factsheets

Year

2022

Type of Result

Citation

Daskalakis, Maria; Kollmorgen, Florian; Breitbarth, Marco; Hentschel, Anja; Kaser, Simon; Kaskel, Myriam (2022): Cigarette Filters in Wastewater: Plastic pollution in the environment - causes and solutions. Factsheet 13 of the BMBF Research Focus Plastic in the Environment..

Publikationstyp

Publikation

Querschnittsthema

Link to fact sheet 21 of the BMBF Research Focus Plastics in teh Environment

Factsheet 21: Neue Recyclingmethode von Plastikabfällen

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Wed, 04 May 2022 11:35:15 +0000

Fact sheet 21: New plastic waste recycling method janna.vakili@e… Wed, 05/04/2022 - 13:35

Untertitel

A technology to support the transition to a circular plastics economy.

Titelbild

Sorted polystyrene waste is the starting material for the depolymerization process.

Beschreibung

The plastic polystyrene has become indispensable in the automotive, construction, medical, household and electrical sectors. It has many advantages - but the decisive factor for the future is the transition to a circular economy so that the plastic can be used several times.

In the ResolVe joint project, research was conducted into new recycling technologies for this purpose and the results were presented in fact sheet 21. These make an important contribution on the way to a holistic recycling economy.

Fact sheet 21 is available for download here.

Attachments

Joint project

ResolVe

Year

2021

Type of Result

Citation

Schäfer, Philipp; Kolb, Tristan; Nosić, Franziska; Nießner, Norbert (2021): Thermal depolymerization using twin screw extruders: A technology to support the transition to a circular economy Factsheet 21 of the BMBF Research Focus Plastics in the Environment.

Publikationstyp

Factsheet 20: Gegen Plastik in der Umwelt

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Wed, 04 May 2022 11:28:56 +0000

Factsheet 20: Fighting plastics in the environment janna.vakili@e… Wed, 05/04/2022 - 13:28

Untertitel

What is the effect of education, labels and fees?

Titelbild

Common products discharged into domestic wastewater by consumers. Photo: © FiW e.V.

Beschreibung

Measures against plastic pollution are urgently needed. However, it is unclear with which instruments this can be done. The Single-Use Plastics Directive stands for the attempt to reduce the input of plastic by private consumers mainly by means of information, e.g. with a specially developed label.

Researchers from the InRePlast project investigated how promising this is by means of an experiment with 1,092 students, which simulated plastic disposal in households. The results are presented in factsheet 20.

The InRePlast project investigates and classifies the occurrence of plastic parts of at least 1 mm in size in sewage treatment plants and street drainage systems in the municipalities of Aachen, Roetgen, Simmerath and Stollberg. Surveys and a laboratory experiment support the analyses. Based on this, proposals for environmental policy instruments to prevent the inputs are developed

Factsheet 20 is available for download here.

Attachments

Joint project

Year

2022

Type of Result

Citation

Bühren, Christoph, Daskalakis, Maria; Breitbarth, Marco; Hentschel, Anja (2022): Fighting plastic in the environment - What is the effect of education, labels and fees? Factsheet 20 of the BMBF Research Focus Plastic in the Environment.

Publikationstyp

Querschnittsthema

Factsheet 19: EU-Einwegkunststoffrichtlinie

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Wed, 04 May 2022 11:22:21 +0000

Factsheet 19: EU Single-Use Plastics Directive janna.vakili@e… Wed, 05/04/2022 - 13:22

Untertitel

Contents, deficits and development requirements

Titelbild

These plastic products are covered by the Single-Use Plastics Directive (excerpt). Image: © Maria Daskalkis

Beschreibung

In 2019, the Single-Use Plastic Directive was adopted by the European Union to declare war on plastic pollution. But how far-reaching is the directive and how great are the effects it achieves? The researchers from the joint project InRePlast set out the contents, deficits and requirements for the further development of the directive in factsheet 19.

Factsheet 19 is available for download here.

Attachments

Joint project

Year

2022

Type of Result

Citation

Daskalakis, Maria; Kaser, Simon; Hentschel, Anja; Breitbarth, Marco; (2022): EU Single-Use Plastics Directive: Contents, deficits and development requirements. Factsheet 19 of the BMBF Research Focus Plastic in the Environment..

