Ways to Improve the Plastic Pollution Crisis
By Marleen Reddaway, VP of Environmental Engineering (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Ms. Reddaway has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration from Oklahoma State University. Then through specialized training, holds the designation of Qualified Industrial Stormwater Practitioner (QISP) and Specialist in Safety and Health (SSH). With over 20 years of experience in the environmental, health, and safety industry, she is passionate about pollution prevention, protecting wildlife, and investigating occupational exposures to workers.
Now that the plastic pollution has reached crisis levels, what can be done to reduce plastic waste. This crisis is a global problem and requires a global response with coordinated actions across multiple levels involving individuals, businesses, governments, and organizations. The long-term goal is to create a plastic-free future, where plastic waste no longer pollutes the environment, wildlife is protected, and the circular economy thrives, reducing the need for new plastic production, while promoting sustainable materials and responsible consumption. This can be achieved through improved waste management systems, clean-up initiatives, innovative technologies, implementing and enforcing policies and regulations, and through public awareness and education.
Many plastics are not recycled effectively due to a lack of proper sorting, infrastructure, and public awareness. Governments and private sectors can invest in better recycling technologies, automated sorting systems, and improve recycling rates by ensuring more types of plastics can be recycled. For biodegradable plastics, promoting composting systems would help prevent them from ending up in landfills or oceans. Composting stations could be expanded globally.
Figure 1 Source: Packaging Gateway
A focus on cleaning up urban areas and rivers is important since rivers often serve as conduits for plastic waste entering the oceans. These interventions help stop plastic at the source before it reaches larger bodies of water. For example, The Ocean Cleanup organization headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands, has developed several solutions, one of them being the Interceptor Barricade, installed for testing in May 2023, in Rio Las Vacas, Guatemala. The goal is to halt the annual tsunami of plastic waste that floods down the river during the extreme rainy season and flows into the Caribbean Sea. This barricade system consists of an upstream boom (depicted here) that captures the majority of the waste, that is also strategically placed for effective plastic extraction. Then another boom is placed downstream, catching any plastic missed or lost due to the pressure build-up at the upstream boom from the rapid trash accumulation. With all of The Ocean Cleanup’s interventions, such as those in Guatemala, Thailand, Jamaica and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, there was 11.5 million kilos of trash removed from oceans and rivers in 2024.1 In 2025, The Ocean Cleanup is launching the “Seven Basins Project” that will begin to tackle the environmental challenge of reducing plastic waste from flowing into the Bay of Panama through Panama City’s seven major urban rivers.2
Figure 2 Source: The Ocean Cleanup
Research into biodegradable and compostable materials, such as plant-based plastics, can help reduce reliance on petroleum-based plastics. Advancements in lab-grown materials like algae-based plastics could offer viable alternatives to single-use plastics. Scientists are researching genetically engineered microorganisms and manipulating enzymes that can even break down plastics. Recently, bacteria that can digest polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics have been discovered, offering hope for biodegradation solutions in the future. The strain of bacterium is called Ideonella sakaiensis, was first discovered in 2016, by a team of researchers led by Kohei Oda of the Kyoto Institute of Technology in Japan. This microbe produces two (2) unique enzymes that can grow on the plastic and use it as its main source of nutrients, thereby degrading the PET in the process.
Figure 3 Source: Treehugger
Waste-to-Energy Technologies can convert plastic waste into usable energy, thereby getting rid of waste we do not want and producing energy that we need. Although waste-to-energy eliminates landfill emissions, it can also create emissions of its own. Incineration is particularly harmful. It releases a variety of harmful air pollutants such as heavy metals, fine particles, and toxins like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and dioxins. It doesn’t always reduce greenhouse gas emissions either. Diligence needs to be taken when selecting waste-to-energy technologies to ensure they are clean and cost-effective. This can include pyrolysis, gasification, and hydrothermal processing, which convert plastic waste into fuel, chemicals, or other valuable products, offering potential for energy recovery and reducing plastic pollution.
Many countries and regions have already implemented bans or restrictions on single-use plastics, such as plastic bags, straws, and utensils. Expanding these bans to include other plastic products could drastically reduce plastic waste. Governments can impose regulations where manufacturers are responsible for the end-of-life disposal of their products, called Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). This encourages companies to design products with recyclability in mind and reduces the burden on waste management systems. Governments can also impose taxes on plastic production and disposal, which would encourage companies to switch to more sustainable alternatives. The global nature of the plastic pollution crisis requires international cooperation. Countries can work together to create and enforce global agreements aimed at reducing plastic production and pollution, similar to international efforts to combat climate change.
Educating the public on the dangers of plastic pollution and how to reduce plastic consumption is vital. Awareness campaigns can focus on the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling plastics, as well as providing alternatives to single-use plastic products. Governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can offer incentives for sustainable practices, such as discounts for using reusable bags, containers, and cups, or supporting businesses that use eco-friendly packaging. Engaging local communities to take part in plastic-free movements and providing resources like bulk food stores or zero-waste shops, can help reduce individual plastic consumption.
Figure 4 Source: SBM bank
Encouraging companies to commit to sustainability by reducing plastic packaging and committing to more sustainable practices can have a significant impact. Many corporations are already pledging to reduce plastic usage or to use 100% recyclable or biodegradable materials in their products. Shifting away from plastic packaging and towards sustainable alternatives (like glass, cardboard, or plant-based packaging) could dramatically reduce plastic pollution.
The fight against plastic pollution requires an integrated global approach. It’s not just about improving waste management or increasing recycling rates; it’s about changing societal habits, supporting innovation, holding corporations accountable, and enacting strong policies. Only by tackling this problem from every angle can we hope to mitigate the long-term environmental and health impacts caused by plastic waste.