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Plastic pollution is recognized as one of the most urgent global environmental concerns. China is the top producer and consumer of plastics and creates the most plastic waste globally. To evaluate policy options to control plastic pollution in China, we first reviewed the relevant policies and action plans in place. Then, we examined plastic-material flows and changes at the national level based on officially published data to evaluate the current situation and efficacy of policies at the macro-level. Results showed that 2016, the start of the 13th Five-Year Plan, was a pivotal year in the history of China's plastic policies tackling plastic issues nationally and internationally. Since 2016, the growth trend in the production and consumption of plastic products has slowed and the recycling rate has risen, surpassing 30% in 2021. To further tackle plastic pollution, key suggestions with important policy implications were provided, covering better integration of policies, the combined management of vertical–horizontal governance, tracking-system implementation, the introduction of a quality-certification system, the development of behaviour-based consumer-oriented solutions, the promotion of stakeholder collaboration, and the need for appropriate post-COVID-19 policies.
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Total waste from human activities, including waste plastics, is huge in Hong Kong. In particular, as a result of the prevention and control measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, take-away meals increased tremendously in Hong Kong, generating disposable plastic tableware (DPT). Although Hong Kong has a charging scheme for plastic bags, it does not have a scheme for plastic tableware. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the attitudes and behavior of people in Hong Kong toward DPT. Our study focused on undergraduate students in Hong Kong, given that they will play a significant role in the future of environmental sustainability. The attitudes and behavior of Hong Kong undergraduate students toward DPT were examined through an online survey with 385 respondents. A multiple stepwise regression was conducted to investigate whether cognitive attitude formation factors could explain the sustainable attitudes formed by undergraduate students in Hong Kong. The survey results revealed that most undergraduates considered DPT to be one of the major causes of environmental damage in Hong Kong;however, many of them, particularly those who strongly agreed with this statement, said that the problem of DPT did not affect their quality of life. The regression analysis showed that imposing a DPT charge would be the most significant driver to reduce its use. The research findings identified gaps between attitudes and behavior regarding the use of DPT and the factors influencing sustainable DPT consumption.
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Plastic waste causes severe environmental impacts worldwide and threatens the lives of all creatures. In the medical field, most of the equipment, especially personal protective equipment (PPE), is made from single-use plastic. During COVID-19, the usage of PPE has increased, and is disposed of in landfills after being used once. Worldwide, millions of tons of waste syringes are generated from COVID-19 vaccination. A practical alternative to utilizing this waste is recycling it to reinforce building materials. This research introduces an approach to using COVID-19 syringe plastic waste to reinforce building material as composite concrete. Reinforced fiber polymer (FRP) concrete materials were used to mold cylindrical specimens, which underwent mechanical tests for mechanical properties. This study used four compositions with 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% of FRP to create cylindrical samples for optimum results. Sequential mechanical tests were carried out on the created samples. These specimens were cured for a long period to obtain water absorption capability. After several investigations, the highest tensile and compressive strengths, approximately 2.0 MPa and 10.5 MPa, were found for the 5% FRP composition samples. From the curing test, the lowest water absorbability of around 5% was found for the 5% FRP composition samples.
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The current study aims to investigate and compare the effects of waste plastic oil blended with n-butanol on the characteristics of diesel engines and exhaust gas emissions. Waste plastic oil produced by the pyrolysis process was blended with n-butanol at 5%, 10%, and 15% by volume. Experiments were conducted on a four-stroke, four-cylinder, water-cooled, direct injection diesel engine with a variation of five engine loads, while the engine's speed was fixed at 2500 rpm. The experimental results showed that the main hydrocarbons present in WPO were within the range of diesel fuel (C13–C18, approximately 74.39%), while its specific gravity and flash point were out of the limit prescribed by the diesel fuel specification. The addition of n-butanol to WPO was found to reduce the engine's thermal efficiency and increase HC and CO emissions, especially when the engine operated at low-load conditions. In order to find the suitable ratio of n-butanol blends when the engine operated at the tested engine load, the optimization process was carried out by considering the engine's load and ratio of the n-butanol blend as input factors and the engine's performance and emissions as output factors. It was found that the multi-objective function produced by the general regression neural network (GRNN) can be modeled as the multi-objective function with high predictive performances. The coefficient of determination (R2), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and root mean square error (RSME) of the optimization model proposed in the study were 0.999, 2.606%, and 0.663, respectively, when brake thermal efficiency was considered, while nitrogen oxide values were 0.998, 6.915%, and 0.600, respectively. As for the results of the optimization using NSGA-II, a single optimum value may not be attained as with the other methods, but the optimization's boundary was obtained, which was established by making a trade-off between brake thermal efficiency and nitrogen oxide emissions. According to the Pareto frontier, the engine load and ratio of the n-butanol blend that caused the trade-off between maximum brake thermal efficiency and minimum nitrogen oxides are within the approximate range of 37 N.m to 104 N.m and 9% to 14%, respectively.
