Biological Systems: Theory and Innovation

Conceptual ecobiological screening of municipal plastic waste pressure on riverine ecosystems

Ruslan Shvarts*, Oleg Glukh

ruslan.shvarts@uzhnu.edu.ua

Download article
Abstract

Municipal plastic waste represents not only a management and technological challenge but also a potential source of ecobiological pressure on riverine and riparian ecosystems. Inadequate separate collection, uncontrolled accumulation and fragmentation of plastic materials may facilitate the release of macroplastics and microplastics into freshwater ecosystems, where they can interact with macroinvertebrates, fish, microbial communities, bottom sediments, soils and riparian habitats. The aim of this study was to identify and characterise the potential pathways through which municipal plastic waste may enter riverine ecosystems, synthesise the possible mechanisms of its interaction with biota, and develop a preliminary conceptual framework for identifying priorities for ecobiological monitoring. A theoretical and analytical approach was applied, combining a targeted narrative review of recent scientific literature, a “pressure – pathway – receptor – response” framework, and an illustrative application of the developed by the authors plastic waste collection efficiency index to two hypothetical scenarios of municipal waste collection. The synthesis of the scientific literature showed that municipal plastic waste may interact with biota through physical habitat contamination, particle ingestion, transport of associated pollutants, formation of the plastisphere, and alterations in microbial processes in water, bottom sediments and soils. The illustrative application of the index to the two hypothetical scenarios yielded values of 0.67 and 0.64 and demonstrated how different combinations of service coverage and infrastructure accessibility affected the overall assessment. These scenario-based values do not characterise specific municipalities and do not quantify actual plastic leakage, concentrations in the aquatic environment, biological toxicity or biodiversity degradation. The study proposes a conceptual ecobiological framework for prioritising separate collection, local microplastic monitoring, assessment of bottom sediments, bioindication, and subsequent field verification in river basins affected by pressure from municipal plastic waste

Keywords

macroinvertebrates; plastisphere; bottom sediments; bioindication; floodplains

Suggested citation
Shvarts, R., & Glukh, O. (2026). Conceptual ecobiological screening of municipal plastic waste pressure on riverine ecosystems. Biological Systems: Theory and Innovation, 17(3), 53-68. https://doi.org/10.31548/biologiya/3.2026.53
References
  1. Aralappanavar, V.K., et al. (2024). Effects of microplastics on soil microorganisms and microbial functions in nutrients and carbon cycling – a review. Science of the Total Environment, 924, article number 171435. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171435.
  2. Balla, A., Teofilovic, V., & Kiss, T. (2024). Microplastic contamination of fine-grained sediments and its environmental driving factors along a lowland river: Three-year monitoring of the Tisza River and Central Europe. Hydrology, 11(1), article number 11. doi: 10.3390/hydrology11010011.
  3. Banaee, M., Multisanti, C.R., Impellitteri, F., Piccione, G., & Faggio, C. (2025). Environmental toxicology of microplastic particles on fish: A review. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology & Pharmacology, 287, article number 110042. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2024.110042.
  4. Bhandari, N.L., Bhattarai, S., Bhandari, G., Subedi, S., & Dhakal, K.N. (2021). A review on current practices of plastics waste management and future prospects. Journal of Institute of Science and Technology, 26(1), 107-118. doi: 10.3126/jist.v26i1.37837.
  5. Di Foggia, G., & Beccarello, M. (2023). Designing circular economy-compliant municipal solid waste management charging schemes. Utilities Policy, 81, article number 101506. doi: 10.1016/j.jup.2023.101506.
  6. European Commission. (2020). A new Circular Economy Action Plan: For a cleaner and more competitive Europe. (COM/2020/98 final). Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52020DC0098.
  7. European Environment Agency. (2024). Water Framework Directive – quality elements. Retrieved from https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/maps-and-charts/water-framework-directive-quality-elements.
  8. Gallitelli, L., & Scalici, M. (2022). Riverine macroplastic gradient along watercourses: A global overview. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 10, article number 937944. doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2022.937944.
  9. Geissdoerfer, M., Savaget, P., Bocken, N.M.P., & Hultink, E.J. (2017). The circular economy – a new sustainability paradigm? Journal of Cleaner Production, 143, 757-768. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.12.048.
  10. Kaza, S., Yao, L.C., Bhada-Tata, P., van Woerden, F., & Levine, D. (2018). What a waste 2.0: A global snapshot of solid waste management to 2050. Washington, DC: World Bank. doi: 10.1596/978-1-4648-1329-0.
  11. Law of Ukraine No. 2320-IX “On Waste Management”. (2022, June). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2320-20#Text.
  12. Masura, J., Baker, J.E., Foster, G.D., & Arthur, C. (2015). Laboratory methods for the analysis of microplastics in the marine environment: Recommendations for quantifying synthetic particles in waters and sediments. In NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS-OR&R-48. Silver Spring, MD: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
  13. Mora-Teddy, A.K., Closs, G.P., & Matthaei, C.D. (2024). Microplastics and riverine macroinvertebrate communities in a multiple-stressor context: A mesocosm approach. Science of the Total Environment, 951, article number 175456. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175456.
  14. Nava, V., et al. (2024). Plastic pollution affects ecosystem processes including community structure and functional traits in large rivers. Water Research, 259, article number 121849. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121849.
  15. OECD. (2016). Extended producer responsibility: Updated guidance for efficient waste management. Paris: OECD Publishing. doi: 10.1787/9789264256385-en.
  16. Order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 1353-r “On Approval of the National Waste Management Plan until 2033 and Recognition of Certain Acts as Invalid”. (2024, December). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1353-2024-%D1%80#Text.
  17. Owowenu, E.K., Nnadozie, C.F., Akamagwuna, F., Noundou, X.S., Uku, J.E., & Odume, O.N. (2023). A critical review of environmental factors influencing the transport dynamics of microplastics in riverine systems: Implications for ecological studies. Aquatic Ecology, 57, 557-570. doi: 10.1007/s10452-023-10029-7.
  18. Russell, C.E., Fernández, R., Parsons, D.R., & Gabbott, S.E. (2023). Plastic pollution in riverbeds fundamentally affects natural sand transport processes. Communications Earth & Environment, 4, article number 255. doi: 10.1038/s43247-023-00820-7.
  19. Shi, Y., Chen, W., Yang, S., Fan, Y., & Lu, L. (2024). Freshwater microplastics governance and sustainable development: Pollution status, interactions, policies, and prospective studies. Desalination and Water Treatment, 320, article number 100704. doi: 10.1016/j.dwt.2024.100704.
  20. Tumu, K., Vorst, K., & Curtzwiler, G. (2023). Global plastic waste recycling and extended producer responsibility laws. Journal of Environmental Management, 348, article number 119242. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119242.
  21. van Emmerik, T.H.M., Frings, R.M., Schreyers, L.J., Hauk, R., de Lange, S.I., & Mellink, Y.A.M. (2023). River plastic transport and deposition amplified by extreme flood. Nature Water, 1, 514-522. doi: 10.1038/s44221-023-00092-7.
  22. Vural, T., Çetinkaya, S., Yeğen, V., Şapçıoğlu, S., & Gündoğdu, S. (2025). Protocol for extraction and analysis of microplastics in freshwater, sediment, and fish samples. STAR Protocols, 6(3), article number 104057. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2025.104057.