U of T scientists develop method to measure plastic emissions

Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed a framework for measuring plastic pollution emissions. This is no different from the global standard for measuring greenhouse gas emissions.

They say this approach will help identify the biggest sources of plastic pollution from local to national levels and improve strategies to reduce emissions around the world.

The first-of-its-kind framework, using Toronto as a model, suggests Canada’s largest city emitted nearly 4,000 tonnes of plastic pollution in one year alone.

Alice (Sia) Zhu (provided image)

“This means that the equivalent of about 400 garbage truck loads of plastic is discarded across the city each year,” said Alice (Xia) Zhu, lead author of a study outlining the method published in the journal Environment Science & Technology. “This means that it is leaking into the environment.”

“Assigning responsibility for pollution to jurisdictions with the ability to legislate means we cannot hide where pollution comes from. This is a major source of plastic pollution in the region. This is an opportunity to identify and inform measures to reduce these emissions.”

Zhu, a PhD candidate in the Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences at U of T Scarborough, who works with assistant professor Chelsea Rockman in the U of T College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, is working with colleagues at U of T. I developed this framework. T and Rochester Institute of Technology. The researchers took inspiration from guidelines for creating greenhouse gas emissions inventories developed by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Adapting to the physical differences between greenhouse gases and solid pieces of plastic, researchers have used a similar methodology to identify the major polluting activities in a given region and within a given period of time. The amount of pollution produced by each activity was calculated and the associated uncertainties were considered. For each source of pollution-causing activities.

The framework will be submitted ahead of international talks to be held in Ottawa from April 23 to 29 for a legally binding global agreement on plastic pollution. The discussion is being led by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution.

Plastic pellets collecting around storm drains near the factory (Photo courtesy of T Trash Team University)

“Our goal was to develop an accounting mechanism or tool to measure plastic emissions that governments at all levels can implement,” Zhu said. “But most importantly, we hope that this tool that we have introduced will enable the plastics sector to follow in the footsteps of the climate sector, where each country will have to register their national emissions inventory. to international organizations such as the United Nations to track our country’s progress towards achieving global goals. ”

Currently, there are no national emissions inventories for plastic pollution, nor are there any globally defined targets for reducing plastic pollution.

Littering waste, including foam packaging debris, accounted for the largest proportion of Toronto’s plastic pollution estimates in 2020 (Photo by U of T Trash Team)

To demonstrate the usefulness of this framework, researchers created a 2020 inventory of Toronto’s plastic pollution emissions based on publicly available data collected through municipal waste audits and other sources. Between 3,531 and 3,852 tonnes of plastic pollution is estimated to have been emitted from the country, from a list of nine sources, including littering, tire dust from airplanes and road vehicles, washing machines, paint from road signs and house exteriors. did. Boundaries of the city during the period.

Littering accounted for the largest proportion of the total, at 3,099 tonnes, while artificial turf had the highest amount of microplastics (particles less than 5 millimeters in diameter) at 237 tonnes.

“It is not surprising that larger materials, known as macroplastics, in this case consisting of poorly managed waste such as littering, accounted for the majority of the mass. , thus overshadowing microplastics,” said co-author Rockman. This research and Mr. Zhu’s supervisor for his doctoral program. “Microplastics tend to have the highest number of actual debris. This suggests that policies related to microplastics, in addition to macroplastics, are important in reducing plastic emissions in the City of Toronto.” doing.”

Peeling paint from buildings and road markings is a significant source of microplastic pollution (Photo courtesy of U of T Trash Team)

The researchers chose Toronto, Canada’s largest city and North America’s fourth largest city, to test the framework.

“This is an urban center of various activities, and where there are many people and activities, there will inevitably be a lot of pollution,” Zhu said. “To make a successful and useful case study, you need to consider where there are different sources of pollution, so you can understand which sources should be prioritized for reduction over all other sources. Demonstrate the utility of emissions inventories to inform local policy.”

Mr. Zhu said that an emissions inventory of plastic pollution must be a fundamental part of any successful international treaty on plastics, and that this framework should be used to better understand what types of plastic pollution are occurring. should be applied to other cities, provinces, states, and countries around the world. released into the environment.

“This guideline is applicable to regions around the world, regardless of the type of information source,” Zhu said. “Each geographic region has different characteristics, and our inventory allows us to develop solutions tailored to that specific region.”

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