PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT

Submitted by:
Javeriya Siddiqui
M.Tech(Env. Engg.)
2nd year
Roll no.6104206008
 The term “plastics” includes materials composed of various
elements such as
carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine, and sulphur.

 Plastics are macromolecules, formed by polymerization and having

the ability to be shaped by the application of reasonable amount of
heat and pressure or any other form of forces.

 It is one of the few new chemical materials which pose

environmental problem.

 Polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene is largely used in the

manufacturing of plastics.
 Rapid population growth, urbanization and industrial growth have
led to severe problem of waste generation in urban centres.

 The waste quantities increased from 46 million tones in 2001 to

65 million tones in 2010.

 Report says that per capita per day production will increase to
0.7 kg in 2050.

 The characteristics of waste depends on various factors such as

food habits, traditions, lifestyle, climate etc.
 Plastics, depending on their physical properties, may be
classified as thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic materials.

 Thermoplastic materials can be formed into desired shapes

under heat and pressure and become solids on cooling. If they
are subjected to the same conditions of heat and pressure, they
can be remoulded.

 Thermosetting materials which once shaped cannot be

softened/ remoulded by the application of heat.

 Out of total uses of plastic, 80% are Thermoplastic and 20% are
Thermosetting.
 Plastic pollute beaches & oceans.

 Plastic bags litter the landscape.

 Plastic bags kill animals.

 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.
 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.

 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 poses disposal problem.

 Disposal of plastic waste is a serious concern in India. New
technologies have been developed to minimize their
adverse effect on the environment.

Figure 1: Co-processing of plastic waste plastic Waste Management

 Recycling of plastics through environmentally
sound manner

 Plastics recycling technologies have been historically divided into

four general types- primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary.

 Steps Involved in the Recycling Process:

 Selection: The recyclers/reprocessors have to select the waste

/scrap which are suitable for recycling/ reprocessing.
 Segregation: The plastics waste shall be segregated as per the
codes mentioned in the BiS guidelines.
 Processing: After selection and segregation of the preconsumer
waste (factory waste) shall be directly recycled. The post
consumer waste (used plastic waste) shall be
washed, shredded, agglomerated, extruded and granulated.
 Landfilling

 Landfill is the conventional approach to waste

management, but space for landfills is becoming scarce in
some countries.
 A well-managed landfill site results in limited immediate
environmental harm beyond the impacts of collection and
transport, although there are long-term risks of
contamination of soils and groundwater by some additives
and breakdown by products in plastics, which can become
persistent organic pollutants.
 A major drawback to landfills from a sustainability aspect
is that none of the material resources used to produce the
plastic is recovered.
 Incineration

 Incineration reduces the need for landfill of plastics

waste, however, there are concerns that hazardous
substances may be released into the atmosphere in the
process.

 Incineration can be used with recovery of some of the

energy content in the plastic.

 The useful energy recovered can vary considerably

depending on whether it is used for electricity
generation, combined heat and power, or as solid refuse
fuel for co-fuelling of blast furnaces or cement kilns.
 Polymer Blended Bitumen Road
 A brief description of the technique used in laying road
using plastic waste is given in figure.
 Co-processing of Plastic waste in Cement Kiln

 Co-processing of plastic waste as Alternative Fuel and

Raw Material (AFR).

 Co-processing indicate substitution of primary fuel and raw

material by waste.

 Waste material such as plastic waste used for co-processing are

referred to as alternative fuels and raw material (AFR).

 One of the advantage of recovery method used in existing facility

is eliminating the need to invest on other plastic waste practices
and to secure land filling.
 Plasma Pyrolysis Technology (PPT)

 Pyrolysis is the thermal disintegration of carbonaceous

material in oxygen-starved atmosphere.

 The intense and versatile heat generation capabilities of

Plasma Pyrolysis technology enable it to dispose of all
types of plastic waste including polymeric, biomedical and
hazardous waste in a safe and reliable manner.

 When optimized, the most likely compounds formed are

methane, carbon monoxide, hydrogen carbon dioxide and
water molecules.
 Conversion of Plastics Waste into liquid fuel

 The entire process is undertaken in closed reactor vessel

followed by condensation, if required.

 Waste plastics while heating upto 2700 to 3000 C convert

into liquid-vapour state, which is collected in condensation
chamber in the form of liquid fuel.

 The tarry liquid waste is topped-down from the heating

reactor vessel.

 The organic gas is generated which can be used in dual

fuel diesel generator set for generation of electricity.
Figure 2: Schematic flow diagram of process.
 Plastic Waste Management has assumed great significance
in view of the urbanisation activities.

 Various strategies are being devised to mitigate the impact

of plastic waste in India.

 Some significant challenges still exist from both

technological factors and from economic or social
behaviour issues relating to the collection of recyclable
wastes, and substitution for virgin material.