Katie Malarkey

Presentation Title:

Quantification of Agricultural Plastics Usage in the United States

Katie Malarkey, Rochester Institute of Technology

Abstract:

This presentation shares the methods and results of a quantitative model developed to estimate mass of plastics used in the agricultural stages of soil preparation, irrigation, seed sowing, pesticides and fertilizers, horticulture, under protection, harvesting, and storage. This framework first estimates the plastic intensity per agricultural end use, accounting for the usage methods, lifespan, and physical properties for plastic materials commonly utilized in agriculture. Total demand for each plastic product is then estimated based on individual annual crop acreages, goods harvested, or livestock raised to finally determine the aggregate national ag plastic usage. This analysis was repeated for 27 different end use plastic products and over seven hundred total crops and agricultural products to determine a national total agricultural plastic usage.

Bio:

Katie Malarkey is currently a PhD student studying Sustainability at Rochester Institute of Technology. Previous careers include thin film coating scientist and stay-at-home parent.