An overview of present treatment and valorification methods used for plastic waste

The most frequently used methods for recycling and treating plastic waste, with their advantages and
disadvantages were analyzed and investigated. Plastic waste presents a slow degradation rate in nature,
almost one thousand years, therefore it is important to address this type of pollution, by finding the most
sustainable methods in reducing the percentage of plastic that ends up in landfills or in the ocean. The
negative impact of plastic waste includes bioaccumulation in organisms by exposure to micro and nano plastics
that end up in the environment from degrading macroplastics or directly from products that contain
microplastic, like exfoliating personal care products.