THE ISSUE OF MARINE LITTER FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR MEDITERRANEAN REGION: A REVIEW

Plastic is one of the most versatile materials invented and developed in the twentieth century. But at the same time, its products, which are often disposable, poorly managed and released into the environment, have become an environmental problem, affecting marine habitats the Mediterranean ecosystem area. Plastic products, prior to degradation, in the sea crumble into micro-plastics, creating ubiquitous and increasing pollution. Microplastics (their smallest form) affect all levels of the marine trophic chains: transporting and spreading pollutants, reducing fishing stocks, entering the food chain to humans, with risks to the environment and man. We need economical, eco-systemic and industrial sustainable solution facing up to this growing issue. The only way out is in a sustainable and regulated approach on designing, producing, managing and recycling plastic products all along the value chain. We describe most recent proposals and policy management of land-based waste production and recycling.