Mapping of Agriculture Plastic Waste

Abstract

The current intensification of the use of plastic materials in agriculture, although has increased significantly the productivity, is also generating growing adverse effects on the environment of the agro-ecosystem. The agriculture is responsible for a massive use of plastic materials, in addition to energy and water inputs, chemical fertilizer and pesticides. Besides the pollution generated during the manufacture, at the end of their lifetime plastic materials used for crop covering, soil mulching, packaging, containers, pots, irrigation and drainage pipes, may became a pollution source when improperly disposed, leaved on the ground or burned. Instead the agricultural plastic waste (APW), if correctly collected, can be used as a new secondary raw material or as an energy source. An adequate APW management can prevent economical losses and environmental damages.\ud \ud The territory of the Barletta, Andria, Trani Province (BAT), in the Apulia Region, South Italy, is an agricultural area characterized by vineyards, olive groves, orchards and vegetables; it represents an area of intense production of plastic wastes and with a widespread problem linked to the application of unacceptable disposal practices.\ud \ud The goal of this study is to define and quantify the different types of plastic waste produced by the agricultural practice in a restricted area of the municipal area of Trani and Barletta, to localize the points where the most remarkable quantities of them are generated, and to provide the local Authorities and the decision makers of a useful tool for implementing an efficient and effective waste management. A dedicated geo-referenced database was designed using land use maps in a GIS environment and applying a methodology that can be functional for any kind of agricultural plastic waste. The resulting database gives updated and complete information on the plastic waste generation, over the land, related to the cultivation kind

Environmental Sustainability of Greenhouse Covering Materials

“…Optimal aperture efficiency has been d in greenhouses with zero incident angles. Greenhouse covering materials with carbonve supply chains such as plastics increase greenhouse gases [27]-a factor that can be regulated h closed-loop recycling [7], mechanical and chemical recycling [28,29]. berglass greenhouse cladding materials pose challenges in the recycling process and have the ansmissivity.…”

“…Despite the limitations of modern recycling methods, mechanical recycling is ideal compared to discarding the plastic materials in landfills and the manufacture of synthetic fertilizer [28,29]. In particular, depositing agricultural plastic waste in landfills is unsustainable based on the large volumes generated annually [28,29]. The claim is further informed by the adoption of diol deconstruction, vinyl ester synthesis, and UPE synthesis, which return the virgin cross-linking, as illustrated in Figure 7.…”

“…The claim is further informed by the adoption of diol deconstruction, vinyl ester synthesis, and UPE synthesis, which return the virgin cross-linking, as illustrated in Figure 7. volumes generated annually [28,29]. The claim is further informed by the adoption of diol deconstruction, vinyl ester synthesis, and UPE synthesis, which return the virgin cross-linking, as illustrated in Figure 7.…”

Production of Sustainable and Biodegradable Polymers from Agricultural Waste

“…The data show that there were two inherent challenges associated with the production of bio-based polymers. Firstly, the production capacity is low, and it cannot match the production of non-renewable plastics, whose production was estimated at 400 million tons [10]. Secondly, current technologies are limited and inadequate-there are no 100% biodegradable bio-based polymers with optimal mechanical properties.…”

“…The current rate of global plastic production is unsustainable, considering more than 400 million tons of waste are generated each year. Additionally, the rate is expected to increase fourfold by 2050 [9] and there has been a concomitant increase in agricultural plastic waste [10]. The agricultural plastic waste originates from shading nets, mulching materials, and pesticide containers.…”