Multilayer Flexible Packaging Waste (MFPW) represents the largest fraction of packaging waste and is mainly composed of multiple plastic films laminated with Al foil.
The recycling of bio-waste plays an important role in a circular economy as it transforms bio-waste into a valuable resource (organic fertilizer). However, even separately collected bio-waste can contain some plastic waste, which is usually separated after composting and not before it. Primary studies have confirmed the degradation of plastic during composting, but the release of microplastics from them has not been studied. This article presents a quantification and comparison of the release of microplastics from commonly used plastics during green waste composting. Microplastics were identified by Nile red staining and examination under a fluorescent microscope. Plastic degradation was assessed by weight loss calculation, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. On average, 17 to 52 microplastics’ are released from 5-by-5 cm pieces of conventional plastics during composting. The control polylactic acid sample showed the smallest amount of released microplastics: four particles on average. The number of released microplastics depended on the polymer type and thickness of the samples. The results of the current article can be further used for the prediction of microplastic generation and setting a limit on the plastic content in bio-waste
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.