Regulatory Overview and Control Strategies to Prevent Migration of Microplastics to the Environment from Production Facilities

Regulations requiring control of microplastics from manufacturing facilities are in nascent stages with no clear guidelines yet defined. Regulatory guidelines indicate control of “visible plastics” without specifying quantitative standards. Plastic resin manufacturers, recognizing the need to be proactive, are left to interpret “visible plastics” and to define quantitative criteria for control technology selection and design. An innovative approach is needed to cost-effectively control and treat large volumes stormwater for design storms. This will require sophisticated stormwater modeling, defining treatment standards, and developing a storage and treatment approach that will meet the compliance objectives. Number of studies have been done where this approach is being applied. This paper shares the overall strategy, high-level takeaways, and provides guidance for best practices.