1.0 PLASTICS

1.1 What are plastics?

Plastic is defined as “A compound of polymer plus additives, which is capable being shaped or moulded into useful product under conditions of moderate, temperature and pressure.  All plastics are polymer but all polymers are not plastics and are non-biodegradable except bio-degradable and compostable polymers”. These polymers are broken in presence of suitable catalyst, into monomers such as ethylene, propylene, vinyl, styrene and benzene. These monomers are then chemically polymerized into different categories of plastics.

1.2 Categories of plastics

• Recyclable Plastics (Thermoplastics): PET, HDPE,  LDPE, PP, PVC, PS, etc.
• Non-Recyclable Plastics (Thermoset & others): Multilayer & Laminated Plastics, PUF, Bakelite, Polycarbonate, Melamine, Nylon etc.

 As per BIS Classification, there are seven categories of plastics:

 1.3 Descriptions of Plastic Waste

Plastic products have become an integral part in our daily life as a basic need. It produced on a massive scale worldwide and its production crosses the 150 million tonnes per year globally. In India approximately 8 Million tonnes plastic products are used every year (2008). Its broad range of application in  films, wrapping materials, shopping and garbage bags, fluid containers, clothing, toys, household and industrial products, and building materials. It is a fact that plastics will never been degraded and remains as it is for 1000 years. Although most plastics are recyclable but recycled products becomes more hazardous than the virgin products. In India approximately 15342 tones of plastic waste is generated per day. Unskilled processing and non-biodegradability of plastic materials raises the following environmental issues:

• During polymerization process fugitive emissions are released.
• During product manufacturing various types of gases are released. 
• Indiscriminate plastic waste disposal on land makes the land infertile due to its impervious nature.
• Burning of plastics generates toxic emissions such as Carbon Monoxide, Chlorine, Hydrochloric Acid, Dioxin, Furans, Amines, Nitrides, Styrene, Benzene, 1, 3- butadiene, CCl4, and Acetaldehyde.
• Lead and Cadmium pigments, commonly used in LDPE, HDPE and PP as additives are toxic and are known to leach out.
• Non-recyclable plastic wastes such as multilayer, metalised pouches and other thermoset plastic poses disposal problems. 
• Sub-standard plastic bags, films etc. pose problem in collection and recycling.
• Littered plastics give unaesthetic look and choke the drain.
• Garbage mixed with plastics interferes in waste processing facilities and also cause problems in landfill operations.
• Recycling industries operating in non-conforming areas are posing environment problems due to unsound recycling practices.