title: Review, mapping and analysis of the agricultural plastic waste generation and consolidation in Europe.
abstract: A review of agricultural plastic waste generation and consolidation in Europe is presented. A detailed geographical mapping of the agricultural plastic use and waste generation in Europe was conducted focusing on areas of high concentration of agricultural plastics. Quantitative data and analysis of the agricultural plastic waste generation by category, geographical distribution and compositional range, and physical characteristics of the agricultural plastic waste per use and the temporal distribution of the waste generation are presented. Data were collected and cross-checked from a variety of sources, including European, national and regional services and organizations, local agronomists, retailers and farmers, importers and converters. Missing data were estimated indirectly based on the recorded cultivated areas and the characteristics of the agricultural plastics commonly used in the particular regions. The temporal distribution, the composition and physical characteristics of the agricultural plastic waste streams were mapped by category and by application. This study represents the first systematic effort to map and analyse agricultural plastic waste generation and consolidation in Europe.
authors.affiliation: 1Agricultural University of Athens, Department of Natural Resources and Agricultural Engineering, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Demetres
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Briassoulis
authors.forename: Epifania
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Babou
authors.forename: Miltiadis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hiskakis
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scarascia
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Picuno
authors.forename: Dorleta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guarde
authors.forename: Cyril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dejean
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D005060:Europe; D005843:Geography; D010969:Plastics; D059027:Recycling; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D014866:Waste Products
keywords: Agricultural plastics; agricultural plastic waste; plastic waste composition; waste consolidation; waste generation