Plastic waste is a growing global environmental challenge, with inadequate recycling and improper disposal leading to severe ecological impacts, particularly in developing nations. The article highlights the urgent need for innovative solutions to convert plastic waste into energy, such as Waste-to-Energy (W2E) and Waste-to-Fuel (W2F) technologies like pyrolysis and gasification. These methods can transform difficult-to-recycle plastics into dense energy sources, but they emit CO₂, which must be captured and utilized to make the process sustainable. The scientific community is urged to develop technologies to reduce CO₂ emissions in plastic waste conversion, promoting circular resource use and environmental benefits. Plastic production has increased dramatically, with global plastic use expected to triple by 2060. Despite efforts to recycle, most plastics are still discarded, leading to significant environmental pollution. The "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" and microplastics in oceans pose serious threats to marine life and human health. Land-based plastics often enter waterways and oceans, contributing to marine litter and microplastic pollution. Recycling challenges include the lack of awareness among consumers about non-recyclable plastics and the need for advanced sorting and processing infrastructure. Transboundary plastic waste disposal remains a critical issue, with countries like China, Malaysia, and the Philippines implementing policies to reduce plastic waste imports. Despite these efforts, plastic waste continues to be a major environmental concern. Innovative solutions such as converting plastics into textiles, building materials, and 3D printing filaments offer alternatives to traditional disposal methods. However, these methods face limitations in adoption. Incineration and pyrolysis are viable options for energy recovery, but they emit CO₂, which must be captured and stored to mitigate environmental impact. Gasification and pyrolysis can produce syngas and hydrocarbons, which can be used for energy or fuel production. Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies are essential for reducing CO₂ emissions from plastic waste conversion. These technologies include pressure swing adsorption, membrane separation, and catalytic conversion of CO₂ into fuels and chemicals. The development of cost-effective and energy-efficient CO₂ capture methods is crucial for the sustainability of plastic waste conversion processes. The article emphasizes the need for global cooperation and policy changes to address plastic waste management, reduce transboundary disposal, and promote sustainable practices. The Maldives serves as a case study for implementing W2E solutions, transforming a landfill into a plastics-to-energy facility. The study underscores the importance of addressing CO₂ emissions in plastic waste conversion to achieve environmental and economic benefits.Plastic waste is a growing global environmental challenge, with inadequate recycling and improper disposal leading to severe ecological impacts, particularly in developing nations. The article highlights the urgent need for innovative solutions to convert plastic waste into energy, such as Waste-to-Energy (W2E) and Waste-to-Fuel (W2F) technologies like pyrolysis and gasification. These methods can transform difficult-to-recycle plastics into dense energy sources, but they emit CO₂, which must be captured and utilized to make the process sustainable. The scientific community is urged to develop technologies to reduce CO₂ emissions in plastic waste conversion, promoting circular resource use and environmental benefits. Plastic production has increased dramatically, with global plastic use expected to triple by 2060. Despite efforts to recycle, most plastics are still discarded, leading to significant environmental pollution. The "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" and microplastics in oceans pose serious threats to marine life and human health. Land-based plastics often enter waterways and oceans, contributing to marine litter and microplastic pollution. Recycling challenges include the lack of awareness among consumers about non-recyclable plastics and the need for advanced sorting and processing infrastructure. Transboundary plastic waste disposal remains a critical issue, with countries like China, Malaysia, and the Philippines implementing policies to reduce plastic waste imports. Despite these efforts, plastic waste continues to be a major environmental concern. Innovative solutions such as converting plastics into textiles, building materials, and 3D printing filaments offer alternatives to traditional disposal methods. However, these methods face limitations in adoption. Incineration and pyrolysis are viable options for energy recovery, but they emit CO₂, which must be captured and stored to mitigate environmental impact. Gasification and pyrolysis can produce syngas and hydrocarbons, which can be used for energy or fuel production. Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies are essential for reducing CO₂ emissions from plastic waste conversion. These technologies include pressure swing adsorption, membrane separation, and catalytic conversion of CO₂ into fuels and chemicals. The development of cost-effective and energy-efficient CO₂ capture methods is crucial for the sustainability of plastic waste conversion processes. The article emphasizes the need for global cooperation and policy changes to address plastic waste management, reduce transboundary disposal, and promote sustainable practices. The Maldives serves as a case study for implementing W2E solutions, transforming a landfill into a plastics-to-energy facility. The study underscores the importance of addressing CO₂ emissions in plastic waste conversion to achieve environmental and economic benefits.