Publikationstyp

Querschnittsthema

Factsheet 18: Plastik im Abwasser

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Wed, 04 May 2022 11:17:03 +0000

Factsheet 18: Plastics in wastewater janna.vakili@e… Wed, 05/04/2022 - 13:17

Untertitel

Products, input paths and possible solutions

Titelbild

Plastic waste buildup in a wastewater treatment plant. Photo: © FiW 2021

Beschreibung

More and more plastic is polluting the environment and endangering humans and animals. Current scientific studies in sewage treatment plants show that a large amount of different plastic products and plastic packaging ends up in the sewage system and in the environment through various pathways.

In factsheet 18, the researchers from the joint project InRePlast present their one-year research work in sewage treatment plants. They address frequently found products and packaging, entry pathways and countermeasures.

The InRePlast project investigates and classifies the occurrence of plastic parts of at least 1 mm in size in sewage treatment plants and road drainage systems in the municipalities of Aachen, Roetgen, Simmerath and Stollberg. Surveys and a laboratory experiment support the analyses. Based on this, proposals for environmental policy instruments to prevent the inputs are developed.

Factsheet 18 is available for download here.

Attachments

Joint project

Year

2022

Type of Result

Citation

Daskalakis, Maria; Breitbarth, Marco; Hentschel, Anja; Kaser, Simon (2021): Plastics in Wastewater: Products, Pathways and Solutions. Factsheet 18 of the BMBF Research Focus Plastic in the Environment.

Publikationstyp

Querschnittsthema

Factsheet 17: Plastikmüll lokal vermeiden

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Wed, 04 May 2022 11:11:03 +0000

Factsheet 17: Preventing plastic waste locally janna.vakili@e… Wed, 05/04/2022 - 13:11

Untertitel

Possible measures to take by municipalities

Titelbild

Single-use plastic packaging causes overflowing trash cans and inputs into the environment. Photo: © Marco Breitbarth

Beschreibung

Plastic waste poses significant problems for many municipalities: Overflowing rubbish bins and carelessly discarded single-use plastic products or packaging cause direct inputs into the environment or via drains into wastewater. In factsheet 17, the researchers from the joint project InRePlast explain how much influence municipalities have on solving the problem and how measures can be designed and role models can be set.

Factsheet 17 is available for download here.

Attachments

Joint project

Year

2022

Type of Result

Citation

Hentschel, Anja; Kaser, Simon; Breitbarth, Marco; Daskalakis, Maria: Avoiding plastic (waste) locally: Possible measures to take by municipalities. Factsheet 17 of the BMBF Research Focus Plastic in the Environment.

Publikationstyp

Querschnittsthema

Factsheet 16: Feuchttücher, Binden und Tampons im Abwasser

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Wed, 04 May 2022 11:04:32 +0000

Factsheet 16: Wet wipes, pads and tampons in wastewater janna.vakili@e… Wed, 05/04/2022 - 13:04

Untertitel

The plastic content in the products pollutes the environment - causes and measures

Titelbild

During heavy precipitation events, wastewater is often released directly into bodies of water to relieve the pressure on sewage treatment plants. Wet wipes, sanitary pads and tampons get swept along with the wastewater and pollute the environment. P:© FiW

Beschreibung

Wet wipes, sanitary towels and tampons are important hygiene products that many people use in their daily lives. Often, the products are partly made of plastic and can end up in the environment if not disposed of properly. The researchers from the joint project InRePlast clarify in factsheet 16 which entry paths are particularly important, how much politics is already doing to combat the problem and at which points there are further options for action.

Factsheet 16 is available for download here.

Attachments

Joint project

Year

2022

Type of Result

Citation

Daskalakis, Maria; Kaser, Simon; Breitbarth, Marco; Hentschel, Anja; Kaskel, Myriam; Kollmorgen, Florian (2022): Wet wipes in wastewater: Plastic content pollutes the environment - causes and measures. Factsheet 16 of the BMBF Research Focus Plastic in the Environment.

