Plastic Waste Generation and Management in Agroindustial Packaging Industries: Perspectives on Emerging Approaches

Abstract

Plastic supplies are widely used in modern life due to their versatility and low cost; however, a deficient control in their disposal and the lack of effec tive treatments for most of them have led to severe environmental problems. In the world, only 9% of plastic is recycled; therefore, the search for new and more sustainable plastic waste management solutions is now a priority. In this regard, biological treatment has become an attractive option. The use of living organisms for plastic degradation shows notable advantages such as utilizing waste as a substrate for biomass production, avoiding the use of potentially toxic chemicals, obtaining value-added by-products and reducing treatment costs. This chapter aims to analyze and discuss the most recent advances in bacterial, fungal, and arthropodal treatment technologies, emphasizing on their economic and technical feasibility for large-scale applications.