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PurposeThis paper aims to explore the relationship between the various variables present in the packaging plastic waste management system in the cosmetics industry.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, the authors deal with plastic packaging waste in the cosmetic industry with the help of system dynamics. The model broadly divides the system into six sections – Cosmetic Packaging, Waste Generation, Waste Collected, Waste Sorted, Waste Treated and Waste Dumped. Businesses have been investing in each section depending on their progress and targets. The authors are looking at case studies of two leading cosmetic brands, L'Oréal and L'Occitane en Provence, to validate the industry practices against our model.FindingsFrom a business perspective, using the case study methodology for L'Oréal and L'Occitane, the authors inferred that out of the various investment vehicles available, companies are targeting technological advancement and third-party collaborations as they have the potential to offer the greatest visible change. However, most of these investments are going toward the treatment subsection. Still, there is a scope for improvement in the collection and sorting subsystems, increasing the efficiency of the whole chain.Originality/valueThere has been a lot of research on packaging plastic waste management in the past, but only a few of them focused on the cosmetic industry. This study aims to connect all the possible variables involved in the cosmetic industry's packaging plastic waste management system and provide a clear output variable for various businesses looking to manage their packaging waste because of their products efficiently.
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Excessive production, consumption, and indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste contribute to plastic pollution, which has a negative impact on the environment and human health. The KAP (knowledge, attitude, and practices) study is thought to be useful in mitigating plastic pollution because understanding the public's knowledge, attitude, and practices toward plastic pollution can help identify problems and challenges, allowing appropriate policy decisions to be made to set up plans or implement interventions. This study assesses Malaysians' level of knowledge, attitude, and practices toward plastic pollution, as well as the variation of plastic pollution related to KAP among various socio-demographic groups. For this study, an online survey received 294 valid responses. Descriptive statistics, KAP scoring, and response cross-tabulation were calculated. This study received 294 valid responses via an online survey. Descriptive statistics, KAP scoring, and response cross-tabulation were estimated. A one-way analysis of variance, paired t-test, and binary logistic regressions was performed. Respondents' overall knowledge score (95% CI mean score: 3.88–10.94 on a scale of 11) and practice score (95% CI 1.09–6.53 on a scale of 6) were poor across socio-demographics when a cut point of 80% was used. Older (>46 years) respondents seemed to have more knowledge than younger (18–30 years) respondents (odds ratio, OR 4.304;p < 0.01). However, respondents between the ages of 31 and 45 reported significantly (p < 0.01) higher attitudes (OR 4.019) and practices (OR 4.056;p < 0.05). Respondents with environmental-related university education had a higher likelihood of knowing about plastic pollution (OR 10.343;p < 0.01). To encourage good practices toward minimizing plastic use and pollution, conclusions are drawn about undertaking interventions such as raising environmental awareness, incorporating plastic pollution topics into formal and informal education, and providing recycling facilities in nearby communities.
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Since Covid-19 there have been many changes in the order of people's lives, there are various new regulations such as the obligation to wear masks when leaving the house, maintaining distance, working from home, or restrictions on leaving the house. These social restrictions have an impact on increasing the volume of plastic waste due to online transactions. This problem causes environmental damage, such as what happened in Gorontalo waters between Hulonthalangi and Dumbo Raya sub-districts, Gorontalo City, polluted with microplastics, the food chain in Gorontalo waters is automatically contaminated with microplastics from the research results of the Nusantara River Expeditionary Team in collaboration with the Institute for Humanities and Development Studies in October 2022. Based on this, campaign actions need to be taken. This Final Project with the title "Designing Motion Graphics as a Zero Waste Lifestyle Campaign Media for the Indonesian People” aims to assist the government's role in preventing environmental damage due to waste and to provide information, education, and an invitation to the target audience to participate. In the success of this campaign. Motion graphic design as a media campaign applies a mixed media art style as a visual representation of graphic elements, typeface, and layouts.
