PLASTICS: A FRIEND or ENEMY of THE ENVIRONMENT

Rajarshi Mitra Department of Environmental Science Vivekananda College, Thakurpukur, Kolkata - 700063

Plastics can be defined as the materials that can be shaped by applying heat or pressure. Most plastics are made up of polymeric synthetic resins, although a few are of natural substances (Cellulose derivatives). The term Plastic refers to the property of the materials for which it can be molded and shaped under pressure or temperature. But, Plastics refer to the materials, which have been defined earlier, and has the Plastic property. Here in this discussion the term Plastics will be referred as the materials made of Polythene, Poly-propylene or some other kinds of mostly synthetic materials, which are in general termed as Plastics and are of indiscriminate usage in the modern society.

EVOLUTION OF PLASTICS
1851 : Scottish chemist Charles Makintosh made Ebonite from Rubber. 1855 1905 1912 1926 1930 1931 1939 1941 1947 1953 1954 1989 : Celluloid was invented from nitrocellulose, methanol and wood pulp, by British chemist Alexander Parkes. : Belgium born US chemist Leo Baekland made Bakelite. : Cellophane was invented by Swiss chemist Jacques Brandenberger. : German chemist Herman Staudinger discovered Polymeric Nature of Plastics. : Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was developed by US chemist Waldo Semon. : Nylon was discovered by Wallas Carothers. : British company ICI invented commercial process of Polyethene production. : Terylene was developed by British chemist John Whinfield and J. Dickson. : Acrylic fibers was invented by British. : German chemist Karl Ziegler discovered catalyst for making High-Density-Polyethene. : Industrial process for making High-Density-Polyethene was developed by Italian chemist Giulio Natta. : Biodegradable plastic was produced by Italian company Ferruzzi.

WHERE IS THE USE

Since the development of High-Density-Polyethene, it has captured the world market, mostly as the best possible Packaging material. Other uses of Plastics are: 1. Domestic appliances, like Electronic and electrical goods, Furniture, Rope, Curtain, Containers, Plumbing materials etc. 2. Educational uses like pens, erasers, computer etc. 3. Agricultural usage of plastics have been seen for irrigational infrastructure, fencing and in nurseries. 4. Health care instruments, including surgical threads, gloves, pipes, channels, syringe, container etc. 5. Transport systems, including different devices and vehicles bodies (Two wheelers, boats, train compartments etc.) 6. Defence sectors usage like tent, boats, copters, parachute, telescope body, jackets etc. 7. Construction section is using plastics for manufacturing of better bitumen in roads, water proofing, flooring, construction of Bridges, temporary outfits etc. 8. Now a days, plastics are being used in Electrical sector as an insulator material.

WHY PLASTICS
Such wide uses of plastics are attributed to some qualities of plastics and facilities provided by the material. Low prices, Higher Durability, Higher strength & flexibility, Light weight, Low porosity which provides the waterproofing properties, Low manufacturing costs and High recycling potential.

PROBLEMS WITH PLASTICS

In spite of having huge market share mostly due to disposal problem, plastics are considered as the enemy of the Environment. The problems arises of the Plastics are: Plastics are not biodegradable or the rate of degradation is very slow. So, the disposed off plastics remain unchanged for years together causing solid waste disposal problems. Plastics, when goes under soil it chocks the air and water passage within, thus soil biota cannot survive. High concentration of plastics waste near soil surface may also hamper the ground water recharge process.

