Cleaning Up without Messing Up: Maximizing the Benefits of Plastic Clean-Up Technologies through New Regulatory Approaches

Abstract

As the global plastics crisis grows, numerous technologies have been invented and implemented to recover plastic pollution from the environment. Although laudable, unregulated clean-up technologies may be inefficient and have unintended negative consequences on ecosystems, for example, through bycatch or removal of organic matter important for ecosystem functions. Despite these concerns, plastic clean-up technologies can play an important role in reducing litter in the environment. As the United Nations Environment Assembly is moving toward an international, legally binding treaty to address plastic pollution by 2024, the implementation of plastic clean-up technologies should be regulated to secure their net benefits and avoid unintended damages. Regulation can require environmental impact assessments and life cycle analysis to be conducted predeployment on a case-by-case basis to determine their effectiveness and impact and secure environmentally sound management. During operations catch-efficiency and bycatch of nonlitter items, as well as waste management of recovered litter, should be documented. Data collection for monitoring, research, and outreach to mitigate plastic pollution is recommended as added value of implementation of clean-up technologies.

Keywords: added value; bycatch; clean-up technology; externalities; litter; plastic pollution; plastics treaty; regulations.

Figure 1

Graphical depictions of categories of plastic clean-up technologies, as classified in Schmaltz, Melvin, demonstrating the diversity of plastic clean-up technologies that currently exist. These are deployed in various environments, use unique methods, and target different kinds of plastic pollution (all figures are original and developed by authors of this article).

Figure 2

Suggested elements for evaluation of clean-up technologies to secure environmentally sound management and added value. To secure environmentally sound management, EIAs and LCAs should be conducted predeployment, while during deployment the catch-efficiency, bycatch rates, and waste management should be documented. During deployment, collection of data for monitoring and research, as well as implementation of outreach projects, would provide added value of implementing the clean-up technology.