CURRENT TRENDS IN PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT
Current Trends in Plastic Waste Management
1. Introduction
Plastic has become an inevitable part of human existence. It can be found everywhere in households, offices, schools, construction sites, factories and laboratories. Instant noodles, sugar, salt, diaper, shampoo and detergent soaps are just some household commodities that make use of plastic packaging to ensure product quality. Every day, numerous people all over the world avail of or utilise these products, thus add up to the pile of plastic waste in landfills, consequently causing disadvantages to mankind. According to Parfitt (2002), plastic makes up at least 7 of the average household trash bin. Put together and combined with other waste matters, this could easily fill up landfills. In this view, the need for effective plastic waste management is highly relevant.
Like other inventions in history, plastic has both advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, the advantages of plastic have made it an inevitable part of human life. Many products such as fresh meat and vegetables require freshness thus need to be packed in plastic. Plastic protects the product from outside bacteria that can cause spoilage. Likewise, plastic bags allow easy transport from grocery to home considering its durability. Using plastic bags, one can be sure to arrive home without leaking meat products or seafood. In addition, plastic bags separate foods from soaps and other toxic products.
Plastic is also beneficial in the industrial field. Pipes made of plastic are used typically in buildings and other construction sites. The use of plastic assures affordability, durability and convenience of use. Considering its advantages, people cannot easily rid of plastic. It is therefore supposed that the manufacture of plastics will continue in the years to come.
On the other hand, as many manufacturers prefer to use plastic due to its affordability and durability, consumers are left with no choice but to consume products in plastic packaging.
Many oppose the use of plastic due to its hazardous effects on the environment and eventually to mankind. Nonetheless, plastic production cannot be easily controlled despite strong oppositions due to its . In response, recycling processes have been implemented all over the world. In particular, the Australian government recommends the use of green bags for grocery needs. However, this effort is very minimal compared to the plastic bag consumption of 3.92 billion in 2007 alone (Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts 2009). In this regard, it is rational to find other means to reduce plastic bag consumption if eradicating them totally is unfeasible.
Many products come in plastic containers. As people consume these products each day, they contribute to the heightening amount of plastic waste products in landfills or those that clog in drainage systems. The incessant use of plastic consequently implies the continuous manufacturing of plastic products. The cycle never stops, thus leaving a worse environmental scenario where plastic materials are left to occupy space in landfills for countless number of years.
2. The Disadvantages of Plastic
The negative impacts of plastic have been identified by a number of studies (Parfitt 2002 Pol 2010 Agamuthu Faizura 2005 Atienza 2008 Ellis, Saab Watson 2005) and environmental organisations (Clean Up Australia 2007 WRAP 2010). Plastic production and consumption present some serious environmental impacts. First, in view of production, it should be noted that plastic requires several resources including petroleum and other chemical substances that may harm the environment through greenhouse gas released when discarded in landfills. To date, many landfills have been filled up by non-biodegradable plastic waste, posing great threats to human life. On a different note, the petroleum needed to produce a single plastic bag is enough to travel 11 meters. This means that eradicating the production of plastic bags may conserve a lot of petroleum, thus decreasing demand for import especially among countries that do not have the said resource. 2.1 Environmental Impacts
Discarding plastic either in designated areas such as landfills and non-designated areas such as roads and streets is always unsafe due to the land pollution it causes. Plastic wastes decompose very slowly, if they do at all. It is a common knowledge that the average plastic would last hundreds of years despite being deposited in landfills. A single plastic bag alone can last up to 1000 years (Stevens 2001). Incineration, which is a traditional way to decompose plastics, has likewise garnered attention due to the pollution it causes the air and the adverse effects it has on the ozone layer.
It is distressing to know that over a billion animals die annually from ingestion of plastics (Baker, 2002). Unmindful throwing of plastic waste directly causes death among animals. Unaware of the nature and effects of plastic bags, animals feed on plastics littered in their habitats, and soon die of choking. In India, cows and other farm animals were reported to have choked on plastic bags, after they were thrown in farms. Likewise, plastic wastes which find their way in aquatic resources become the main cause of death of fishes and other sea creatures as they mistake the waste for food resources. Reports also reveal that plastic litter continues to pollute the Pacific Ocean, threatening aquatic life. The amount of plastic content weight in Ocean is 46 times more than that of planktons, causing the ocean to be permanently polluted (Plastic Litter and Waste Reduction Campaign 2010) especially since most plastics are non-biodegradable waste.
