Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
The introduction of a huge quantity of plastic debris into the marine environment
can substantially increase the amount of raft material and consequent increase in
the opportunity for the dispersal of marine organisms and the marine organisms can
then travel to areas where they are non-native [21, 22]. In colder regions, a species of
barnacle and a bryozoan were found on plastic at extreme northerly latitudes whilst
an invasive and exotic barnacle (
Elminius modestus)
, was found on plastic debris
in the Shetland Islands [22]. These examples demonstrate the potential of drifting
plastic to aid an alien species invasion [21, 23].
Single-use, plastic carrier bags and EPS food packaging currently comprise over 30%
of trash in the environment surrounding waterways, and they do not biodegrade.
Litter, including disposable plastic bags and EPS food packaging, can impact roadways,
waterways, neighbourhoods and parks, creating a visual blight, and can contribute to
clogged storm drains, cause looding issues, pollute marine and terrestrial ecosystems
even when the pieces are microscopic, pose an especially high risk to marine and
terrestrial plant and animal life and present unique challenges for litter prevention
and clean-up programmes.
In the aquatic medium, plastic acts like a sponge for toxic chemicals, accumulating
concentrations of toxins many times above the permissible limits. The toxic chemicals
in plastics and the chemicals from other sources accumulating in the loating plastic
can poison the aquatic organisms.
5.4 Plastic Disposal Policies around the World and their
Implementation
The management of plastic waste cuts across a number of policy ields: not only the
sustainable management of resources but also climate change, energy, biodiversity,
habitat protection, agriculture and soil conservation and protection. Invariably the
regulations are not targeted speciically at plastic waste, let alone speciic types of
plastic.
5.4.1 Policies under International Conventions
5.4.1.1 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from
Ships (MARPOL 73/78)
The MARPOL 73/78 Convention is the main international convention aimed at
