Plastic Waste: Global Impact and Ways to Reduce Environmental Harm

Abstract

Abstract The article considers the problem of plastic waste growth in global scale and ways to decline harmful consequences. Dynamics of the volume of non-degradable plastic and the distribution of waste on land and water are analysed. Negative effects of plastic waste on different types of bioresources and human health are identified. In this context, the author presents paradox of “plastic trap”: a contradiction between positive properties of plastic and global problems of its use. Based on literature review, it is shown that the water environment is most heavily polluted, and it can lead to the situation “there is more plastic in a sea than fish”. It is actualized, that to get out of the “plastic trap” it is necessary to combine the efforts of the state, business and society. State regulation of plastic production and consumption, development of recycling technologies and creation of biodegradable plastic analogues are suggested as a key restoring ways. Plastic is a raw material for various technological processes, so efforts are needed to improve the efficiency of its recycling. It is generalized that natural materials as starch, corn, sugar cane, grain husks, algae, chitin and parts of plants can be used for production of biopolymers.