PLASTIC POLLUTION AND
RECYCLING
By
Sharad Raj Sharma
Plastic
Plastics are synthetic solid materials used for the
manufacture of industrial products. These are
polymers of high molecular weight.
Plastics are mostly derived from petrochemicals, by a
process called polymerization.
Plastics are durable and degrade very slowly. The
chemical bonds that make plastic so durable also
make it equally resistant to natural processes of
degradation.
Types of Plastic
A thermoset solidifies or sets irreversibly when
heated. They are useful for their durability and
strength, and are therefore used primarily in
automobiles and construction applications.
A thermoplastic softens when exposed to heat and
returns to original condition at room temperature.
Thermoplastics can easily be shaped and molded into
products such as milk jugs, floor coverings, credit
cards, and carpet fibers.
What is plastic pollution?
The accumulation of man-made plastic products in
the environment to the point where they create
problems for wildlife and their habitats as well as for
human populations.
According to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
reports plastics contribute to more than 12% of the
municipal solid waste.
Causes of Plastic Pollution
Waste of the households, shops, etc.
Improper garbage system.
Irregularity of the private garbage collectors.
Ignorance of the people about the causes and effects of
the plastic pollution.
Lack of proper knowledge about the plastic pollution
and its effects.
Lack of social responsibility and ownership.
Effect on Animals
Marine Debris: It is created by the waste dumped by
humans. These debris mainly consist of plastic.
Aquatic life can be threatened as they may ingest this
plastic or get entangled in it.
Different marine and terrestrial species have been
found to contain large proportions of plastic in their
stomach.
Aquatic animals like turtle,
dolphins, penguins and
terrestrial animals die due to
plastic ingestion.
The carnivores animal which
ingests these dead animals
becomes a victim of plastic
pollution too.
Effect on Humans
The noxious substances emitted during production of
plastics are ethylene oxide, benzene and xylene. These
chemicals cause defects to the nervous system and the
immune system and cause blood and kidney cancers.
During the recycling of plastic toxic fumes of
hydrocarbons are released which causes respiratory
problems and skin diseases.
Burning of plastic releases poisonous gases like CO2 in
the air which leads to many diseases.
Carbon dioxide toxicity symptoms
Dimmed sight
Dizziness
Shortness of breath
Increased blood pressure
Headache
Unconsciousness
Effect on Environment
Air pollution :Burning plastic emits toxic fumes
which may contain harmful gases like Carbon dioxide,
carbon monoxide, dioxins as constituents.
Soil pollution : Garbage mixed with plastics
interferes in waste processing facilities and may also
cause problems in landfill operations .
Water Pollution: Plastic wastes choke seas across the
globe. This is harmful to the aquatic animals.
Control of Plastic Pollution
Awareness campaigns- Stop using plastic bags.
Educate people about the plastic pollution and its
effects on our environment.
Road show in regards No to plastic bags, and
display of banners on the walls of slums, colonies and
societies areas.
Support NSS, NGOs, Volunteer agencies and others to
organize Safai Abhiyan in all Society slums,
colonies and rural areas.
Social responsibility, commitment and ownership by
every individual may control the problem.
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle plastic
The 3 Rs- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Reduce: This means minimizing the use of plastic
bags and other plastic materials as much as possible
i.e. to buy less and use less
Reuse: This means using plastic bags and other
materials made of plastic for more than one times for
various purposes. Elements of the discarded item are
used again.
Recycle: It is the process of recovering scrap or
waste plastic and reprocessing the material into useful
products.
Switch to reusable bags
By using ONE reusable cloth
bag, one can save up to 5 plastic
bags a week
that makes 20 bags a month
or 240 bags a year
that amounts to 14,400 bags in
an average lifetime
Alternatives of plastic bags
Use of biodegradable bags made from fabrics
e.g. gunny bags
Nylon bags can be used and reused several times.
Donate old news papers and magazines to small scale
shops that cut these old papers in to paper bags.
Plastic Recycling
Plastic recycling is the process of recovering scrap or
waste plastic and reprocessing the material into useful
products.
For example, melting down soft drink bottles and
then casting them as plastic chairs and tables.
A plastic is not recycled into the same type of plastic,
and products made from recycled plastics are often not
recyclable.
Processes of recycling
Thermal Depolymerization: involves the conversion
of assorted polymers into petroleum by a much less
precise thermal depolymerization process.
Heat Compression: The heat compression process
takes all unsorted, cleaned plastic in all forms, from
soft plastic bags to hard industrial waste, and mixes
the load in tumblers (large rotating drums resembling
giant clothes dryers).
Plastic identification code
Different types of plastic require different processing
to be reformulated and re-used as raw material.
The Society of Plastics Industry (SPI) designed a
coding system for different types of plastics- a single
digit code from 1 to 7 and surrounded by a triangle of
arrows. Also known as resin identification codes.
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE)
The easiest and most common plastics to recycle are
made of polyethylene terephthalate (PETE) and are
assigned the Number 1.
Examples include soda and water bottles, medicine
containers etc.
After recycling it can be used to make winter coats,
sleeping bags, life jackets, paint brush.
High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
Number 2 is reserved for high-density polyethylene
plastics.
These include heavier containers that hold laundry
detergents and bleaches as well as milk, shampoo and
motor oil.
Plastic labeled with the number 2 is often recycled
into toys, piping, plastic lumber and rope.
Polyvinyl Chloride (V)
Polyvinyl chloride is tough and chemical resistant. It is
numbered 3
It includes shampoo bottles, cooking oil bottles etc
Commonly used in plastic pipes, shower curtains,
medical tubing, vinyl dashboards, electric cord wraps.
Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
Number 4 includes wrapping films, grocery and
sandwich bags, and other containers made of lowdensity polyethylene.
It is recycled into lawn furniture, Frisbees, toys etc.
Polypropylene (PP)
Number 5 includes polypropylene containers which is
chemical and heat resistant
It includes medicine bottles, yoghurt, reusable plastic
cups etc.
It is recycled into paint buckets, brooms, fiber fabrics,
sleeping bags, blankets etc.
Polystyrene (PS)
Number 6 goes on polystyrene (Styrofoam) items
such as coffee cups, disposable cutlery, meat trays,
packing peanuts and insulation.
It is brittle and see through
It is widely accepted because it can be recycled into
many items, including cassette tapes and rigid foam
insulation.
Other Plastics (PC)
It includes items crafted from various combinations of
the different plastics or from unique plastic not used
commonly.
Usually imprinted with a number 7 or nothing at all,
these plastics are the most difficult to recycle and, as
such, are seldom collected or recycled.
References
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1589019
/plastic-pollution
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_pollution
http://environment.about.com/od/earthtalkcolumns/
a/recycleplastics.htm
http://www.banginfo.in/Environment/Plasticpollution
.html
