Environmental release of microplastics by polymer types from municipal solid waste management processes using a plastic release assessment model

Abstract

While serious concerns have been raised about the marine plastic pollution, it has been pointed out that waste management, especially landfills, is an important source of plastic release into the environment. On the other hand, while the impact of waste management in Japan on environmental release is considered to be relatively small, quantitative analysis on release pathways and amounts is considered necessary to promote recycling and resource management of plastics and to verify the effectiveness of measures to control the release. In order to contribute to the estimation of the amount of plastic released into the environment due to waste management in Japan and to verify the effectiveness of reduction measures, We are developing an assessment model of plstic release from waste manageemt that takes into account the plastic degradation and decomposition. In this report, we present the results of our evaluation of the amount of microplastics by polymer types released into the environment through municipal waste management processes.