The distribution, behavior, and release of macro- and micro-size plastic wastes in solid waste disposal sites

• Published in: Critical reviews in environmental science and technology Vol. 53; no. 3; pp. 366 - 389
• Main Authors: Fei, Xunchang, He, Hongping, Pi, Xiaoqing, Lu, Xuhong, Chen, Qinqin, Ma, Jun, Wang, Yao, Fang, Mingliang, Wu, Chuangzhou, Feng, Shijin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boca Raton Taylor & Francis 01.02.2023; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Biodegradation; Chemical degradation; Coastal erosion; Disposal sites; fate and transport; Heterogeneity; Hydrology; Landfills; Leaching; Lena Ma; Microorganisms; Microplastics; Municipal solid waste; Municipal waste management; Plastic debris; Plastic pollution; Plastic waste; Resource recovery; Sanitary landfills; Scavenging; Solid waste disposal; Solid waste management; Solid wastes; Surface runoff; Temporal distribution; Waste disposal; Waste disposal sites
• ISSN: 1064-3389; 1547-6537
• DOI: 10.1080/10643389.2022.2054649

Sanitary landfills and uncontrolled dumpsites are plastic wastes (PWs) reservoirs containing ∼60% of all the plastics ever made, amounting to 5,000 × 10 6 tons as of 2017. The distribution, long-term behavior, and release of macro- and microplastics (MPs) from disposal sites are critical to global plastics pollution, but are poorly understood and lack systematic assessments. We review comprehensively the available knowledge in the three aspects herein. The spatial and temporal distribution of PW in 616 municipal solid waste (MSW) samples retrieved from 275 disposal sites in 56 countries are summarized. The weight percentages of PW (%PW) generally decrease with increasing year of disposal and disposal depth. Other influential factors are disposal duration and country income level. The %PW values in different disposal sites show high regionality and spatial variability and heterogeneity. Disposal sites mostly have harsh temperature and stress, reactive liquids, and microbial activities, which are conducive to long-term processes of PW and MPs. The major processes are chemical degradation, dissolution, leaching and adsorption, biological degradation, mechanical wearing, pneumatic and hydrological transport and deposition, and conglomeration. PW leaves disposal sites via recycling, scavenging, mining, wind and surface runoff, coastal erosion and flooding, and slope failure. The release and removal pathways of PW from disposal sites have been recognized only qualitatively. In addition, the sources, presences, and secondary generation of MPs in disposal sites have been studied occasionally, whereas the transport and fate of MPs within and from disposal sites remain largely unstudied.