An Empirical Investigation on Plastic Waste Issues and Plastic Disposal Strategies to Protect the Environment: A UAE Perspective

Wisam Abu Jadayil (), Mohamed Rafik Noor Mohamed Qureshi, Rahaf Ajaj, Eman Aqil, Ghada Shawahin, Hamna Anver and Safa Aljeawi
Additional contact information
Wisam Abu Jadayil: College of Engineering, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi 59911, United Arab Emirates
Mohamed Rafik Noor Mohamed Qureshi: Industrial Engineering Department, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 960, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
Rahaf Ajaj: College of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi 59911, United Arab Emirates
Eman Aqil: College of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi 59911, United Arab Emirates
Ghada Shawahin: College of Engineering, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi 59911, United Arab Emirates
Hamna Anver: College of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi 59911, United Arab Emirates
Safa Aljeawi: College of Engineering, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi 59911, United Arab Emirates

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 24, 1-22

Abstract: Due to the rise in waste, both developed and developing countries’ municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal systems are overburdened. The increased inflow of used plastic water bottles has rendered the situation difficult. Plastic usage in several forms is becoming indispensable in daily life, despite its harmful effects on humans and animals in general. Government bodies are eager to cut plastic usage in several forms, but the manufacturing costs and selling prices make it difficult to replace plastic with materials that are safe for living bodies. One such problem lies in the form of the water bottle. The use of plastic in water bottles is much more common in Gulf countries because of their geographical position and the scarcity of potable water. The large amount of plastic waste created by used water bottles is a very critical issue, as it has a severe environmental effect and is a hurdle in efforts to foster sustainable development and green initiatives. The present research undertook an empirical investigation on plastic waste issues, environmental concerns, and various mitigating initiatives. It further investigated the waste management system using closed-loop recycling for water bottles as an efficient means of managing MSW and protecting the environment in the UAE. A survey was initiated and distributed among the UAE population to study the feasibility of building such a system. The responses to the plastic waste issue and mitigating solutions were found to be encouraging. The statistical analysis showed a higher mean value of up to 4.47 on the 5-point Likert scale.

Keywords: plastic disposal; municipal solid waste (MSW); sustainable plastic water bottle; waste management system; recycling; environment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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