Solving the Plastic Waste Crisis with the participation of People in Developing Countries, Case Study of Iran

Background: Iran is one of the top ۱۰ countries in the world in terms of plastic consumption. This study aimed to solving the plastic waste crisis with the participation of people in Iran.Methods: The study is a descriptive-analytical one that has been done from ۲۰۱۹ to ۲۰۲۲. The plastic waste produced in ۹ provinces (out of ۳۱ provinces) was sampled once a week for ۱۲ months to determine the total weight and per capita per day. Also, the method of collecting and disposing of plastic waste was determined in different cities of the provinces. After that, a training program regarding the in-source separation of plastic and other municipal wastes was implemented in Semnan city to teach people how to reduce and separate their plastic wastes. Finally, a plastic recycling factory was designed and constructed in Semnan.Results: The study indicates that the plastic waste per capita per day is about ۵۶gr in the studied provinces. Also, currently, only ۵% of the total plastic waste is collected separately and more than ۹۵% of it is disposed of as mixed with other wastes. By carrying out an in-source separation and reduction program, the amount of plastic waste produced in this province decreased by ۱۰% in two years, and also a plastic recycling plant with a capacity of ۳۰ tons per day was constructed in Semnan city (the capital of Semnan province) which prevents disposing of ۱۰۵۰ Ton of plastic annually, resulting in environmental pollution preventing.Conclusions: Based on the results, the implementation of a training program to reduce plastic production and the construction of plastic recycling factories can greatly decrease the plastic crisis in developing countries such as Iran.Background: Iran is one of the top ۱۰ countries in the world in terms of plastic consumption. This study aimed to solving the plastic waste crisis with the participation of people in Iran. Methods: The study is a descriptive-analytical one that has been done from ۲۰۱۹ to ۲۰۲۲. The plastic waste produced in ۹ provinces (out of ۳۱ provinces) was sampled once a week for ۱۲ months to determine the total weight and per capita per day. Also, the method of collecting and disposing of plastic waste was determined in different cities of the provinces. After that, a training program regarding the in-source separation of plastic and other municipal wastes was implemented in Semnan city to teach people how to reduce and separate their plastic wastes. Finally, a plastic recycling factory was designed and constructed in Semnan. Results: The study indicates that the plastic waste per capita per day is about ۵۶gr in the studied provinces. Also, currently, only ۵% of the total plastic waste is collected separately and more than ۹۵% of it is disposed of as mixed with other wastes. By carrying out an in-source separation and reduction program, the amount of plastic waste produced in this province decreased by ۱۰% in two years, and also a plastic recycling plant with a capacity of ۳۰ tons per day was constructed in Semnan city (the capital of Semnan province) which prevents disposing of ۱۰۵۰ Ton of plastic annually, resulting in environmental pollution preventing. Conclusions: Based on the results, the implementation of a training program to reduce plastic production and the construction of plastic recycling factories can greatly decrease the plastic crisis in developing countries such as Iran.

کلیدواژه ها:

Plastic ، Crisis ، Management ، Recycling ، Iran