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Although bioplastics are extremely advantageous because they reduce non-renewable consumption and GHG emissions, they also negatively affect the environment through land and water consumption, using pesticide and fertilizer, eutrophication and acidification; hence one's preference for either bioplastics or conventional plastics depends on what ...
If products made from these plastics are discarded into conventional waste streams such as landfill, or find their way into the open environment such as rivers and oceans, potential environmental benefits are not realised and evidence indicates that this can actually worsen, rather than reduce, the problem of plastic pollution. [14]
Furthermore, only about 9-10% of discarded plastics are recycled each year. Non-biodegradable plastics accumulate in the environment, threatening human, animal, and environmental health. Current solutions to dealing with the amount of plastic being thrown away include burning the plastics and dumping them into large fields or landfills.
Plastic pollution has also greatly negatively affected our environment. "The pollution is significant and widespread, with plastic debris found on even the most remote coastal areas and in every marine habitat". [77] This information tells us about how much of a consequential change plastic pollution has made on the ocean and even the coasts.
Valorisation of food waste offers an economical and environmental opportunity, which can reduce the problems of its conventional disposal. Food wastes have been demonstrated to be valuable bioresources that can be utilised to obtain a number of useful products, including biofertilizers , bioplastics , biofuels , chemicals, and nutraceuticals.
However, questions have been raised regarding its actual performance and environmental impact. Some studies suggest that instead of fully biodegrading, oxo-degradable plastics tend to fragment into smaller pieces, including microplastics, which can persist in the environment. These microplastics may take longer to degrade than initially ...
It is used as a flocculant that only takes a few weeks or months rather than years to degrade in the environment. Chitosan purifies water by chelation. Chitosan purifies water by chelation. This is the process in which binding sites along the polymer chain bind with the metal ions in the water forming chelates .
The European Union Plastic Products Directive 2019 banned single-use plastic plates, cutlery, straws, balloon sticks and cotton buds; cups, food and beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene, and all products made of oxo-degradable plastic, and to fishing gear containing plastic. [2]