An Insight into Environmental Impacts within Plastic Waste Recycling Factories

Abstract

Plastic recycling plays a vital role in maintaining a circular economy as it helps conserve natural resources and minimizes the environmental impact of plastic waste. This activity, however, can cause adverse effects on the surrounding environment due to untreated wastewater and emissions. This study conducted a thorough investigation in terms of water, wastewater, and air quality at the most prominent plastic recycling facility in a craft village in the northern province of Vietnam. The initial results revealed that the groundwater quality was not affected by the recycling activities. The untreated wastewater contained high concentrations of chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD₅), and suspended solids (SS), i.e., 1010 mg/L, 269 mg/L and 262 mg/L, respectively. The coliform was ten times higher than the standard. For the air quality, PM₁₀, PM_2.5, noise, and VOCs were of the most concern, with concentrations of 256 µg/m³, 214 µg/m³, 86.6 db and 730 µg/m³, respectively, within the factories. These values were all higher than both Vietnam and international standards. This was the reason for causing unpleasant smells and noise, as well as the frequent sewage blockage that the villagers are facing daily. Heavy metal concentrations were mostly found within acceptable values for both wastewater and air samples. Risk assessment revealed the pollutants of concerns in the order of PM_2.5 > VOCs >PM₁₀, SO₂, Ni >Cd >Pb >NO₂, As. Proper mitigations were proposed for better working and living environments in the plastic recycling villages.