Introduction

Punch line
The earth is what we all have in common.
Define plasticHEADING , PLASTIC has slowly became an integral
part of all human requirements. Plastic garbage is commonly seen
around OUR country and has started causing several problems.
WHAT IS THERE IN PLASTIC WHICH HAS MADE MAN
DISCARD PLASTIC GLOBALY. IN INDIA WE HAVE TAKEN
STRONG EFFORTS TO MAKE PLASTIC FREE INDIA. BUT
FIRST WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THIS GLOBAL ISSUE.
Plastics are long, repeating chains of molecules that don’t dissolve in
water. The strength of these chains makes plastic very durable which
means it takes a very long time to decompose naturally. Being
inexpensive and versatile in use, plastic is produced in large quantities
by man worldwide upto 380 million tons per year.
Plastic grocery bags, Fishing nets, packaging material, bottles, cups,
and various other items have slowly replaced everything made of
other material due to the advantages of plastic. Plastic is durable, easy
to produce, lightweight, unbreakable, odourless, and chemical
resistant.
But plastic does not decompose. This is its biggest DRAWBACK.
Only an estimated one-quarter is recycled, while the remainder going
to landfills.
This large amount of plastic waste inevitably enters the environment.
Recycling plastic can be done only 3-4 times and melting the plastic
for recycling releases highly toxic fumes.
GLOBALY Plastic waste clogs drains, causing floods. It chokes
animals who eat plastic bags, etc. Plastics found in fields blocks
germination and prevent rainwater absorption.
EFFEct on environment
Chlorinated plastic can release harmful chemicals into the
surrounding soil, which can then seep into groundwater or other
surrounding water sources and also the ecosystem of the world. This
can cause serious harm to the species that drink the water.
Landfill areas contain many different types of plastics. In these
landfills, there are many microbes which degrade plastics and releases
methane, a very powerful greenhouse gas that contributes
significantly to global warming
The litter that is being delivered into the oceans is toxic to marine life,
and humans. The components of plastic are carcinogen.
MARINE ANIMALS, fish, and ultimately the human race, through
the food chain ingest these highly toxic carcinogens and chemicals.
Consuming the fish that contain these toxins can cause an increase in
cancer, immune disorders, and birth defects.
A 2017 study found that 83% of tap water samples taken around the
world contained plastic pollutants
, according to scientists associated with the study THIS HAS AN
adverse impacts on human well-being. Plastic pollution has the
potential to poison animals, which can then adversely affect human
food supplies. Sea turtles have been found to contain large
proportions of plastics in their stomach. When this occurs, the animal
typically starves, because the plastic blocks the animal's digestive
tract. Sometimes Marine mammals are entangled in plastic products
such as nets, which can harm or kill them. Entanglement in plastic
debris has been responsible for the deaths of many marine organisms,
such as fish, seals, turtles, and birds.
It has been estimated that over 400,000 marine mammals perish
annually due to plastic pollution in oceans. Their food sources often
has already ingested plastic debris, thus transferring the plastic from
prey to predator.
These chemicals can accumulate in body tissues and have serious
lethal effects on AN ANIMALS reproductive ability, immune system,
and hormone balance.
Remedy
Stopping pollution is the best solution!
IN INDIA Efforts to reduce the use of plastics and to promote plastic
recycling have occurred.
Some supermarkets charge their customers for plastic bags, and in
some places more efficient reusable or biodegradable materials are
being used in place of plastics.
Some communities and businesses have put a ban on some commonly
used plastic items, such as bottled water and plastic bags
The use of biodegradable plastics
There are also other types of degradable, they are oil-based through
the use of different additives, which help them degrade when exposed
to UV rays or other physical stressors.
Incineration
Up to 60% of used plastic medical equipment is incinerated rather
than deposited in a landfill as a precautionary measure to lessen the
transmission of disease.
Collection
Once collected, the plastics are delivered to a materials recovery
facility (MRF) or handler for sorting into single-resin streams to
increase product value. The sorted plastics are then baled to reduce
shipping costs to reclaimers
Non-usage and reduction in usage
The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India,
has requested various governmental departments to avoid the use of
plastic bottles to provide drinking water during governmental
meetings, etc., and to instead make arrangements for providing
drinking water that do not generate plastic waste
The state of Sikkim has restricted the usage of plastic water bottles (in
government functions and meetings) and styrofoam products
The state of Bihar has banned the usage of plastic water bottles in
EVEN IN governmental meetings

The 2015 National Games of India, organised in

Thiruvananthapuram, was associated with green protocols. This was
initiated by Suchitwa Mission that aimed for "zero-waste" venues.
To make the event "disposable-free", there was ban on the usage of
disposable water bottles. The event witnessed the usage of reusable
tableware and stainless steel tumblers.
Athletes were provided with refillable steel flasks. It is estimated that
these green practices stopped the generation of 120 metric tonnes of
disposable waste.

