Plastic wastes : management, control, recycling, and disposal

Abstract

This report was developed in response to Section 2202 of the 1987 Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act, which directs EPA to develop a report to Congress on various issues concerning plastic waste in the environment. Specifically, EPA is required to: . Identify plastic articles of concern in the marine environment, q Describe impacts of plastic waste on solid waste management, and n Evaluate methods for reducing impacts of plastic wastes, including recycling, substitution away from plastics, and the use of degradable plastics. In this report, EPA has examined two other methods for reducing impacts associated with plastic wastes in addition to those specified in the statute. These are: (1) source reduction of plastic waste (this is broader than substitution away from plastics) and (2) methods for controlling the sources of plastic marine debris.