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Local waste management successfully reduces coastal plastic pollution
Citation
Willis, K and Hardesty, BD and Vince, J and Wilcox, C, Local waste management successfully reduces coastal plastic pollution, One Earth, 5, (6) pp. 1-27. ISSN 2590-3330 (2022) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Crown Copyright 2022 Published by Elsevier Inc
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.oneear.2022.05.008
Abstract
Regardless of where plastic pollution originates, the management interventions made at the local level are crucial to the global success of reducing plastic pollution. Reduced plastic consumption and pollution have been observed in communities with plastic taxes and educational programs. However, there is currently a lack of a quantitative framework that connects local actions to measurable reductions of plastic loads in the nearby coastal environment. Here, we explore whether changes in municipal waste management efforts corresponded to decreases in coastal plastic pollution across the continent of Australia. Our research shows that local strategies can result in large-scale benefits. We observed an average reduction in coastal litter of 29% over 6 years at the continental scale. Strategies that encouraged stewardship of coastal areas and economically motivated appropriate waste disposal were correlated with reductions in plastic pollution. This work can guide the efforts of policymakers and citizens alike to reduce plastic pollution at local, national, and global scales.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | Australia, behavior change theory, coastal litter, policy, local waste management, plastic pollution, governance, local government, reduction |
Research Division: | Law and Legal Studies |
Research Group: | International and comparative law |
Research Field: | Ocean law and governance |
Objective Division: | Environmental Policy, Climate Change and Natural Hazards |
Objective Group: | Environmental policy, legislation and standards |
Objective Field: | Environmental protection frameworks (incl. economic incentives) |
UTAS Author: | Willis, K (Dr Kathy Willis) |
UTAS Author: | Hardesty, BD (Dr Britta Hardesty) |
UTAS Author: | Vince, J (Associate Professor Joanna Vince) |
UTAS Author: | Wilcox, C (Dr Chris Wilcox) |
ID Code: | 150554 |
Year Published: | 2022 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 4 |
Deposited By: | Office of the School of Social Sciences |
Deposited On: | 2022-06-20 |
Last Modified: | 2022-08-23 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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