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The abundance of plastic waste in Indonesia has increased due to the contribution of disposable masks waste during the COVID-19 pandemic. The improper waste management causes the habit of dumping waste in the soil system to still frequently occur. The secondary microplastics from disposable mask waste has the potential to damage soil quality and soil capillary water. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of understanding the effects of disposable mask waste in peat soil. The research was conducted by setting up 3 reactors containing peat soil with disposable mask waste buried in it and some plants being grown on it. For 45 days, observations and samples were taken, both filtrate water and soil for analysis. The analysis results showed significant changes in soil properties with changes in the concentration of inorganic matter, organic matter, porosity, bulk density, and water content. Further research needs to be done to see the effects of disposable mask waste in the soil system in real conditions where several confounding variables cannot be controlled.
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Objetivo: O artigo buscou analisar os impactos e reflexos da pandemia de COVID-19 na gestão dos resíduos plásticos. Referencial teórico: A preocupação com a COVID-19 resultou em diversas medidas protetivas, como a determinação do uso de EPIs e restrições de circulação nos centros urbanos. Essas mudanças também impactaram padrões de geração e gestão de resíduos sólidos, especialmente de resíduos plásticos, cujos reflexos negativos nos aspectos socioambientais podem emergir, dado seu descarte inadequado. Método: Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática de literatura, nas bases de dados Scopus, Sage e Web of Science, com utilização do Methodi Ordinatio. Ao total, 22 estudos foram selecionados, compondo o portfólio de pesquisa. Resultados e conclusão: Os resultados demonstraram uma maior concentração de estudos que relacionam os resíduos plásticos nas regiões costeiras, especialmente provenientes de EPIs, e a poluição por microplásticos. Além disso, há uma preocupação com a geração de resíduos de embalagens pela alteração nos padrões de consumo, com o aumento da procura por serviços de e-commerce e delivery. Além de uma preocupação ambiental, destaca-se um problema de ordem social à longo prazo, devido à quebra de padrões de comportamentos sustentáveis na utilização de plástico descartável. Implicações da pesquisa: Soluções são propostas no sentido de utilização de plásticos biodegradáveis, reutilização de EPIs e novas tecnologias de tratamento de resíduos, além da mudança no comportamento social. Originalidade/valor: De um modo geral, o estudo fornece insights e promove reflexões sobre os desafios enfrentados no gerenciamento de resíduos plásticos durante a pandemia de COVID-19.Alternate :Purpose: The article aims to analyze the impacts and reflections of the COVID-19 pandemic on plastic waste management. Theoretical Framework: The concern with COVID-19 resulted in several protective measures, such as the use of PPE and movement restrictions in urban centers. These changes also affected patterns of generation and management of solid waste, especially plastic waste, whose negative effects on socio-environmental aspects may emerge due to its inadequate disposal. Method: We conducted a systematic literature review in the databases Scopus, Sage and Web of Science, employing the Methodi Ordinatio. The review selected 22 studies to compose the research portfolio. Results and conclusion: The results showed a higher concentration of studies on plastic waste in coastal regions, especially from PPE and microplastic pollution. Moreover, there is a concern with the generation of packaging waste by shifting consumption patterns with the increased demand for e-commerce and delivery services. Besides an environmental concern, a long-term social problem stands out regarding the breaking of sustainable behavior patterns in using disposable plastic. Research implications: We propose solutions involving the use of biodegradable plastics, reuse of PPE, and new waste treatment technologies, besides changes in social behavior. Originality/Value: Overall, the study provides insights and promotes reflections on the challenges faced in managing plastic waste during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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A dramatic increase in plastic waste has resulted in a strong need to increase plastic recycling accordingly. A selective flotation has been highlighted due to its outstanding efficiency for the separation of mixed plastics with analogous physicochemical characteristics. In this study, the effects of design and operational factors on the bubble’s hydrodynamic and mixing parameters in induced air flotation (IAF) with a mixing device were investigated through a design of experiment method (DOE) analysis for improving the plastic separation efficiency (i.e., PS and ABS). As a result of DOE analysis, the increase in the induced air tube diameter together with the rotational speed could generate a smaller bubble size. This led to the enhancement of the ratio of interfacial area to velocity gradient (a/G), which was interestingly found to be a significant factor affecting plastic recovery apart from the chemical agents. It demonstrates that operating IAF with a mixing device at a greater a/G ratio improved the plastic separation performance. These findings suggest that operating an IAF process with a mixing device at suitable a/G conditions could be a promising technique for separating plastic wastes, which have similar physicochemical characteristics as PS and ABS.