Publikationstyp

Querschnittsthema

Factsheet 15: Verlust industrieller Plastikpellets

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Wed, 04 May 2022 10:59:51 +0000

Factsheet 15: Industrial plastic pellet loss janna.vakili@e… Wed, 05/04/2022 - 12:59

Untertitel

Measures to prevent inputs into the environment are necessary

Titelbild

Plastic pellets in front of a factory site: They are released into the environment via storm drains and contaminate it. Photo: © FiW

Beschreibung

Plastic pellets are used in large quantities in industry as a raw material for further processing into plastic products. In 2019, 14 million tonnes of plastic were processed by over 7,000 companies in Germany. The small pellets can enter the environment at various points in the supply chain. The researchers from the collaborative project InRePlast clarify in factsheet 15 which entry pathways are particularly important, how much politics is already doing to combat the problem and at which points there are further options for action.

Factsheet 15 is available for download here.

Attachments

Link to the fact sheet

Joint project

Year

2022

Type of Result

Citation

Daskalakis, Maria; Breitbarth, Marco; Hentschel, Anja; Kaser, Simon (2022): Industrial plastic pellet loss: measures to prevent input into the environment are necessary. Factsheet 15 of the BMBF Research Focus Plastic in the Environment.

Publikationstyp

Querschnittsthema

Factsheet 14: Obst- und Gemüsenetze aus Plastik

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Wed, 04 May 2022 10:49:37 +0000

Fact sheet 14: Single-use mesh nets for produce janna.vakili@e… Wed, 05/04/2022 - 12:49

Untertitel

Minimal benefits and negative environmental impacts

Titelbild

Produce is often packed in plastic mesh nets. Mesh elements can detach and enter the environment via wastewater. Photo: © FiW 2021

Beschreibung

Fresh fruit and vegetables in supermarkets are often packed in plastic nets, from which micro plastic particles can detach and enter the environment. The researchers from the joint project InRePlast clarify in Fact sheet 14 which entry paths are particularly important, how much politics is already doing to combat the problem and at which points there are further options for action.

Fact sheet 14 is available for download here.

Attachments

Link to the fact sheet

Joint project

Year

2022

Type of Result

Citation

Breitbarth, Marco; Daskalakis, Maria; Hentschel, Anja; Kerger, Sebastian; Kaser, Simon (2022): Single-use mesh nets for produce: Minimal benefits and negative environmental impacts. Fact sheet 14 of the BMBF Research Focus Plastic in the Environment.

Publikationstyp

Querschnittsthema

Factsheet 9 of the BMBF Research Focus Plastics in the Environment.

Factsheet 9: Transport von Mikroplastik in Flüssen - Mikroplastikeintrag über die Warnow in die Ostsee

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 14:49:47 +0000

Factsheet 9: Transport of microplastics in rivers - Microplastic input into the Baltic Sea via the Warnow River janna.vakili@e… Tue, 10/05/2021 - 16:49

Titelbild

These paint particles from the bottom of the Warnow River mostly consist of plastics. The particles in the μm-range can no longer be clearly identified with the naked eye. Therefore, all samples are examined spectroscopically. © N. Stollberg / IOW

Beschreibung

Microplastics enter the marine environment through many pathways. The input via rivers plays a significant role. The Warnow River was used as
an example to investigate inputs into the Baltic Sea.

Microplastics were found in varying amounts in all river samples. In particular, weather conditions and the particle properties themselves determine whether the particles reach the Baltic Sea. Factsheet 9 from the MicroCatch_Balt research project breaks down the results of these investigations in more detail and describes ways to reduce plastic inputs.

For the Warnow catchment, the research project identified sources and sinks of microplastics as well as dispersal processes on its way to the Baltic Sea over several years. The factsheet is available for download here.

Attachments

Joint project

MicroCatch_Balt

Year

2021

Author

F. Klaeger

R. Lenz

A. Tagg

B. Hentzsch

S. Hille

G. Schernewski

S. Piehl

X. Lange

F. Fischer

D. Fischer

M. Labrenz

Authors

Type of Result

Citation

Klaeger, F., Lenz, R., Tagg, A., Hentzsch, B., Hille, S., Schernewski, G., Piehl, S., Lange, X., Fischer, F., Fischer, D., Labrenz. M. (2021): Transport of microplastics in rivers: Microplastic input into the Baltic Sea via the Warnow River. Fact sheet 9 of the BMBF research focus „Plastics in the Environment“.

Publikationstyp