Disposed off plastics, when eaten by the grazers, it causes suffocation followed by death. In Lucknow, hundreds of cows were reportedly died due to such plastics feeding. Plastics at the seawater threat the Turtles existence in the same way as they confuse the plastic bags to the transparent Jellyfish. In the Hawaii of Pacific, reportedly 1000 pieces of plastics were recovered from the stomach of a dead turtle. Other wildlife species like birds, fishes etc. have been found to be threatened in the same way. Plastics waste in the railway tract, reducing the percolation of water under soil, resulting in a reduced stress bearing capacity may aggravate the chances of accidents. The choking of municipal outlets may cause water logging in the urban sectors. Plastics waste at the hill regions chokes the streams or Jhoras, diverting the water flow to undesirable directions. Water intrusion in cracks and faults due to such channel choking may aggravate the chances of landslides. Recycled plastic materials, has a few carcinogenic substances within, which may harm the human, if the foodstuffs come in contact. Incineration of plastics evolves significant numbers of very harmful organic chemicals, which causes severe air pollution and human health problems.

FACTS on PLASTIC WASTES & RECYCLING

During 1984-1989 plastic waste increased 190% in the South African beaches. More than 90% of the articles found on those beaches were made up of Plastics. An US-Report showed around 1,00,000 marine animals die each year in Worlds oceans by eating or becoming entangled in plastics rubbish. During 1975 and 1995 the percentage of plastics in Calcutta Municipal waste hiked up to 3.22% from the 0.64% by weight. In 1995, the total amount of plastics in Calcutta Municipal waste ranged between 56.75 MT/d (in summer) and 101.5 MT/d (in Monsoon). (NEERI Report, 1995) India has the highest rate of Plastic recovery in the world. Between 40 80% of the all plastics produced are recovered or recycled. Nearly, 3,00,000 rag-pickers are engaged in plastic collection for recycling in India, among whom 30% are women, 60% children and 10% men (mostly old and disabled). In Calcutta, rag pickers make Rs.5-8/-/kg of polyethylene, which totals about Rs. 30-45/- per day. Indias first Non-biodegradable Waste Act, was framed in July, 1996 by Himachal Pradesh government to control the plastic rubbish disposal problem at hill stations like Shimla.

PLASTICS FRIEND OF THE ENVIRONMENT

Plastics replace the usage of woods in many sectors, like paper industries, packaging etc. thus preserve forests. Demand of wood per year in Metric ton. 1998 1999 2000 2010 4.49 4.48 4.48 15.4 4.36 4.49 4.62 6.4 51.91 54.55 57.72 595.09 2020 35.84 9 152.8

Paper Packaging Total

Plastics recycling conserve much more energy and water resource than the glass recycling processes. Process Recycling 100% 80% 60% Reuse 95% 60% Glass Energy 501.67 401.34 301.0 277.8 697.0 Water 509.1 897.2 Plastics Energy Water 4.56 3.65 2.74 143.4 25.6 -

Though the production of plastics raw material is costlier than the Jute production, manufacture of bags or other articles are more energy and resource efficient in case of Plastics. JUTE Energy Raw mat. production 21.50 Bag etc. 47.19 Total 68.69 Source: R.P.Singh, IIT Karaghpur, 000 liters) Process phase PLASTICS Water Energy 1677 38.36 1606 24.22 3183 62.58 2003. (Energy in Gj &

Water 264 296 560 Water in

Higher recycling or reuse potential of plastics renders a reduction in the amount of waste. 40% recycling or reuse means the similar amount of waste reduction by weight.

Energy recovery is possible from the incineration or plastics, which is not applicable in case of glass materials. Plastics, for its lower permeability prevent infections and contamination in health care industries, and also it prevents the biological pollution of the air.

RECOMMENDATIONS
The law says no plastic carry bag should be used with thickness less than 20 micron. Although from the point of health protection it is good, but in respect to the pollution legal framework should emphasize on disposal of the plastics. All the waste bins should have colour codes, as it is being practiced by Municipal Corporation of Delhi a green bin for biodegradable materials and a blue bin for plastics and other non-biodegradable materials stand side by side in all the roads, bus stops and public places. Sensitization should be done among the people at household level so that they dispose off the plastics separately. Sensitization programmes should be launched at ward level to change the habit of people, who indulge using more and more units of plastics bags. There should be some defined procedure of plastic waste recycling preferably in PPP model.