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According to Ammar et al. [...]their paper draws the attention of food loss and waste policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to implement suitable food loss and waste prevention strategies in developing and developed countries. SDG 12 “Responsible Consumption and Production”, which focuses on eliminating food waste from the food chain production process, and SDG 14 “Life Below Water”, as the reduction and elimination of plastic waste from the F&B sector, will surely have a positive effect on rivers, lakes and oceans. [...]marketing managers should indicate the benefit regarding the functionality of the packaging instead of over-enhancing sustainable aspects.
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This study identifies and quantifies floating macro litter and macro plastic from Deli River Medan during pandemic Covid-19. Macro litter transport consists of floating items at surface, suspended in water column and transport over on riverbed. Litter was collected from 5 location along 11.6 km using static trawls with a height of 150 cm and width of 300 cm with a square mesh size of 0.5 cm. Sampling was done in July, and during selection, 40 cm of net’s height was constantly submerged for one hour. This study found that macro litter was 19.26 kg/h with 65.2% as anthropogenic waste, 34.3% as macro plastic, 0.3% as metal, and 0.15% as medical waste. The composition of macro plastic has various variants, namely food containers, plastic bags, food packaging, sanitary packaging, and mineral water packaging with percentages of 10.21%, 67.89%, 8.35%, 4.36%, and 9.18%. The macro plastic abundance was obtained at 2,476 x 10-4 kg/m3. This study showed a significant increase in plastic consumption during the pandemic, especially plastic bags because it is dominated in all locations.
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Determination of plastic leakage sources and pathways is essential in plastic pollution mitigation. Finding ways to stem land-sourced plastic waste leakage requires understanding its sources. Spatial analysis conducted in a geographic information system (GIS) environment and remote sensing investigation uncovered insights into the distribution of plastic leakage in the lower Mekong River basin (LMRB). The main objectives of this approach were: (i) to map plastic leakage density using multi-source geospatial data;and (ii) to identify plastic leakage source hotspots and their accumulation pathways by incorporating hydrological information. Mapping results have shown that plastic leakage density was highly concentrated in urban areas with a high intensity of human activities. In contrast, the major pathways for plastic leakage source hotspots were the high morphometric areas directly influenced by facilities, infrastructure, and population. The overall efforts in this study demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed novel method used for predicting plastic leakage density and its sources from land-based activities. It is also accomplished using multi-geospatial data with GIS-based analysis to produce a graphical model for plastic leakage waste density in each region that non-technical personnel can easily visualize. The proposed method can be applied to other areas beyond the LMRB to improve the baseline information on plastic waste leakage into the river.
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A pandemic like novel coronavirus 2’ (SARS-CoV-2) not only poses serious public health repercussions but also affects the socio-economic and environmental conditions of the affected countries. The increased consumption of material resources in conjunction with ‘containment and preventive measures’ is generating an unprecedented amount of potentially infectious solid waste, especially that of plastic origin, which if mismanaged, is bound to affect the ecosystem and public health, as the virus can survive on fomites for longer duration. COVID-19 related pandemic waste, such as Personal protective equipment (PPEs), sanitizer and water bottles, disinfection wipes, and Single use Plastics (SUPs) products has already found its way to the aquatic and terrestrial environment. Even before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the management of plastic waste, an environmental stressor with trans-boundary migration capabilities, was a major environmental issue for every stake-holder.In this paper, we propose a separate domain in the waste management framework for the effective management of pandemic related solid waste. Factors and sources contributing to increased plastic waste generation are discussed in detail. A concise picture of global plastic demand through sectors and polymer types is presented and speculations are made on how COVID-19 is going to affect the plastic demand. Current solid waste handling and management practices in developed and developing countries are critically examined from the perspective of this pandemic. We identified various challenges that waste management sectors are facing currently and offered possible solutions.Concerns of transmission through fomites is bringing a change in public behavior and consumption pattern which affects 3R practices, while fear of secondary transmission from occupational infections is interfering with 3R practices at end-of-life plastic waste management. The legislative and restrictive frameworks on plastic use being currently put-on hold at the governmental level to ensure public safety are being used by the plastic industry to lobby for increased plastic consumption. The inability of the governments to win public confidence is further escalating unsustainable practices and slowing the shift towards sustainable economy. It is imperative to enforce sustainable practices without putting public safety at risk and to ensure that an unsustainable societal attitude wouldn’t be reinstated in the post-pandemic world. Lastly, eight research and policy points suggested here may guide future studies and governmental frameworks in the domain of COVID-19 pandemic related solid waste handling and management.
