abstract

• The impact of plastic waste on the environment is significant. Plastic waste can take hundreds of years to decompose, and it can cause harm to wildlife, marine ecosystems, and human health. From the Mariana Trench to Mt. Everest, there is virtually no place on Earth which is left untouched by plastic pollution. Plastic waste is now so ubiquitous in the natural environment that scientists have even suggested it could serve as a geological indicator of the Anthropocene era. The world is facing a global plastics crisis, and addressing the end of life of plastic prod ucts will not be enough to solve this global crisis. Plastic waste is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach. Governments, municipalities, businesses, and individuals all have a role to play in reducing plastic waste and managing it in an eco-friendly manner. The current trends and future perspectives of plastic waste management involve circular economy, 3R perspective, and innovative technolo gies. These approaches can help reduce the burden of plastic waste on the environ ment and pave the way for a more sustainable future. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.

publication date

• 2024-01-01

published in

• Advanced Strategies for Biodegradation of Plastic Polymers  Book

keywords

• Plastics; Polystyrene; Sustainability; Waste

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1007/978-3-031-55661-6_9

PubMed ID

start page

• 225

end page

• 260

volume

issue