Introduction: Plastic Waste Management Service

The use of plastic is now an integral part of the livelihood of people in India. Every single thing from buying food to storing them, the process uses tons of plastic products. Not just in India, the consumption of Plastic produced over the globe is estimated to be around 200 million tonnes per year. As per statistics, out of all the plastics produced and disposed of, only 70% of it is recycled and 50% of it is discarded after a single use. 

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Plastic Waste Problem in India

The increased usage of plastic has resulted in a higher level of plastic waste in India. The production, reuse, and disposal of the material create a larger demand. However, plastic doesn’t break down naturally but settles on earth which creates the need to establish potential Waste Management methods. Plastic alone takes more than 100 years to decompose. With its growing demand, the environment has started to suffer evidently. Consumers have as a result altered their demands by looking at the rise in pollution plastic waste alone is causing. Following are the few dangers plastic causes to the environment-

• Chocking marine life
• Emission of harmful greenhouse gases
• Land pollution
• Air Pollution
• Hazard to land animals
• Dangerous to humans’ post decomposing

Why is there a need for Plastic Waste Management?

• Plastic is utilized in many different industries, including packaging, building, construction, transportation, industrial machinery, and health, among others. It can be found in practically everything, from our money to technological products.
• Several amount of data show that a lot of plastic garbage is produced, only a small amount is handled and disposed of in a sustainable manner on a global scale.
• Million tonnes of plastic trash are produced every year by a variety of production sectors around the world, with the packaging sector being the biggest producer. In India, plastic is used to provide 40% of the packaging needs, according to a survey conducted by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).
• In the absence of efficient Waste Management concentrating on reuse, reduction, and recycling of plastic waste, plastic pollution has become a severe threat.
• All rich and developing nations are taking different steps to control plastic trash, but developing nations bear the bulk of the responsibility.

What is Plastic Waste Management?

Plastic Waste Management (PWM) is the process of taking actions to control waste from the time it is created until it is finally removed. This process starts with the collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal of waste as well as the organization and supervision of the waste management process.

In order to achieve a successful PWM, we must practice the three R's of waste management—Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle—in order to keep our garbage under control.

Reduce

A few simple changes in our daily routine could help keep plastics out of the waste stream. Following are the few steps we can follow that enable the steps to reuse plastic before it turns into waste-

• Use plastic cutlery as little as possible

Making the switch to metal utensils from plastic cutlery will help reduce the amount of plastic that is discarded in trash each year.

• Purchase a used item

Use second-hand materials unless absolutely required as newer things come with a lot of plastic packaging.

• Discourage the use of disposable plastics

To avoid buying single-use plastics, invest in things that can be used repeatedly. Instead of buying numerous plastic water bottles, invest in a reusable container that can be filled repeatedly throughout the day.

• Limit Purchasing Plastic Water Bottles

Establishing a routine of carrying a reusable bottle and drinking water from reliable sources at work, home, and in the office is a much better alternative in order to avoid buying one-time plastic bottles from the market.

• Encourage bans on plastic

Support Government initiatives on plastic bans.

Reuse

Compared to recycling, reuse is preferable. Plastic is avoided, and the recycling services are relieved of some of their workload. Reuse acts as a bridge between reducing waste and recycling, and many people would be astonished at how many reuse opportunities there exist. 

• Reusing plastics can lessen the need to produce new plastics, but most people skip this step and go straight to recycling. 
• Reusing containers can significantly lower the demand for throwaway plastic, cut material and energy consumption, and have a positive influence on the environment because refillable plastic containers can be used repeatedly.
• Donate broken appliances to a local vocational school or charity so that students can practice repairing them or utilize them.
• Polystyrene, plastic quilting, and similar packing materials can be kept and used once more for packaging.
• Reuse plastic bags, boxes, and wrapping paper.

Recycle

Recycling is the process of turning waste material into new products and materials. The recovery of energy from waste materials is often included in this concept. The recyclability of a material depends on its ability to reacquire the properties it had in its original state. Plastic garbage recycling and reuse have a number of benefits. It results in a decrease in the consumption of energy and virgin materials, which also results in a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions.

Benefits of recycling Plastic Waste

• Environmental benefits energy savings
• Financial gains, decreased demand for virgin polymer
• Preference for land filling, and creation of jobs
• Decreases the use of fossil fuels

Process of Recycling Waste

• Collection

Rag pickers, waste collectors, waste dealers, and recycling businesses gather plastic waste, which is then brought to sorting facilities for additional processing.

• Sorting

The most important stage is Sorting. It is where the actual recycling of plastic begins. The sorting is based upon the following-

1. Color
2. Quantity of Resin
3. Plastic recycling code

• Shredding

A shredder processes the recyclable plastics once they have been sorted. The plastics are ground and chopped into tiny pieces by the shredder. Plastics are divided into heavier and lighter plastics using specifically constructed machinery after shredding. Different plastics can be separated using this separation.

• Cleaning

Sorting and shredding processes make sure that the appropriate polymers are processed and grouped together for subsequent processing. The flakes or chunks are carefully washed with detergents to remove any leftover contamination after a complete separation.

• Melting

The plastic flakes are melted down at controlled temperatures after drying. The control of temperature makes sure that plastics melt without being ruined. These plastics are melted and then extruded, reshaped, and treated into granules that will be compacted into pellets later.

• Pellet-Making

The processed granules are compacted into tiny pellets to make the plastics reusable. Other names for these pellets include nurdles. Additionally, pellets make it possible to store and easily distribute similar types of plastics by colour and type of resin.

The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016

• The 2016 Plastic Waste Management Rules were announced on March 18. Carry bags, plastic sheets, multi-layered packaging, etc. may be manufactured, imported, stored, distributed, sold, and used in accordance with these regulations.
• The obligation of garbage generators has been made compulsory for the first time. Offices, businesses, and industries are required to segregate plastic garbage at the source, transfer segregated waste, and pay user fees in accordance with local government laws.
• Manufacturers are responsible for the treatment, recycling, reuse, or disposal of products after a consumer has used and disposed of them under the Extended Producers Responsibility (Under Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016) regulations.
• The authority for enforcing the provisions of PWM Rules, 2016, relating to registration, the manufacture of plastic products and multi-layered packaging, processing, and disposal of plastic wastes, shall be the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB)/Pollution Control Committee (PCC).
• Single-use plastic is defined as a plastic object meant to be used just once for the same purpose before being disposed of or recycled in the Plastic Waste Management Rules, as amended in 2021. Single-use plastics, also known as throwaway plastics, are typically used for plastic packaging, including products meant to be used just once before being thrown away or recycled, according to the United Nations. Single Use Plastics include grocery bags, food packaging, bottles, straws, containers, cups and cutlery. 

Read Our Blog: How to Recycle Single-Use Plastic

Conclusion

India is a country that is quickly developing. Waste production is a by-product of progress, and India is no different. From plastic and automotive waste to municipal solid garbage. The 3 Rs have been extremely important in economies all around the world. The effects of plastic trash on the land, the oceans, wildlife, and people can be profound. We need Plastic Waste Management since more than 50% of plastics cannot be destroyed and just a small portion of plastic is recyclable.