A systematic review on plastic waste conversion for a circular economy: recent trends and emerging technologies

Abstract

Our biosphere has been adversely affected by plastic waste pollution, especially non-biodegradables in landfills, which induces hazardous chemical leaching and toxic gas emissions on burning into the atmosphere. Conventional methods for recycling plastic waste typically result in products with a lower significance than that of the original plastic or ineffective thermal energy recovery. Upcycling methods have recently been identified as a viable way to turn plastic waste into goods with added benefits. In this article, we provide a minireview on plastic waste generation, recent developments in the upcycling of plastic waste, technical difficulties, potential future advancements, and new opportunities for a sustainable society.