Status of management and mitigation of microplastic pollution

Abstract

Microplastic pollution is a significant environmental issue caused by unsustainable plastic use and disposal. These tiny plastic particles (<5 mm) have been found in virtually every environmental compartment, and their environmental removal is currently deemed unfeasible. Microplastics have received a lot of attention over the past decade due to concerns over their ecological and health effects. However, limited research has been done on the management of microplastics. Microplastic pollution is directly related to total plastic pollution, so reducing environmental plastic waste is crucial for reducing microplastics. Overall plastic pollution can be reduced by different strategies including, effective plastic waste management encompassing the 4Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover) along with upcycling, implementing policies that govern the entire lifecycle of plastics promoting a circular economy for plastics, enhancing treatment technologies and clean-up, creating public awareness and developing sustainable alternatives. However, the multifaceted nature of microplastic contamination cannot be properly addressed by employing these strategies independently, leading to the limited effectiveness of these strategies. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach integrating the above strategies to limit the environmental plastic input and reduces the plastic waste already accumulated is crucial. This manuscript provides a framework for effective management of microplastics and provides comprehensive discussions of each strategy within the framework including the potential measures by governments, international organizations and the public to reduce plastic waste. Moreover, it provides recommendations for improving the legislative framework and identifies the research gaps in the microplastic clean-up technologies and sustainable plastic alternatives that need to be addressed to improve management of environmental microplastics.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Management of microplastics is dependent on the management of overall plastic waste.

• Policies and regulations should address both municipal and industrial plastic wastes

• Technologies for microplastics removal can improve plastic cleanup.

• International and industrial cooperation is crucial for reducing environmental MPs.

• Long-lasting solutions need a multidisciplinary approach.

Graphical abstract

Keywords:

• Circular economy
• clean-up
• microplastics
• plastic waste
• plastic management
• plastic regulations

HANDLING EDITOR:

• Daniel C. W. Tsang

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s)

Additional information

Funding

This work was jointly sponsored by the Ningbo Science and Technology Innovation Key Projects (2022Z028), the Natural Science Foundation Key Project from Ningbo Bureau of Science and Technology (2023J024), the Ningbo Commonweal Key Research Program (2023S038), and the engagement project from Nottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation Institute.