Utilization routes of plastic waste from the marine environment: a review
This review presents a comprehensive overview of the latest research conducted over the past five years in the monitoring, collection, cleaning,
recycling, and valorization of marine plastic litter. The report highlights the latest technologies for tracking and collecting ocean-bound plastic waste, from drones and river barriers to emerging robotic systems. It also examines how different cleaning and pretreatment methods affect recycling quality, which is an essential factor for producing high-value secondary materials.
Most importantly, the review maps out the full range of recycling pathways, including mechanical and chemical recycling, solvent-based processes, upcycling innovations, and energy recovery. It shows how ocean-bound plastics, when intercepted early, can become part of a sustainable circular economy rather than ending up as long-term pollution.
A big thank you to our dedicated team of authors: Emilia Gontarek-Castro, Patrycja Jutrzenka Trzebiatowska, and Anna Gołąbiewska from University of Gdansk, Mirco Haseler from Leibniz-Institut for Baltic Sea Research, and Mona-Maria Narra from University of Rostock!
Read the full open-access article in Waste Management, available on ScienceDirect here: Utilization routes of plastic waste from the marine environment: a review – ScienceDirect
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