Godfrey, Linda K2019-01-252019-01-252019-01Godfrey, L.K. 2019. Waste plastic, the challenge facing developing countries—Ban it, change it, collect it? Recycling, vol. 4(1): https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling40100032313-4321https://www.mdpi.com/2313-4321/4/1/3http://hdl.handle.net/10204/10643Open access article published in Recycling, vol. 4(1): https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling4010003With changing consumption patterns, growing populations and increased urbanisation, developing countries face significant challenges with regards to waste management. Waste plastic is a particularly problematic one, with single-use plastic leaking into the environment, including the marine environment, at an unprecedented rate. Around the world, countries are taking action to minimise these impacts, including banning single-use plastics; changing petroleum-based plastics to alternative bio-benign products such as paper, glass or biodegradable plastics; and improving waste collection systems to ensure that all waste is appropriately collected and reprocessed or safely disposed. However, these “solutions” are often met with resistance, from business, government or civil society, due to the intended and unintended consequences, leaving many questioning the most appropriate solution to reducing the leakage. This paper argues that there is no one single solution to addressing the leakage of plastic into the environment, but that the solution is likely to be a combination of the three approaches, based on local considerations.enWaste managementWaste plasticMarine litterBiodegradableArticleGodfrey, L. K. (2019). Waste plastic, the challenge facing developing countries—Ban it, change it, collect it?. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/10643Godfrey, Linda K "Waste plastic, the challenge facing developing countries—Ban it, change it, collect it?." (2019) http://hdl.handle.net/10204/10643Godfrey LK. Waste plastic, the challenge facing developing countries—Ban it, change it, collect it?. 2019; http://hdl.handle.net/10204/10643.TY - Article AU - Godfrey, Linda K AB - With changing consumption patterns, growing populations and increased urbanisation, developing countries face significant challenges with regards to waste management. Waste plastic is a particularly problematic one, with single-use plastic leaking into the environment, including the marine environment, at an unprecedented rate. Around the world, countries are taking action to minimise these impacts, including banning single-use plastics; changing petroleum-based plastics to alternative bio-benign products such as paper, glass or biodegradable plastics; and improving waste collection systems to ensure that all waste is appropriately collected and reprocessed or safely disposed. However, these “solutions” are often met with resistance, from business, government or civil society, due to the intended and unintended consequences, leaving many questioning the most appropriate solution to reducing the leakage. This paper argues that there is no one single solution to addressing the leakage of plastic into the environment, but that the solution is likely to be a combination of the three approaches, based on local considerations. DA - 2019-01 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR KW - Waste management KW - Waste plastic KW - Marine litter KW - Biodegradable LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2019 SM - 2313-4321 T1 - Waste plastic, the challenge facing developing countries—Ban it, change it, collect it? TI - Waste plastic, the challenge facing developing countries—Ban it, change it, collect it? UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/10643 ER -