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The rise of the COVID-19 outbreak has made handling plastic waste much more difficult. Our superior, hyper-hygienic way of life has changed our behavioural patterns, such as the use of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), the increased desire for plastic-packaged food and commodities, and the use of disposable utensils, as a result of the fear of transmission. The constraints and inefficiencies of our current waste management system, in dealing with our growing reliance on plastic, could worsen its mismanagement and leakage into the environment, causing a new environmental crisis. A sustainable, systemic, and hierarchical plastic management plan, which clearly outlines the respective responsibilities as well as the socioeconomic and environmental implications of these actions, is required to tackle the problem of plastic pollution. It will necessitate action strategies tailored to individual types of plastic waste and country demand, as well as increased support from policymakers and the general public. The situation of biomedical plastic wastes during the COVID-19 epidemic is alarming. In addition, treatment of plastic waste, sterilisation, incineration, and alternative technologies for transforming bio-plastic waste into value-added products were discussed, elaborately. Our review would help to promote sustainable technologies to manage plastic waste, which can only be achieved with a change in behaviour among individuals and society, which might help to safeguard against going from one disaster to another in the coming days.
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Featured ApplicationThis research aims at understanding the sources of plastic litter in a freshwater body, assessing the possible production of secondary microplastics (MPs).Plastic waste dispersion is a well-recognized environmental threat, despite continuous efforts towards improving waste disposal management over the last few decades. Plastic litter is known to strongly impact upon water bodies and shorelines, affecting the health of ecosystems and impacting upon the aesthetic value of sites. Moreover, plastic waste that is abandoned on beaches contributes towards different degradation processes that potentially lead to the formation of secondary microplastics (MPs), with likely cascade effects upon the whole ecosystem. In this view, this study aims to characterize the plastic beach litter found on the shores of the western basin of Como Lake (Italy) to better understand the origin of MPs in littoral sediments, including the recognition of object typologies and the chemical characterization of polymers using Fourier-transformed infrared analysis (FTIR). The results highlighted that the most abundant polymers on beaches are polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), representing 73% of the collected polymers. This confirms that floating, low-density polymers are more likely to accumulate on beaches. Moreover, almost 66% of litter is represented by commonly used manufactured items (disposable objects, packaging, and everyday items). This evidence, combined with the analysis of the main environmental features of the sampling sites (the main winds, distance to urban areas, and the presence of tributaries) indicate that abundance of beached litter is mainly linked to beach accessibility and the local winds. These results highlight that multiple factors affect the environmental fate of plastic litter and give insights into the assessment of secondary microplastics in beach sediments.
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Plastic in the linear consumption model is frequently manufactured and disposed of, leading to the creation of excessive plastic waste, which has significant consequences for the environment. Single-use food packaging waste is a large constituent of plastic waste that needs to be addressed urgently. The implementation of reusable packaging systems (RPSs) to close the loop of consumption appears to be promising, but the insights into consumers’ willingness to accept them are limited. This research investigates the aspect of consumers’ adoption of RPSs by identifying the particular user acceptance issues and eventually providing a set of design recommendations to address them. The data collection methods are remote interviews, engaging with 42 participants in three iterations, to evaluate three user experiences of RPSs in order to identify the user acceptance issues. After the user acceptance issues are identified in each iteration, the Theory of Attitude-Behaviour-Context is employed to advance the understanding of the acceptance issues. In order to continuously refine the user experiences, insights from design for sustainable behaviour are applied to address the user acceptance issues. The research results include three refined user experiences, four user acceptance issues—namely hygiene, usability, finance and motivation—and design recommendations to address those user acceptance issues. This research may be of interest to packaging professionals, and could be used to design and refine the RPSs to induce consumers’ adoption.
