Reflections of Maxime St-Pierre, P.Eng

Plastic was once seen as the material of the future. It might still be. Although it appeared relatively recently in human history, it is now used everywhere, for almost everything. Its unique and outstanding properties make it the material of choice for many applications. What is even more recent in the story of plastics is the analysis of their life cycle, including the study of their effects on the environment and on living organisms, including humans. While plastics can be a wonderful solution to improve the standard of living for all species, their improper use and disposal can also pose significant threats to the sustainability of our way of life. Proper management of the plastic life cycle is critical for the survival of humankind. My reflection focuses on the second line of defense against microplastic pollution: macroplastics management.

The Spread of Plastics

Plastics are not only used everywhere in everything—they are found everywhere they should not be, in places we did not imagine, and in quantities far beyond what most people expect. In the case of macroplastics—plastic pieces larger than 5mm—they are generally easy to identify due to their size. Yet, they can hide in large quantities in remote, scarcely inhabited locations, away from the human eye. Macroplastics are carried away by wind, water, and air currents, or are displaced with large quantities of soil, far from where they were disposed of or broke loose.

Microplastics and Their Origins

Microplastics (MNP)—plastic pieces smaller than 5mm—are of two types:

• Primary MNP: Result from industrial processes that purposely make them small.
• Secondary MNP: Originate from the wear and tear of macroplastics.

Both types present a threat to public health and biodiversity. Like macroplastics, MNP are found in the air, water, and soil—almost everywhere scientists have looked. They are carried by wind, washed away by water, transported by rivers and ocean currents, and even displaced in the ground by insects, worms, and microorganisms. Their small size makes them very difficult to see, identify, and characterize, let alone remove and collect. This is why proper life cycle management of plastics is key to reducing MNP pollution: early actions are essential to prevent the spill of primary MNP or the degradation of macroplastics into much harder-to-collect secondary MNP.

The Role of Alternatives

Eliminating plastics from modern life would be almost impossible. Plastics can be very durable and sustainable when used wisely. Most can also be recycled, further increasing their sustainability. However, other materials, including natural fibers and wood, can be viable replacements for plastic, and their breakdown in the environment is much less problematic. Replacing plastics with more environmentally friendly materials is the first line of defense against MNP pollution. If less plastic enters the environment overall, then the likelihood of plastic breaking down into MNP and spreading into ecosystems is also lessened.

Macroplastics Management: The Second Line of Defense

The second line of defense against MNP pollution is macroplastics management. How can we collect, contain, reuse, and recycle larger pieces of plastic before they become out of reach? What can we do to collect plastics before they enter the environment, break down, and pollute the air we breathe, the water we drink, or the soil we grow crops in?

Several actions can be taken:

1. Educate: The population needs to be better informed about MNP pollution, its scale, and its confirmed and potential consequences on public health and biodiversity. People must understand that plastic pollution is more than visually unpleasant—it is the source of a more insidious threat: microplastic contamination. It is essential to communicate what we do know (the facts), as well as what we do not know but anticipate (the risks), without dramatizing the situation. To foster engagement, people need to appreciate the actual and potential threats and develop a sense of urgency, without feeling helpless.
2. Characterize: To improve plastic collection and recycling, it must be easy for people to responsibly dispose of their plastic litter, and any other litter. Most people have good intentions but are not willing to make the extra effort. At the same time, resources for governments, municipalities, and volunteer associations are not unlimited. It is not possible or practical to implement recycling bins every 100 meters on every sidewalk. Therefore, characterizing the distribution of plastic litter is crucial for taking targeted actions to improve collection and recycling. Organizations like Litterati.org use artificial intelligence and social engagement to identify, map, and report all sorts of litter, including plastics. They build large databases that identify where and when targeted actions should be taken. They monitor the impact of these actions by gathering data before and after, measuring their efficiency.
3. Facilitate: Use available data to strategically position collection points near macroplastics’ improper disposal sites. Such targeted actions will have better results and create more momentum, further boosting engagement. It is important to communicate progress and results to the community to show that their actions are not futile.
4. Incentivize: For most people, the vision of a clean, safe, and healthy future for current and next generations is not enough to trigger the urge to take action. Incentives are required. Governments and stakeholders need to implement systems that reward those who contribute to collection and recycling efforts.
5. Mitigate: The ultimate action in the second line of defense against MNP pollution is mitigation. Governments and stakeholders must put in place litter patrol programs to collect as much macroplastics as possible before it reaches hard-to-access areas and irreversibly enters the environment, later breaking down into smaller pieces and degrading into MNP.

MNP pollution is a complex problem that must not be taken lightly. Its impacts are far beyond what most people imagine and probably far beyond what scientists currently know. The transport of microplastic particles happens through various natural mechanisms, further increasing their spread. Addressing and reducing one of the root causes of MNP pollution—the release of macroplastic into the environment—is definitely an impactful strategy.