Abstract
The production of plastics has rapidly overwhelmed the world's ability to manage it, hence the demanding environmental issues on plastics pollution. The negative effects of plastics have become omnipresent and prompted many studies to be conducted leading to a global treaty. This study focused on reviewing measures for preventing plastic pollution in the environment. Based on the literature review approach, seven key measures are identified: recycling prioritization, utilization of bio-based and biodegradable plastics, improvement of waste collection systems, awareness and education in communities, extended producer responsibility (EPR) enforcement, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and technology and innovations. The study concludes by providing practical recommendations that should be implemented contextually.
TopBackground Of The Study
According to UN Environment Programme Report (2018), globally, every minute, 1.0 million plastic drinking bottles are sold while 5.0 trillion single-use plastic bags are utilized globally per annual. Research has estimated that, more than 8.3 million tons of plastics have been manufactured between 1950 and 2018 (Mortillaro, 2017) with 60% of these plastics having ended up in the natural environment or landfill (UN Environment Programme Report, 2018). Further, 79% of plastics ever produced has been disposed in the dumps, landfills or natural environment while only 9% has been recycled and 12% incinerated (Schmidt, Krauth, & Wagner, 2017; Geyer, 2017). According to Helinski, Poor & Wolfand (2021), plastic pollution prevention is heavily assigned on users through recycling but this is not working as only 9% of the plastics ever produced have been recycled. According to Surfers against sewage (2021) plastic pollution is having plastics where it should not be either in the ocean, bench or natural environment. With this definition and the statistics provided on the current state of plastics on the natural environment, there is an urgent need to prevent the current plastic pollution.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Prevention: The efforts of terminating something form arising or happening.
Plastic Wastes: Amassing of plastic objects in the Earth’s environment with adverse effects on humans, wildlife, and wildlife habitat.
Innovation: Is the pragmatic application of ideas that effect in the establishment of new services or goods or advancement in the offering of services or goods.
Stakeholders: A person with a heed or care in something.
Extended Producer Responsibility: A policy proposition in which producers are mandated to take responsibility (physical and financial) for the disposal of their end-of-life products.
Technology: The summation of any processes, techniques, methods, and skills utilized in the manufacturing of goods and services.
Strategies: A conventional plan to attain one or more long-term goals under uncertainty or certain circumstances.
Education: The accession of personal development, values, knowledge, beliefs, skills, and habits.
Measures: A scheme of action taken to attain a particular motive.
Awareness: Condition associated with being alert of something.