A153. Rice, R. E. & Moxley, C. M. (2021). Plastic and the environment: Background, implications, and challenges. In B. Takahashi, J. Metag, J. Thaker, & S. E. Comfort (Eds.), Handbook of international trends in environmental communication (pp. 155-172). New York, NY: Routledge and Washington D.C.: International Communication Association.


This chapter first provides a brief overview of the background of plastic, including nature and history, environmental problems (general, plastic bags, marine plastic debris, and microplastics), and plastic recycling (process, extent, problems, surveys, and plastic bags). The chapter then briefly summarizes how selected news articles, websites, film, and YouTube videos communicate about these issues. The review ends with a discussion of obstacles, contradictions, myths, and conceptual issues about plastic and recycling, and the need to shift toward a sustainable and circular plastic economy.

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