Future waste" is a term not yet established in the waste community; actually it is a paradoxon. Future waste" is not dealing with current solid waste, but products that will become waste in the future. Due to advances in science and technology and priorities in politics, large quantities of these, often technologically complex, products have already entered the anthropogenic stock within a short period of time or are about to do so in the near future. As the majority of these items have relatively long life spans they will not immediately play an important role in waste management, however, once the product life time is over meaningful quantities of this future waste" will be generated. At that time we need to have appropriate waste management solutions available as these wastes: (1) contain valuable resources (e.g. precious metals and critical raw materials, usually in very low concentrations) and (2) pose specific new challenges to prevent hazards associated with their treatment (e.g. nano-materials).
These guidelines aim to provide a framework for preventing recycling-related plastic and pellet losses, and environmental leakage. The guidelines are useful for a broad spectrum of stakeholders, particularly policymakers and key plastic recycling actors, including informal waste pickers, junkshops, consolidators, and plastic recycling craft villages. The application of these guidelines is expected to contribute to improving production efficiency in the plastic recycling chain while preventing plastic leakage into the environment.
The manual aim to support both formal and informal recycling enterprises in preventing plastic pollution by advocating best practices and promoting proper housekeeping within informal recycling facilities.
The main goal of this study is to evaluate plastic and pellet losses and leakage from the logistical handling and pre-processing operations of informal recycling groups in Thailand, focusing on recovered post-consumer plastic waste and factory processing operations. The focus areas of this study are the Nonthaburi Municipality and Pattaya City.
This study was conducted following on a simplified three-step approach: 1) collect and analyse data and information relevant to plastic leakage from informal sector recycling; 2) engage with key stakeholders; and 3) disseminate the outcomes of the study.
