Evaluating the Parameters Influencing Plastic Recycling

The long-term and excessive utilization of plastic significantly contribute to environmental degradation and potential contamination. Notably, plastic undergoes various degradation processes, including photodegradation, thermo-oxidative degradation, and mechanical fragmentation, ultimately resulting in the generation of microplastics (MPs). Recent studies pointed out that MPs could accumulate in multiple human organs, such as the lungs, liver, and pancreas, leading to oxidative stress and cellular toxicity. Our investigation with indicators such as GDP, education, pricing, and cultural attitudes revealed that price as the predominant factor influencing the recycling of plastic bags. We analyzed the relationship between price and recycling rates through a linear regression model with the R packages broom and dplyr, which aims to inform the formulation of new regulatory measures designed to enhance plastic reuse and plastic waste mitigation.