Microplastics Identification in Plastic Recycling Facility – Removal Efficiencies of the Treatment Plants and Its Potential Release to the Environment

Plastic recycling facilities (PRF) are one of microplastic sources that may release into the environment. This study aims to identify the abundance and characteristics of microplastics potentially released from a PRF in Indonesia. Analysis of raw materials in the influent of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) showed a microplastic abundance of 485 particles/L. The dominant type of microplastic was the 2.5 µm – 5 mm size of fragmented high-density polyethylene (HDPE). In the effluent of floating clarifier 3, the microplastic abundance detected was 98 particles/L, with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) as the dominant fragmented plastic ranging from 1.2–2.5 µm. Meanwhile, in the WWTP sludge, microplastics were identified with an abundance of 364.81 particles/kg. The microplastics found in the sludge were predominantly in the fragment form, composed of HDPE, with sizes ranging from 0.2–2.5 µm. This information is crucial for understanding the extent to which PRFs contribute to microplastic pollution in the environment. These findings emphasize the importance of implementing more effective wastewater management technologies in PRFs to reduce the release of microplastics into the environment.