The state of Maharashtra, India effected the Maharashtra Plastic and

Thermocol Products ban 23 June 2018, subjecting plastic users to
fines and potential imprisonment for repeat offenders

Every year, June 5 is observed as World Environment Day to raise

awareness and increase government action on the pressing issue.
In 2018, India was the host to World Environment Day and the theme
is ‘Beat Plastic Pollution' with focus on single-use or disposable
plastic.
The Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India
invited people to take care of their Green Social Responsibility and
urged them to take up Green Good Deeds in everyday life.
But scientists recently discovered a strain of bacteria that can literally
eat the plastic used to make bottles, and have now improved it to
make it work faster.
.
The ‘Plastic Man’ of India, Prof Rajagopalan Vasudevan, Professor of
Chemistry at Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai. HE
EXPERIMENTED AND SUCESSFULLY MIXED waste plastic with
heated bitumen and coating the mixture over stone WHICH proved
positive. He implemented the use of plastic waste on a road
constructed inside the premises of his college in 2002.
In 2006, the Thiagarajar College of Engineering received the patent
for this technology.
The plastic waste items that can be used for road construction are
various items like plastic carrybags, plastic cups, plastic packaging for
potato chips, biscuits, chocolates, etc.
The entire process is very simple.
The plastic waste material is first shredded to a particular size using a
shredding machine. The aggregate mix is heated at 165°c and
transferred to the mixing chamber, and the bitumen is heated to 160°c
to result in good binding. It is important to monitor the temperature
during heating.
The shredded plastic waste is then added to the aggregate. It gets
coated uniformly over the aggregate within 30 to 60 seconds, giving
an oily look. The plastic waste coated aggregate is mixed with hot
bitumen and the resulting mix is used for road construction. The road
laying temperature is between 110°c to 120°c. The roller used has a
capacity of 8 tons.
“The advantages of using waste plastics for road construction are
many. The process is easy and does not need any new machinery. For
every kilo of stone, 50 gms of bitumen is used and 1/10th of this is
plastic waste; this reduces the amount of bitumen being used. Plastic
increases the aggregate impact value and improves the quality of
flexible pavements. Wear and tear of the roads has decreased to a
large extent,” explains the proud Plastic Man of India.
This road construction process is extremely eco-friendly, with no
toxic gases being released.
This process has generated an additional job for rag pickers.
Plastic waste helps increase the strength of the road, reducing road
fatigue. These roads have better resistance towards rain water and
cold weather. Since a large amount of plastic waste is required for a
small stretch of road, the amount of waste plastic strewn around will
definitely reduce.
Prof R Vasudevan’s inclination to keep experimenting led to another
innovation. He decided to try creating a stone block with plastic
coating and, in 2012, ‘plastone’ took birth. A plastone block is made
from a mixture of waste plastic and stone. It has been found to
withstand more pressure and it resists water percolation. In the
professor’s department of chemistry they have made plastone blocks
using granite and ceramic waste, along with plastic waste.
Each plastone block consumes 300 plastic carry bags and around six
PET bottles.
advantages of plastone is its non-porous nature and the ability to
prevent water penetration.
Plastone can be used for flooring, especially outdoors. It can be a
cheap and strong substitute for cement blocks, which have a tendency
to wither away in constant rain. It can be an effective liner for water
bodies, especially canals, preventing water seepage. It can also be
used to raise compound walls. A coat of emulsion can be provided to
make it colourful and attractive.
“Swacch Bharat is our first priority,We will first help India dispose
of its waste material by spreading the message about the use of plastic
waste in road construction and usage of plastone. Once we have made
headway in almost every part of our country, we will share this
technology with other countries.”
Conclusion
Do something drastic, cut the plastic.
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