A Multi-Measure Analysis: Evaluating the Sustainability of Polystyrene Waste Mitigation Technologies - Towards A Circular Economy: Sustainable Management

Focus towards SDG13, The universal problem of plastic pollution, fueled by linear production and consumption patterns, poses a climactic threat to human and environmental health. The prevailing waste management infrastructure, over-dependent on land-filling and inefficient recycling, cannot respond effectively to the aggravating crisis. This calls for a paradigm shift towards plastics based on a sustainable, circular economy. This review assesses the waste management hierarchy the prioritization of source reduction, reuse, mechanical recycling, and chemical recycling the foundation of a sustainable approach. This study describes four valuable recycling and re-purposing systems for polystyrene. These include: conversion to plywood composites, concrete/geopolymer systems, chemical depolymerization and conversion into paints and coatings. The paint formulations convert waste PS into coatings with hydrophobic or anti-corrosive properties. Grafting PS gained reactive or polar groups, which can increase the performance of PS waste streams in targeted applications. Although breakthroughs in biodegradable polymers and waste-to-energy technologies provide supporting solutions, ensuring their life-cycle assessment to prevent the emergence of unforeseen consequences is necessary. This analysis ends with the identification of key research frontiers, calling for effective chemical up-cycling and systems-level modeling for decisions on policy and investment. It is necessary to collaborate across scientific, industrial, and governmental communities to move from a plastic waste issue to a sustainable plastics economy.