The distribution, behavior, and release of macro- and micro-size plastic wastes in solid waste disposal sites

Abstract

Sanitary landfills and uncontrolled dumpsites are plastic wastes (PWs) reservoirs containing ∼60% of all the plastics ever made, amounting to 5,000 × 10⁶ tons as of 2017. The distribution, long-term behavior, and release of macro- and microplastics (MPs) from disposal sites are critical to global plastics pollution, but are poorly understood and lack systematic assessments. We review comprehensively the available knowledge in the three aspects herein. The spatial and temporal distribution of PW in 616 municipal solid waste (MSW) samples retrieved from 275 disposal sites in 56 countries are summarized. The weight percentages of PW (%PW) generally decrease with increasing year of disposal and disposal depth. Other influential factors are disposal duration and country income level. The %PW values in different disposal sites show high regionality and spatial variability and heterogeneity. Disposal sites mostly have harsh temperature and stress, reactive liquids, and microbial activities, which are conducive to long-term processes of PW and MPs. The major processes are chemical degradation, dissolution, leaching and adsorption, biological degradation, mechanical wearing, pneumatic and hydrological transport and deposition, and conglomeration. PW leaves disposal sites via recycling, scavenging, mining, wind and surface runoff, coastal erosion and flooding, and slope failure. The release and removal pathways of PW from disposal sites have been recognized only qualitatively. In addition, the sources, presences, and secondary generation of MPs in disposal sites have been studied occasionally, whereas the transport and fate of MPs within and from disposal sites remain largely unstudied.

Graphical abstract

Keywords:

• Plastic waste
• microplastics
• solid waste disposal
• fate and transport

HANDLING EDITOR:

• Lena Ma

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Nanyang Technological University (NTU, Singapore), Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute (Singapore), and Economic Development Board (Singapore) for the financial support and scholarships of this research. Xunchang Fei thanks the supports from Debris of the Anthropocene to Resources (DotA2) Lab at NTU. Jun Ma was supported by the China Scholarship Council (Grant No. 201904910309).