Moreover, plastic littered in city streets become the main cause of floods as they block drainage systems. This has been a common problem among various countries worldwide. For instance, in Dhaka Bangladesh, it has been reported that great floods which soaked the capital twice (first in 1989 and second in 1999) were mainly caused by plastic bags clogging the main drainage system. In Mumbai India, 1000 people died and many others suffered in 2005 due to floods caused mainly by plastic bags that clogged canals and drainages.
Furthermore, plastic littered everywhere reduces the rate of rain water percolation, thus resulting in low water levels especially in the cities. Consequently, the lack of rain could cause drought and other disadvantages not only to people but to other living things as well. It also results in deterioration of the soil, affecting much of agricultural life and means.
Finally, plastics serve as eyesore in the environment. The sight of plastic between bushes and trees, along streets and alleys, or in commercial establishments and other public places destroys the image of the people living in that area. A community polluted by plastic waste gives an impression of ignorance and hostility to the environment. Ultimately, these attitudes may affect the way tourists feel about the place and its people, consequently decreasing tourism and investment opportunities in that particular area.
2.2 Impacts on Human Health
In the worst case scenario, plastics present direct threats to human life. By clogging sewerage pipes, plastics cause stagnation of water, which eventually serve as ideal habitat for mosquitoes that bring encephalitis, dengue fever, and malaria. To add, there have been issues that plastic containers and packaging can cause cancer after long-term use. In addition, eating food contained in styrofoams are said to be potential cause of poisoning under specific circumstances. A recent study (Commodity Online 2010) conducted in Kyoto Japan discovered that plastic shopping bags released by some supermarkets contain high levels of lead. The lead content that exceeds by 250 times that which is permitted by the European Union, may be due to dyes used to tint the bags. The lead content in these bags can cause harmful effects to living creatures when inhaled or infiltrated into water and other food sources.
3. Current Trends in Plastic Waste Management
3.1. Reducing Plastic Bag Consumption
Plastic bags are among the most used consumer items on Earth (World watch, 2010). Carelessly thrown, they pose a great danger to all living things as they get wrapped up in the branches and roots of vegetation, leading to inadequate supply of air, sunlight as well as water, which are all vital for the sustainability of all living creatures. In response to the drawbacks of plastics, many countries throughout the world have implemented ways to reduce plastic consumption. Clean Up Australia (2007), a non-profit organisation concerned with environment and waste management reports the decision of many countries to ban plastic shopping bags in order to significantly reduce plastic consumption. Some countries have already been successful in their implementation of ban on plastic shopping bags while others are experiencing some difficulties due to consumer and resistance of plastic manufacturers. Still, others are on the initial stage in their promotion of environmental awareness regarding the disadvantages of plastic bags.
Among countries in Africa that have relatively attained success in their promotion of alternatives to plastic bags are Botswana, Eritrea, Somalia, and Zanzibar. In Botswana, the ban on plastic shopping bags since 2006 requires shoppers to provide their own shopping bags or pay for thicker recyclable bags. In Eritrea, the ban on plastic bags has been implemented since 2005. Reports indicate high compliance due to the fine being imposed on establishments issuing plastic bags. Meantime, individuals carrying plastic bags are apprehended in streets to inform authorities where they got the plastic bag from. Similarly, in Somalia, authorities have banned the use of plastic bags since 2005, and consequently encouraged people to use alternatives like sacks made of straws and reeds. The same has been implemented in Zanzibar since 2006. The government has imposed a ban on the production and import of plastic bags to stop its use.
In Australia, there has been a remarkable decrease in the use of plastic bags from 6 billion to 3.9 billion in 2007. This accounts for a 41 decrease in the use of plastic bags from the previous year. At present, the government is considering a total ban or levy on plastic bags.
Among countries in Asia, Nepal has probably the most outstanding program for the ban of plastic bags and bottles. The ban, which started in 1999 within the Mt. Everest region, has spread in other parts of the country including Tupche where fines of up to 25 rupees are currently being implemented to ensure a plastic-free zone. Second to Nepal is Bangladesh with its total ban on plastic bags since 2002 after findings that the main cause of heavy floods in 1988 and 1998 in Dhaka was the plastic that clogged the citys main drainage. Next to Bangladesh is Taiwan, which started the ban on free single use plastic bags in all places since 2001 despite manufacturers protests.
The efforts that the abovementioned countries have done to promote a sustainable environment may be remarkable yet many countries are still lax in their treatment of the issue. Others are left behind in the initial process of educating their citizens on the negative effects of plastics in the environment. These countries include Riwanda, Hong Kong, India, Tanzania, Pakistan, Singapore, Japan and New Zealand. Moreover, most efforts known are geared at most towards reduction of plastic bag use and not the total ban of plastic packaging. In this regard, other plastic waste management options such as recycling processes should be in place.
