Microplastics in Landfill Bodies: Abundance, Spatial Distribution and Effect of Landfill Age

Anastasiia Sholokhova (), Gintaras Denafas, Justinas Ceponkus and Tetiana Omelianenko
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Anastasiia Sholokhova: Department of Environmental Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, Radvilenu St. 19, LT-50254 Kaunas, Lithuania
Gintaras Denafas: Department of Environmental Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, Radvilenu St. 19, LT-50254 Kaunas, Lithuania
Justinas Ceponkus: Institute of Chemical Physics, Vilnius University, Sauletekio Av. 3, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
Tetiana Omelianenko: Department of Regional Studies and Tourism, Kyiv National Economic University Named after Vadym Hetman, 54/1 Prospect Peremogy, 03057 Kyiv, Ukraine

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-12

Abstract: Almost a quarter of the plastic produced in Europe still ends up in landfills. In addition to the loss of valuable resources, this leads to the generation and accumulation of microplastics in landfills. The microplastics abundance in the refuse and their spatial distribution in the landfill body have not been practically studied. In the current work, changes in the abundance and characteristics of microplastics in landfill refuse from 3 age sections of the Lapės regional landfill, Lithuania, to a depth of 10–20 m were studied. A microplastics abundance of up to 55 particles/g or 52.8 g/kg was found. The lowest microplastics abundance was found in the old section, while the highest in the young (numerical) and the middle-aged (mass) sections. Moreover, microplastics abundance increased with the age of landfilled waste and depth, which may reflect the fragmentation of microplastics and their transport. Polyethylene and polypropylene were the dominant polymer types in all sections, while films were the dominant shape. The carbonyl index of PE microplastics was calculated to monitor microplastics oxidation. The analysis showed an increase of carbonyl index with landfill depth and landfill age, proving the intensive degradation of microplastics. Thus, landfills are large reservoirs of microplastics and their potential sources.

Keywords: microplastics; landfill; MSW; carbonyl index; landfill age; spatial distribution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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