Plastic Waste Management
Plastic Waste Management
1. Plastics Waste: Environmental Issues and Challenges
The quantum of solid waste is ever increasing due to increase in population, developmental activities, changes in life style, and socio-economic conditions, Plastics waste is a significant portion of the total municipal solid waste (MSW). It is estimated that approximately 10 thousand tons per day (TPD) of plastics waste is generated i.e. 9% of 1.20 lacs TPD of MSW in the country. The plastics waste constitutes two major category of plastics;
(i) Thermoplastics and (ii) Thermoset plastics.
Thermoplastics, constitutes 80% and thermoset constitutes approximately 20% of total post-consumer plastics waste generated in India. The Thermoplastics are recyclable plastics which include; Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Low Density Poly Ethylene (LDPE), Poly Vinyl Chloride(PVC), High Density Poly Ethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene(PP), Polystyrene (PS) etc. Thermoset plastics contains alkyd, epoxy, ester, melamine formaldehyde, phenolic formaldehyde, silicon, urea formaldehyde, polyurethane, metalised and multilayer plastics etc.
2. HAZARDS OF THE PLASTIC WASTES
The environmental hazards due to mismanagement of plastics waste include the following aspects:
1. Littered plastics spoils beauty of the city and choke drains and make important public places filthy;
2. Garbage containing plastics, when burnt may cause air pollution by emitting polluting gases;
3. Garbage mixed with plastics interferes in waste processing facilities and may also cause problems in landfill operations;
4. Recycling industries operating in non-conforming areas are posing unhygienic problems to the environment.
3. Main Features of the Plastics Manufacture and Usage
(Amendment) Rules, 2003
Regulation of plastics waste, particularly manufacture and use of recycled plastics carry bags and containers is being regulated in the country as per
1. Plastics Waste: Environmental Issues and Challenges
The quantum of solid waste is ever increasing due to increase in population, developmental activities, changes in life style, and socio-economic conditions, Plastics waste is a significant portion of the total municipal solid waste (MSW). It is estimated that approximately 10 thousand tons per day (TPD) of plastics waste is generated i.e. 9% of 1.20 lacs TPD of MSW in the country. The plastics waste constitutes two major category of plastics;
(i) Thermoplastics and (ii) Thermoset plastics.
Thermoplastics, constitutes 80% and thermoset constitutes approximately 20% of total post-consumer plastics waste generated in India. The Thermoplastics are recyclable plastics which include; Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Low Density Poly Ethylene (LDPE), Poly Vinyl Chloride(PVC), High Density Poly Ethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene(PP), Polystyrene (PS) etc. Thermoset plastics contains alkyd, epoxy, ester, melamine formaldehyde, phenolic formaldehyde, silicon, urea formaldehyde, polyurethane, metalised and multilayer plastics etc.
2. HAZARDS OF THE PLASTIC WASTES
The environmental hazards due to mismanagement of plastics waste include the following aspects:
1. Littered plastics spoils beauty of the city and choke drains and make important public places filthy;
2. Garbage containing plastics, when burnt may cause air pollution by emitting polluting gases;
3. Garbage mixed with plastics interferes in waste processing facilities and may also cause problems in landfill operations;
4. Recycling industries operating in non-conforming areas are posing unhygienic problems to the environment.
3. Main Features of the Plastics Manufacture and Usage
(Amendment) Rules, 2003
Regulation of plastics waste, particularly manufacture and use of recycled plastics carry bags and containers is being regulated in the country as per