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WHO declared a novel coronavirus in humans as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on February 2020, and Indonesia as well as Bandung City have been suffering from COVID-19 since the first case in March, 2020. Currently, the outbreak of COVID-19 has occurred for more than a year. The COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on the environment, like the enhancement of household solid waste as a result of work and school from home policies to decrease the rates of COVID-19 cases. This study aimed to predict the amount of household solid waste generation and analyze the waste management during COVID-19 in Bandung City using a system dynamics model. Data for model input was obtained from questionnaire to 200 respondents from Bandung spread across the sub-districts. The results revealed that the household solid waste generation was increased by 1.3 to 3.8% compared to the year before the COVID-19 pandemic. The composition of household solid waste was dominated by food and plastic waste, which have increased to 76.43% and 25.81%, respectively. The system dynamics model has predicted the household waste generation from three management scenarios for 30 years of model simulation. Scenario I: the household solid waste was totally managed by a local sanitary agency (existing condition);Scenario II: each household manage their waste by recycling;and Scenario III: the utilization of a local waste bank to manage the waste. The scenario III showed the most effective waste management to reduce the amount of household solid waste generation up to 24% by using waste bank. This scenario can be applied for more prolonged landfill operations up to 17 years.
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The article presents an analysis of the impact of bio-based materials on the environment, with a special focus on polylactic acid (PLA), as it is considered one of the most popular bioplastics in the market. The results show that there are several factors that must be taken into account when choosing the best end-of-life option for this type of material, in agreement with the newly introduced concept of the circular economy, according to the physical–chemical analysis obtained at the end of this study. The ecotoxicity tests showed that all tested materials (PLA spoon, PLA filament, b2w technology bag and cocoa paper tray) could be suitable for incineration with energy recovery without producing dioxines during combustion (chlorine content in all tested materials was below 1.00% w/w). It was also determined that PLA was the material with the highest potential for energy recovery since it presented the highest calorific value and highest carbon content (18.73 MJ/kg and 52.23%, respectively). The biodegradation rate of the different bio-based materials was also tested under different environments during three months, with Baltic Sea water and medium-grain sand being the environments in which the majority of the bio-based materials showed the lowest degradation rates. An additional test in a small-scale electric composter with microbe technology was carried out in order to evaluate the degradation of the studied materials in an environment with controlled conditions, and results showed high values of weight loss for the majority of the bio-based materials (all above 80% weight loss) due to the high temperature that the device could reach during the composting process. Finally, a strategy for providing guidance in selecting routes for the waste management of bioplastics, depending mainly on the available infrastructure and material properties, was proposed as a result of this work. For the case of low- and medium-income countries, an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy is proposed as a provisional solution to control plastic waste pollution, which should be complemented by regulations and systems aimed at the successful introduction of bioplastics.
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Established students and studies of sustainable urban planning and broader regional varieties of spatial evolution have been seized with ambitions to ‘make the world a better place’. To criticise that ambition would be more than churlish, except that it tends to betray a certain ‘cognitive dissonance’. For what they wish to ‘make better’ was already in a bad, even ‘parlous state’ by the aspirations of their predecessor students, studies, and tellingly, actions. Of course, there are exceptions. Some urban actions seem to have ‘worked’ historically. Barcelona’s Eixample by Ildefons, Haussmann’s questionably motivated but now widely admired re-design of Paris, and Vienna’s Ringstrasse vilified by early modernist Adolf Loos, mentor of Richard Neutra, originator of the domestic International Style. These were a mixed bag of architects, by turns municipal, militaristic, and radical, albeit thwarted in Neutra’s case by McCarthyite blacklisting of his Elysian Fields 3300 dwelling public housing project at Chavez Ravine, Los Angeles. Clearly, the top-down tendency persists in the image of the ‘heroic architect’ that can still be found. As well as much-vaunted ‘starchitecture’, it also persists in the failed imagery of ‘garden bridges’, ‘urban Vessels’, ‘smart cities’ and London’s ‘urban mound fiasco’. This article acts as a corrective advocating more collective than individualistic crafting of ‘solutions’ constructed upon wishful thinking if not callous optimism in efforts at mitigation of global heating. The article consists of a brief account of ‘seeing like a city’ rather than a ‘sovereign state’ in sustainability policy-pledging and its origins. It then combs through some five exemplars—from green city planning to ambient heating, food waste, plastic waste and water eutrophication—of ‘callously optimistic’ wishful thinking in SDG proposals for urban and regional climate change moderation. Modest new communicative governance methodology is proposed in the cause of SDG policy learning.