(53e) Data Analysis of Global Waste Plastic Mismanagement to Identify Critical Locations for Implementing Sustainable Abatement Strategies

Waste plastic accumulation is a global problem. It is the 3rd largest contributor of municipal solid waste (MSW) on land. At sea, currently 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic are present, weighing over 270,000 tons. Once plastic is produced, it enters the global supply chain and is used in all regions of the world. In many parts of the world, appropriate disposal options are unavailable, meaning that waste plastic is simply dumped and allowed to accumulate. This is especially problematic in poverty stricken regions. Consequently, targeted, decentralized solutions are needed for decreasing the global accumulation of waste plastic and to prevent its eventual migration to the ocean.

The objective of this research is to quantify the manufacture, use and disposal of plastic around the world. The generation of heat maps indicating centers of waste accumulation will be used to propose targeted, region-specific solutions for waste plastic management, reuse and recycle. Data collected from country specific reports on MSW generation, mismanagement, percent of MSW consisting plastic, along with economic and population indicators will be used to develop this data analysis tool. The heat map generated will help researchers and policy makers quickly identify target locations to implement waste management strategies. Additionally, this tool will be used to rank each country for its suitability in implementing an appropriate technology developed by the research team for converting waste plastic to fuel oil. This technology serves to both reduce plastic waste accumulation and provide entrepreneurial opportunities for impoverished regions. Consequently, this research is a much-needed roadmap for addressing the global problem of mismanaged waste plastic and its entrance into the oceans.