Role of geography in plastic pollution research and social implications

Abstract

This paper aims to reveal how geography interacts with plastic pollution research and current societal challenges while this emerging waste flow poses risks to a diverse range of ecosystems, geographical regions involving multiscale levels. The specific relations between major geographical branches (physical, human, environmental) are further investigated. Therefore, this paper points out the how geographical topics could be represented in the plastic pollution research related to natural features of a particular area (hydrology, geomorphology, natural hazards). Human geography dimension plays a key role in generating, composition and distribution of plastic waste flows by various generation source (residents, business, tourists) while the role of geographical inequalities, marginalized or remote communities need to be integrated in future plastic research. Environmental monitoring and waste management infrastructure disparities influence the plastic pollution levels from domestic sources while plastic waste trade requires an improved international cooperation. Therefore, various geographies and geographers around the world must be further involved in the plastic pollution research to provide a holistic framework research agenda of this global environmental and societal threat.