Economic Damage of Plastic Pollution: An Integrated Assessment Across Territories

Chapter 1

Environmental Challenges Economic Damage of Plastic Pollution: An Integrated Assessment Across Territories -- Manuscript Draft --

Economic Damage of Plastic Pollution: An Integrated Assessment Across Territories

ABSTRACT

Environmental externalities, such as the ecological and health effects of plastic pollution, are often overlooked in typical economic assessments, where it is expected that by two thousand fifty, the amount of plastic in the ocean will exceed that of fish. The total damage cost due to plastic waste was systematically evaluated using damage cost analyses across multiple environmental domains, including terrestrial/land impacts, freshwater/wadi impacts, coastal/marine impacts, and atmospheric/human exposure impacts. Total damage costs due to plastic leakage were two point six nine million dollars in two thousand twenty-two, decreasing to one point one zero million dollars under a high-stringency policy by two thousand fifty, indicating significant cost savings. The reduction in plastic leakage from thirty-four thousand nine hundred eighty-eight to fourteen thousand three hundred seventy tons per year is associated with a nearly sixty percent decrease in damage costs. Plastic leakage to land contributes the highest economic burden, reducing from one point one four million dollars to zero point four seven million dollars, while plastic leakage to freshwater decreases from zero point eight seven million dollars to zero point three six million dollars. Plastic leakage to coastal and marine costs zero point six six million dollars to zero point two seven million dollars, and atmospheric/human exposure costs drop from zero point zero two three million dollars to zero point zero zero nine million dollars. The effectiveness of high-stringency policies, as evidenced by scenario analysis and sensitivity analysis, was demonstrated by a reduction in plastic leakage rates from five point six percent to two point three percent, supporting a rationale for stringent plastic management policies. Further, the marginal damage of plastic leakage into the environment is approximately seventy-six point eight dollars per ton. The research presented here advances theoretical understanding of integrating externalities and provides local governments, policymakers, businesses, and stakeholders with practical insights. To fill this gap, this study develops an integrated damage cost assessment framework to quantitatively evaluate the marginal harm caused by plastic pollution emissions. This framework can be used for future research and policy initiatives in a society more concerned with sustainability.