Abstract:
plastic solid waste (PSW) being a major contributor to this crisis. As global plastic
production and consumption continue to rise, the development of sustainable methods
for managing plastic waste has become crucial. Recycling offers a significant
opportunity to reduce the negative environmental impacts of PSW. This review
provides an extensive examination of the current state of PSW recycling. Over the
past five years, the total production of plastic has increased from 370.5 million tonnes
(MT) in 2018 to 400.3 MT in 2022. This study includes a comparative analysis of
plastic production sources worldwide, covering bio-based, chemically recycled,
mechanically recycled, and fossil-based plastics. Additionally, the review explores the
utilization of plastic waste in various sectors, such as the textile industry,
construction, fuel production, and packaging. It addresses the development of
techniques for managing post-consumer plastic waste and highlights the challenges in
plastic waste management, including landfilling, incineration, and microplastic
pollution. These issues underscore the serious environmental problems caused by the
accumulation of plastic waste. The evaluation of PSW recycling processes
encompasses a range of techniques, including closed-loop recycling, mechanical
recycling, energy recovery, hydrothermal liquefaction, pyrolysis-based chemical
recycling, and gasification-based chemical recycling. The study also delves into
modern methods and technologies aimed at improving plastic waste management,
such as biotechnology, mechanochemistry, ambient-temperature photo-reforming, and
designing for recyclability. These advanced methods provide insights into potential
future advancements that could mitigate the environmental effects of plastic waste.
Recycling is currently one of the most effective mitigation strategies and represents a
dynamic and rapidly evolving sector within the plastic industry. This review
underscores the importance of continued innovation and collaboration in developing
sustainable solutions to address the plastic pollution crisis.
