Version 2 2024-02-02, 16:10Version 2 2024-02-02, 16:10
Version 1 2024-02-01, 23:05Version 1 2024-02-01, 23:05
journal contribution
posted on 2024-02-02, 16:10authored byXia Zhu, Matthew J. Hoffman, Chelsea M. Rochman
A global
agreement on plastic should have quantitative reduction
targets for the emissions of plastic pollution and regular measurements
to track success. Here, we present a framework for measuring plastic
emissions, akin to greenhouse gas emissions, and demonstrate its utility
by calculating a baseline measurement for the City of Toronto in Ontario,
Canada. We identify relevant sources of plastic pollution in the city,
calculate emissions for each source by multiplying activity data by
emission factors for each source, and sum the emissions to obtain
the total annual emissions of plastic pollution generated. Using Monte
Carlo simulations, we estimate that 3,531 to 3,852 tonnes (T) of plastic
pollution were emitted from Toronto in 2020. Littering is the largest
source overall (3,099 T), and artificial turf is the largest source
of microplastic (237 T). Quantifying source emissions can inform the
most effective mitigation strategies to achieve reduction targets.
We recommend this framework be scaled up and replicated in cities,
states, provinces, and countries around the world to inform global
reduction targets and measure progress toward reducing plastic pollution.