Plastic waste management in Malaysia: Current status, key challenges and opportunities

Plastics are essential in daily life, providing societal benefits such as safe food storage, health improvements, clean energy growth, and transportation. Since 1950, global production of plastic materials has increased, with over 340 million tonnes produced annually. Common plastics like polyethyle...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Md Ali, Umi Fazara, Ahmad, Nor Ashikin, Shuaib, Norshah Aizat, Mohamed Sultan, Al Amin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Lembaga Jurutera Malaysia 2020
Online Access:http://eprints.utem.edu.my/id/eprint/27410/1/Plastic%20Waste%20Management%20in%20Malaysia_%20Current%20Status%2C%20Key%20Challenges%20and%20Opportunities.pdf
http://eprints.utem.edu.my/id/eprint/27410/
https://viewer.joomag.com/ingenieur-vol82-april-june2020/0710883001595397015?short&
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Institution: Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka
Language: English
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Summary:Plastics are essential in daily life, providing societal benefits such as safe food storage, health improvements, clean energy growth, and transportation. Since 1950, global production of plastic materials has increased, with over 340 million tonnes produced annually. Common plastics like polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene are made from hydrocarbon monomers, with elements like oxygen, chlorine, fluorine, and nitrogen. Degrading these materials takes 15 to 10,000 years, and if mismanaged, it ends up in landfills, beaches, rivers, and oceans, contributing to environmental problems. Plastics have the smallest recycling rate globally, with only 9% recycled, 12% burned, and 79% ending up in landfills or the natural environment.