Plastic Waste Management Strategies and Their Environmental Aspects: A Scientometric Analysis and Comprehensive Review

Saimin Huang, Hongchang Wang, Waqas Ahmad, Ayaz Ahmad, Nikolai Ivanovich Vatin, Abdeliazim Mustafa Mohamed, Ahmed Farouk Deifalla and Imran Mehmood
Additional contact information
Saimin Huang: College of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Hongchang Wang: College of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Waqas Ahmad: Department of Civil Engineering, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad 22060, Pakistan
Ayaz Ahmad: Department of Civil Engineering, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad 22060, Pakistan
Nikolai Ivanovich Vatin: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, 195291 St. Petersburg, Russia
Abdeliazim Mustafa Mohamed: Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering in Al-Kharj, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
Ahmed Farouk Deifalla: Structural Engineering Department, Structural Engineering and Construction Management, Future University in Egypt, Cairo 11835, Cairo Governorate, Egypt
Imran Mehmood: Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 8, 1-31

Abstract: Plastic consumption increases with the growing population worldwide and results in increased quantities of plastic waste. There are various plastic waste management strategies; however, the present management progress is not sustainable, and plastic waste dumping in landfills is still the most commonly employed strategy. Being nonbiodegradable, plastic waste dumping in landfills creates several environmental and human health problems. Numerous research studies have been conducted recently to determine safe and ecologically beneficial methods of plastic waste handling. This article performed a bibliographic analysis of the available literature on plastic waste management using a computational approach. The highly used keywords, most frequently cited papers and authors, actively participating countries, and sources of publications were analyzed during the bibliographic analysis. In addition, the various plastic waste management strategies and their environmental benefits have been discussed. It has been concluded that among the six plastic waste management techniques (landfills, recycling, pyrolysis, liquefaction, road construction and tar, and concrete production), road construction and tar and concrete production are the two most effective strategies. This is due to significant benefits, such as ease of localization, decreased greenhouse gas emissions, and increased durability and sustainability of manufactured materials, structures, and roadways. Conversely, using landfills is the most undesirable strategy because of the associated environmental and human health concerns. Recycling has equal benefits and drawbacks. In comparison, pyrolysis and liquefaction are favorable due to the production of char and fuel, but high energy requirements limit their benefits. Hence, the use of plastic waste for construction applications is recommended.

Keywords: environmental pollution; plastic waste; plastic waste recycling; waste management; scientometric analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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