3.2 Recycling and Reusing Plastic Waste
One common form of plastic waste management that has been done across the globe is recycling. Recycling comes in different forms, including the Cradle to Cradle (C2C) process. C2C is a term coined by Walter Stahel in the 1970s to mean a sustainable ecosystem despite industrial production and consumption. In the field of plastic waste management, C2C means recycling an item to its original form for continuous use. This recycling process is the most ideal as it prevents plastic materials from occupying space in landfills and leaving toxic substances in the environment. However, C2C is not applicable at all times and on every plastic material. In addition, recycling plastics has harmful effects to the environment (Lea 1996), and presents problems related to collection, sorting and reuse.
Plastic waste collection alone proves to be difficult. People especially those in remote areas lack information on the harmful effects of plastic thus discard plastics almost everywhere, even in seas and forests. As the CUA Progress report shows, farm and aquatic animals in some countries suffer from peoples lack of environmental education and continuous neglect of the environment.
After collection, another problem that comes along is sorting. Sorting plastic wastes is needed to ensure recyclability. There are different types of plastic manufactured according to use. The following table illustrates the different types of plastic and their use.
Table 1. Types of Plastic and Their Uses
PETPolyethylene terephthalate fizzy drink bottles and oven-ready meal traysHDPEHigh-density polyethylene bottles for milk and washing up liquidPVCPolyvinyl chloride food trays, cling film, bottles for squash, mineral water and shampoo LDPELow density polyethylene carrier bags and bin liners PPPolypropylene margarine tubes, microwavable meal traysPSPolysterene yoghurt cups, foam meat or fish trays, hamburger boxes or egg cartons, vending cups, plastic cutlery, protective packaging for electronic goods and toysOtherOther types that do not fall into the categories above such as melamine, which is usually used to make plates and cups
Source Waste Online httpwww.wasteonline.org.ukresourcesInformationSheetsPlastics.htm
A good recycling system is one that sorts out plastics according to their types. To give way to this, authorities should maintain a systematic and efficient sorting system, one that will facilitate the recycling job. Commonly, sorting of plastics is done manually, but trends now include automated systems. Ahab, Escarino, Mustafa Basri (2006) propose an automatic sorting system for recycling plastics. This system ensures efficiency in sorting plastic products before submission to a recycling facility. Meanwhile, Scott (2004) proposes a simple device for automated sorting of post-consumer plastic waste. This device uses a simple and cost-efficient two-colour fixed filter near-infrared spectrometer with a simple ratio circuit. The proposed method is effective in sorting of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyvinyl chloride, and is recommended for recycling plants with minimal financial resources.
Moreover, Siddiqui, Gondal Redwhi (2008) propose identification of different types of polymer in post-consumer plastics using IR, S-ray diffraction, differential scanning, calorimetric and laser. The technique was found to be successful in identifying six types of plastic namely, LDPE, HDPE, Polypropylenes (PP), Polystyrene (PS), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and Polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Furthermore, Genti, Menendez, Torano Diego (2009) suggest the use of cylinder for the reduction of polystyrene plastics to improve segregation and pre-concentration during recycling. The investigators used cylindronomial and cylindercal cyclone-type media separators, which proved to be efficient. This study contributes to the body of literature that promotes automated sorting for heavy bulk of industrial plastic wastes.
Although incineration options are quite obsolete, studies relating to it may be relevant to help promote recycling. In this view, they are worth mentioning in this paper. These studies provide a lead to overcoming recycling issues and suggesting other possible means to reuse plastic waste.
One relevant study conducted by Lea (1996) investigated which between recycling and plastic incineration is a better option for energy and landfill cost savings. The study found that while recycling is a more safe option than incineration, it can only be accomplished through waste-to energy conversion, thus requiring higher costs.
Agamuthu Faizura (2005) investigated the biodegradability of polyethylene and pro-oxidant additive-based environmentally degradable plastics. The results show 8 plastic weight loss and oxidation. Variation in the biodegradability of plastic samples depended on their types (ie, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) ad high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Both samples showed reduction by 20.
On the issue of recycling or reuse, the literature provides a wealth of trends in recycling means and processes to help reduce plastic waste across the globe. One common factor among these latest trends is the aim to reuse the composition of plastic through chemical change. Doing this will not only reduce the amount of plastic waste to be incinerated in landfills but also maximise the use of plastics.
One example is a study conducted by Aznar, Caballero, Sancho Frances (2005 p.409), which proposes plastic waste elimination by co-gasification with coal and biomass in fluidised bed air. The result of the experiment is a form of gas composed mainly of 15 hydrogen and lower tar content, which may then be used for other purposes. Meanwhile, Achilias, Anatokou, Roupakias, Megalokonomos Lappas (2007) explored on a novel recycling technique employing dissolution and pyrolysis. A small gaseous product called hydrocarbon was obtained from polymer, thus presenting hope to recycle the petroleum content in plastic materials.
