Plastic pollution is a planetary threat, affecting nearly every marine and freshwater ecosystem globally. In response, multilevel mitigation strategies are being adopted but with a lack of quantitative assessment of how such strategies reduce plastic emissions. We assessed the impact of three broad management strategies, plastic waste reduction, waste management, and environmental recovery, at different levels of effort to estimate plastic emissions to 2030 for 173 countries. We estimate that 19 to 23 million metric tons, or 11%, of plastic waste generated globally in 2016 entered aquatic ecosystems. Considering the ambitious commitments currently set by governments, annual emissions may reach up to 53 million metric tons per year by 2030. To reduce emissions to a level well below this prediction, extraordinary efforts to transform the global plastics economy are needed.

Predicted growth in plastic waste exceeds efforts to mitigate plastic pollution.

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous, and considerable quantities prevail even in the Arctic; however, there are large knowledge gaps regarding pathways to the North. To assess whether atmospheric transport plays a role, we analyzed snow samples from ice floes in Fram Strait. For comparison, we investigated snow samples from remote (Swiss Alps) and populated (Bremen, Bavaria) European sites. MPs were identified by Fourier transform infrared imaging in 20 of 21 samples. The MP concentration of Arctic snow was significantly lower (0 to 14.4 × 103 N liter−1) than European snow (0.19 × 103 to 154 × 103 N liter−1) but still substantial. Polymer composition varied strongly, but varnish, rubber, polyethylene, and polyamide dominated overall. Most particles were in the smallest size range indicating large numbers of particles below the detection limit of 11 μm. Our data highlight that atmospheric transport and deposition can be notable pathways for MPs meriting more research.

White and wonderful? Microplastics prevail in snow from the Alps to the Arctic.

Plastic pollution is a pervasive and growing problem. To estimate the effectiveness of interventions to reduce plastic pollution, we modeled stocks and flows of municipal solid waste and four sources of microplastics through the global plastic system for five scenarios between 2016 and 2040. Implementing all feasible interventions reduced plastic pollution by 40% from 2016 rates and 78% relative to “business as usual” in 2040. Even with immediate and concerted action, 710 million metric tons of plastic waste cumulatively entered aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. To avoid a massive build-up of plastic in the environment, coordinated global action is urgently needed to reduce plastic consumption; increase rates of reuse, waste collection, and recycling; expand safe disposal systems; and accelerate innovation in the plastic value chain.

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Evaluating scenarios toward zero plastic pollution

https://escholarship.org/content/qt5dq3f2w7/qt5dq3f2w7.pdf?t=qchiiz

Technologies and policies to decarbonize global industry: Review and assessment of mitigation drivers through 2070

Agricultural waste: Review of the evolution, approaches and perspectives on alternative uses

By 2050, the world is expected to generate 340 billion tons of waste annually, increasing drastically from today’s 201 billion tons What a Waste 20: A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050 aggregates extensive solid waste data at the national and urban levels It estimates and projects waste generation to 2030 and 2050 Beyond the core data metrics from waste generation to disposal, the report provides information on waste management costs, revenues, and tariffs; special wastes; regulations; public communication; administrative and operational models; and the informal sector

What a Waste 2.0: A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050

Organic waste management is a growing global concern as cities experience increasing waste generation and the associated climate impact. Traditionally, municipal waste has been managed using a range of solutions, from advanced technologies, such as well-designed sanitary landfills in high capacity countries, to open dumping and burning in low-capacity countries. Composting is a sustainable organics management solution that can potentially be low cost and require less technical capacity than alternative treatment methods. Composting is being adopted as an organic waste management strategy as well as a way to address climate change and agricultural needs. This report focuses on the financing and policy environment that could lead to successful composting projects and the preconditions that must be in place before considering composting as an option. This report will provide an overview of optimal market conditions, common financing options, and enabling policy environments for composting projects globally. This report is structured as follows: 1) Chapter one introduces background information on composting generally and discusses the opportunities and challenges faced in developing countries; 2) Chapter two provides an overview of prevailing market conditions and strategies that would ideally lead to a sustainable composting sector; 3) Chapter three details common financing mechanisms for composting projects that have been used for composting projects globally; 4) Chapter four discusses the policy environments and incentives that promote composting production and market development; 5) Chapter five discusses Austria’s decentralized, agricultural model of composting; 6) Chapter six presents success factors behind Waste Concern, a private joint venture formed in Bangladesh; 7) Chapter seven features the organic farm model of composting in Brazil; 8) Chapter eight discusses a public and private composting operation in India; 9) Chapter nine describes a national grant program that powered municipal-scale composting in Sri Lanka; and 10) Chapter ten highlights the history and development of organics recycling in Europe.

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Lisa Congyuan Yao

Papers

What a Waste 2.0: A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050

Sustainable financing and policy : models for municipal composting