What is a plastic waste?
Unwanted plastic materials are plastic waste. It includes bottles, bags, containers, paint, toys, etc which are made of plastic.
Types of Plastic?
Based on the thickness, there are three types of plastics, that are macro, micro, and nano plastic.
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How does plastic waste affect the environment?
Plastic waste is a non-biodegradable waste. It takes hundreds or thousands of years to degrade. When plastic waste is:
- Burned: It emits highly toxic air and causes air pollution.
- Buried in-ground: It creates soil pollution, groundwater contamination, etc.
- leave in open ground: can be eaten by birds or animals. It can choke the drainage system which may cause the flood.
- thrown into rivers or oceans: It can be entered into the food chain of humans when plastic goes into the marine food chain.
In every aspect, plastic waste is not good for the environment. If plastic use continues, we will see more plastic in the ocean than fish.
Present status of plastic waste in India?
As per the Central Pollution Control Board( CPCB), India generates approximately 26,000 tons of plastic waste daily, only 60 % are collected, and less than 10 % are recycled.
Plastic waste as wealth?
- Plastic waste can be used in road construction, advantages are:
- The durability of road life increase
- Reduction of tar import, money can be saved
- The use of plastic can reduce the potholes and accidents.
- Smooth ride and reduced fuel consumption
- Making Railways station
- Recycling
Plastic Waste Management Rule 2016:
As an environment-friendly alternative to plastic does not yet exist, the plastic ban is not a solution, so the main focus should be on waste reduction, treatment, and recycling rather than a ban.
Main characteristics of this policy :
- Extended producer responsibility: Plastic manufacturers and retailers should have the responsibility to collect plastic waste back.
- Plastic waste management fees are collected through pre-registration of producers, importers of carrying bags, and sellers.
- Rules mandate increasing the thickness of the carrying bag to a minimum of 50 microns.
- Empowerment of local or gram panchayat body to the responsibility of management.
- Centralized registration system of the plastic manufacturer.
- Promotion of plastic as wealth by uses in:
- Road construction
- Energy recovery
- Waste to oil
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