In his study, McKenna (2009) illustrates turning plastic into fuel to get rid of waste and generate electricity. The study used biodiesel and not petroleum-based diesel. Five percent polystyrene concentration usually found in Styrofoam increases the rate of power output yet 15 makes it too thick, causing the injection pump to overheat. Importantly, it should be noted that the percentage of polystyrene added to the biodiesel affects its performance. Also , the technique works in biodiesel and not in petroleum-based diesel.
One notable study conducted by Pol Thiyagarajan (2010) converted HDPE and LDPE into multi-walled carbon nanotubes for use in lithium-ion batteries. Plastic wastes were remediated in a closed system using catalyst at 700 C under 1000 PSI autogenic pressure. The technique diverts from previous experiments with the amount of heat applied. In another study, Pol (2010) converted waste plastics HDPE, LDPE, polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into paramagnetic, conducting, solid pure carbon microspheres. The experiment resulted in dry pure powder CMS, which may be used for toners, printers, paints, batteries, lubricants and tyres.
In Rebeiz, Fowler Paul (1991 1993), it was found that the PET obtained from beverage bottles can be utilised to produce unsaturated polyester resins. Notably, the resins taken from plastic waste are comparable to virgin materials, and can be used for construction materials such as bridges, walls, portland cement concretes and floor overlays. Generated from recycled materials, they are more cost-efficient and practical as they help alleviate environmental problems.
Another novel technique developed by Yesilata, Isiker Turgut (2009) tested the insulation property of ordinary concrete enhanced by adding polymeric-based waste material. PET bottles and some tyre pieces were shredded and added into ordinary concrete. Results showed that proper use of the two waste materials significantly reduced heat loss or improved thermal insulation, implying the recyclability of both PET bottles and tyres.
Evidently, the recent trends in recycling are mostly geared towards making better use of plastic waste or what Pol (2010) refers to as upcycling. Turning waste into carbon nanotubes, and enhancing elements for fuel and construction materials give us a hope that more and more novel ways for plastic waste management will be discovered in the next years to come.
4. Conclusion
The adverse effects of plastic waste both on the environment and human life impose an even more challenging plastic waste management that promotes reduction, recycling and reuse of post-consumer plastics and scraps from the industrial sector. Considering the enormous amount of plastic waste already infiltrated into landfills, oceans and ecosystems, the need for a more considerate, efficient and advance plastic waste management has become more urgent than before.
The challenge starts with consumers in their use of plastic materials especially plastic bags. Consumers have a say in what material retailers or manufacturers should use in packaging their products. It is rational to believe that should consumers totally boycott or decline the use of plastic bags or non-recyclable materials in the products they buy, manufacturers will likewise stop using plastic packaging. Given this, consumers should decide not to buy products in plastics or refuse to use plastic bags but transport their goods using alternatives such as reed sacks, cloths, and other reusable and biodegradable materials.
In a case study conducted in the UK by Closed Loop London (WRAP n.d.), participating companies realised consumers concern on the impact of plastic packaging to the environment. The study gathered feedbacks from Coca-cola, Marks Spencer, and Boots customers, and consequently found out that 78 are more inclined to buy products in recyclable plastic packaging. Meanwhile, 90 advised retailers to use packaging made of recycled materials as much as possible. The results of this study imply the power of consumers to change the way manufacturers deliver their goods. At the least, plastic bags in whatever form or thickness should be totally banned in order to save on fuel, avoid clogging of drainage, and save human life and environmental resources by preventing greenhouse gas effect that such materials bring.
Realistically, other forms of plastic cannot be totally discarded for their specific use and advantages but with good management, wastes from plastic materials do not have to be an environment nuisance. All that is needed is a good plastic waste management in order to ensure proper collection, sorting, and recycling. The recent trends in recycling and reuse of plastics promise a better picture in the field. Research studies that aim to make use of post-consumer plastics for the manufacture of other products adhere to the idea of C2C, and show tremendous advancement in science and technology. The efforts that experimenters of these studies devote should be well-applauded and supported through funding by the government and other related agencies.
More than anything, the challenge to all is to be informed of effective plastic management practices in order to save every living creature. Educating the public concerning the impacts of plastic grocery bags and other non-recyclable plastics is one significant program every government, whether national or local, should embrace. However, it is sad to note that many governments have chosen the route of taxes or levies on plastic bags to retain economic means, further implying giving more importance on profit and consumerism rather than safety and protection for all.
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