A review on sustainable energy recovery from plastic waste: Current practices, opportunities, and challenges

Significant advancements and research in garbage management as well as energy generation have been spurred by rising worldwide concern about plastic waste (PW) pollution and also its destructive effects on the environment. This thorough analysis examines the condition of managing PW for energy production today, covering a range of methods and technology. Additionally, it identifies and tackles the impending obstacles in the pursuit of well-organized and sustainable waste-to-energy enlightenments. The review highlights the crucial necessity for environmentally friendly waste management (WM) techniques while discussing the startling increase in the production of PW. According to recent figures, the world produces more than 400 million tonnes of plastic annually, yet only 9–15% of that material gets recycled; the rest is either landfilled, burned, or discharged into the environment. Recycling rates are frequently less than 10% in poorer nations due to inadequate processing equipment and poor segregation. It provides a summary of the current approaches to managing plastic trash, such as landfill disposal and chemical and, mechanical recycling. Emerging technologies that offer viable paths for turning plastic trash into useful energy resources such as gasification, pyrolysis and waste-to-energy incineration are given particular consideration. Further research shows that thermochemical conversion technologies have a high promise for sustainable waste management as well as energy generation, with energy recovery efficiencies of roughly 60–80% and a reduction in plastic waste volume of over 90%. This thorough analysis offers a useful summary of the condition of managing plastic trash for energy production at the moment. It highlights the need for environmentally friendly WM techniques and lists the possible advantages and difficulties of several plastic-to-energy systems. Society can move closer to a more sustainable future when plastic waste is effectively managed and utilized to produce clean, renewable energy by handling these challenges and adopting a comprehensive strategy.