Plastic Pollution, Waste Management Issues, and Circular Economy Opportunities in Rural Communities

Abstract

Rural areas are exposed to severe environmental pollution issues fed by industrial and agricultural activities combined with poor waste and sanitation management practices, struggling to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in line with Agenda 2030. Rural communities are examined through a “dual approach” as both contributors and receivers of plastic pollution leakage into the natural environment (through the air–water–soil–biota nexus). Despite the emerging trend of plastic pollution research, in this paper, we identify few studies investigating rural communities. Therefore, proxy analysis of peer-reviewed literature is required to outline the significant gaps related to plastic pollution and plastic waste management issues in rural regions. This work focuses on key stages such as (i) plastic pollution effects on rural communities, (ii) plastic pollution generated by rural communities, (iii) the development of a rural waste management sector in low- and middle-income countries in line with the SDGs, and (iv) circular economy opportunities to reduce plastic pollution in rural areas. We conclude that rural communities must be involved in both future plastic pollution and circular economy research to help decision makers reduce environmental and public health threats, and to catalyze circular initiatives in rural areas around the world, including less developed communities.

Examining Knowledge Diffusion in the Circular Economy Domain: a Main Path Analysis

“…Plastics’ durability and versatile nature make them essential, leading to their high demand and consumption worldwide. The heavy reliance on plastic materials exacerbates environmental pollution and affects various ecosystem elements [ 42 , 113 , 152 ]. As a result, the involvement of all CE stakeholders operating in the plastics value chain is necessary to close the loop, facilitate circularity, and reduce plastic waste [ 126 ].…”

An imperative to focus the plastic pollution problem on place-based solutions

“…Embedding a whole of life cycle approach that includes plastics manufacturers and multinational corporations will undoubtedly assist in changing the dial on the global community's relationship with plastic. Current circular economy solutions can often be derived from experiences and management of waste in OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries and may lack applicability to low-income nations or communities (Mihai et al, 2022). This only emphasizes the need for circular economy solutions to be place-based, tailored to a region, so that they adequately address necessary social and ethical dimensions (Murray et al, 2017).…”

Use of Onion Waste as Fuel for the Generation of Bioelectricity

“…The linear economy model follows a step-by-step purchase, manufacturing, and disposal scheme; this means raw materials are collected and used until they are finally discarded. This creates a domino effect where it results in a shortage of raw materials and increases in cost due to the handling and disposal of waste [28,29]. The circular economy and its acceptance have a direct effect on the fight against waste, since it uses waste as a product, contributing to the minimization of pollution [30].…”