks (raw materials) or certain chemicals primarily derived from fossil fuels, including oil, gas, and coal. During production, monomers (shorter units of molecules) are bonded or ‘cracked’ into polymers (long, strong chain molecules that form the basic building blocks of plastics). To give plastics specific properties, additives such as colorants, lubricants, plasticizers, flame retardants, and others are incorporated into the polymers during the manufacturing process. Other chemicals can also appear as non-intentionally added substances (such as impurities and manufacturing process leftovers). For this discussion, the term ‘plastic’ can refer to a wide array of polymers and products with different chemical compositions. To learn more about the origins of plastics and the links between chemicals and plastics producers, you can explore CIEL’s ongoing series Fueling Plastics.

Plastics’ effect on health and the environment......Plastics do not break down in the environment, forcing them to accumulate in air, waterways, agricultural soils, rivers, and oceans. While there has been a growing awareness and concern for plastics in the oceans, that concern has more recently expanded to the impact of plastics on other ecosystems, food and water supplies, and human health. Research now shows that microplastics (pieces of plastic less than five millimeters long) and nanoplastics (pieces smaller than 1mm all the way to the nanorange) have penetrated every system. All sources of water, types of food, placentas of pregnant people, and human stool ever tested were found to contain micro or nanoplastics. The issue is not limited to the presence of plastic particles. Examining production, use, and disposal reveals health and environmental effects at every stage of the plastics life cycle, whether caused by the plastic itself or by additives and processing. The following is a brief overview of just some of those impacts......

Extraction and transportation......As discussed previously, plastics are fossil fuels in another form. Therefore, the health and environmental risks that result from oil and gas drilling must be considered. Once extracted, infrastructure, including pipelines, transports raw materials to refineries or directly to the market (depending on what is being extracted and for what purpose). The release of hundreds of toxins during pumping or piping feedstocks can cause a wide range of effects, including.....

Damage to sensory organs such as the skin and eyes; effects on bodily systems, including the respiratory, nervous, and gastrointestinal; and the impairment of organs such as the liver and brain;
Increased likelihood of cancer, neurological, reproductive, and developmental toxicity; and
Impairment of the immune system.

Refining and Manufacturing.......To produce plastics, raw feedstocks must be turned into monomers like ethylene and propylene. They are then combined into polymers (like polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET)) and processed to incorporate other chemical additives such as antioxidants, heat stabilizers, plasticizers, flame retardants, and others. Raw polymers are produced and sold in various forms such as resins, granules, and tiny spheres called pellets. These are molded into plastic products. This process is referred to as refining and manufacturing.Taken together, refining and manufacturing releases emissions that can impair the nervous system and cause reproductive and developmental problems, cancer, leukemia, and genetic impacts like low birth weight. Fenceline communities located close to production sites and workers employed in the production facilities are acutely impacted by the daily threat of toxic exposure, potential accidents/incidents, or death.

Products and Packaging......Once plastics are manufactured, they can take a variety of forms, including packaging materials, electronics, components of building construction, and fabrics like polyester. Using plastic consumer goods exposes people to the toxic impacts of plastics. Microplastics and hazardous chemicals used in plastic products can contaminate the surrounding environment, including air, water, and food, and enter into the bodies of animals and human tissue. The ingestion and/or inhalation of microplastics shedding from products and hazardous additives leaching out of the plastic products can severely affect human health. Hundreds of substances are used in plastic products, including substances of concern such as known or suspected carcinogens, and chemicals impacting development, fertility, and the endocrine system.

Waste Management..... Only a small fraction of plastic waste is economically or technically viable to recycle (representing a mere 9% of all the plastic ever produced). The vast majority of our plastic waste enters the environment (via landfill or marine and terrestrial litter), and a smaller percentage is incinerated (12%). All methods result in the release of toxic metals, organic substances, acid gases, and other toxic substances into the air, water, and soil. Some of the toxins released by plastics are some of the most toxic substances on earth (dioxins and furans)......read on https://www.ciel.org/the-toxic-impacts-of-plastic-across-its-lifecycle/

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There are thousands of worldwide initiatives surrounding marine plastic pollution that range from raising awareness, to implementing local rules, to clean-up efforts. The Copernicus Marine Service supports NGOs dedicated to marine plastic pollution by providing ocean literacy tools and information. In Europe, the largest network that fights plastic pollution is Surfrider Foundation Europe, which works toward prevention of pollution and beach clean-up. In 2017, Copernicus Marine supported the 7th continent expedition by providing them with drift models to monitor the Great Garbage plastic patch in the North Atlantic. Children for the Oceans raises awareness amongst youth about plastic pollution and gives them tools to become activists. EXXpedition, headed by skipper Emily Penn, organises all-female sailing research expeditions that investigate the causes and solutions to ocean plastic pollution. They use our drift particle interactive maps to illustrate ocean plastics across the ocean and particularly within the tropical gyres

Knowing the origin and sources of marine plastic pollution allows us to improve waste management systems and adopt suitable public policies. The Copernicus Marine Service provides ocean information including near-real-time current data that can help institutions to build coherent plastic management strategies.......

Operational oceanography to monitor plastic origins...Most plastic marine litter is the result of bad waste management. Continental plastic litter is flushed into the ocean by storms and river systems or is directly discharged into coastal waters. It has been estimated that at least 60% of plastic floating in the ocean is exported from coastal to the open-ocean waters. It is estimated [2] that about 1.15 to 2.41 million tons of plastic waste enters the ocean every year from rivers. “It is interesting to note that fishing-related debris accounted for 20% of the total by number but 70% by weight, with floats/buoys predominating. Such items are a common component of shoreline debris in mid-ocean islands.”. The economic sectors linked to marine plastic contamination. Some economic sectors are more linked to marine plastic pollution:

Tourism increases the quantity of plastic flushed in the oceans through the building and creation of infrastructures and services. In fact, this is the cause for 40% of the plastic pollution in the Mediterranean Sea.
The retail sector contributes to about 40% of all plastics produced. This is mostly in the form of packaging, especially for food and drink, which are essential for sanitary reasons.
The agriculture sector produces a significant quantity of macroplastics through irrigation pipes and fertilizing pellets and containers, many of which end up in the ocean.
The construction sector produces a large amount of plastic waste, especially large infrastructure projects. CLICK ON Sources of Plastic Solutions Icon as well as the other Icons regarding plastic......read on https://marine.copernicus.eu/explainers/phenomena-threats/plastic-pollution/sources-marine-plastic-pollution

UNEP-Every Day, the Equivalent of 2,000 Garbage Trucks full of Plastic are Dumped into the World......UNEP Plastic Pollution

Microplastics in particular have been found in every corner of the gobe,

Plastic is a Revolutionized Material, and is referred to as “a Material with 1,000 Uses”.

1. Introduction

Plastic is one of the Most Ubiquitous Materials in the Economy and among Earth’s most Pervasive and Persistent Pollutants.

The Copernicus Marine Service Supports NGOs dedicated to Marine Plastic Pollution

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