Plastic- Pathways To Circularity& Sustainability International Summit on Plastic Recycling, Waste to Wealth & Packaging.
What is Plastic Recycling?
There is plastic all around us. From soda bottles and grocery bags to your ID card, we see and use plastic daily. Many of these plastics come from materials like petrochemicals. The amount of plastic around us can have advantages and disadvantages. Plastic can cause litter and pollution in the environment. These effects can put human beings and the environment in danger. Also, if you do not correctly manage plastic, making new ones can waste resources. It is thus reasonable to reuse and reprocess plastic to prevent waste.
What are the steps of recycling plastic waste
- Step 1: Collection of plastic waste.
- Step 2: Sorting and categorizing.
- Step 3: Shredding and washing.
- Step 4: Melting and pelletizing.
- Step 5: Manufacturing new products.
- Step 6: Distribution and consumption.
- Step 7: End-of-life options.
- Stage 1: Collection of plastic waste
The first stage of recycling plastic waste involves the collection of discarded plastic materials. This can be done through various channels, such as curbside collection, drop-off centers, or specialized recycling programs. Efficient collection systems ensure a steady supply of plastic waste for recycling facilities. - Stage 2: Sorting and categorizing.
Once collected, the plastic waste goes through a sorting process. Here, different types of plastics are separated based on their composition, such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate), HDPE (high-density polyethylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), and more. Sorting enables effective recycling since different types of plastics require different recycling methods. - Stage 3: Sorting and categorizing.
After sorting, the plastic waste undergoes shredding, where it is broken down into smaller pieces. These shredded pieces are then thoroughly washed to remove any contaminants, such as dirt, labels, or residual content. Cleaning the plastic ensures a higher quality of recycled material. - Stage 4: Melting and pelletizing.
The cleaned plastic shreds are melted down and formed into small pellets through a process called extrusion. These pellets serve as the raw material for manufacturing new plastic products. The melting and pelletizing stage is crucial for transforming plastic waste into a usable form. - Stage 5: Manufacturing new products.
The recycled plastic pellets are now ready to be utilized in the production of new plastic products. Industries and manufacturers can incorporate these pellets into various items, such as packaging materials, containers, furniture, textiles, and more. By using recycled plastic, companies contribute to a circular economy and reduce their dependence on virgin plastic. - Stage 6: Distribution and consumption
The newly manufactured plastic products are distributed and consumed by individuals and businesses. It is essential to promote the use of recycled plastic products to create a market demand and encourage the adoption of sustainable practices. Increased consumption of recycled plastic contributes to a closed-loop system, where plastic waste continually circulates through the recycling process. - Stage 7: End-of-life options.
Eventually, recycled plastic products reach the end of their life cycle. At this stage, various end-of-life options exist, including further recycling, composting, or energy recovery through incineration. Implementing effective waste management strategies ensures that recycled plastic waste is not wasted but is utilized in the most environmentally friendly manner.
The research and policy fraternity is constantly exploring opportunities to address these problems. Some existing options are:
One of the sustainable alternatives that could be considered to deal with plastic waste is to develop bio-based and biodegradable plastic which utilize starch, cellulose, and poly lactic acid as raw materials for short-term use products. However, these are more expensive and are presently at a lab scale, which needs to be upscale. Possible incentive/subsidy-based strategies for product development and research would assist in facilitating this upscale. This in turn would increase their usage and enhance the market for these products. Applications of bio-based products extend from the manufacturing of green packaging, disposable cutlery, agricultural mulch films, and manufacturing of superabsorbent materials, that can be used for a sustained release of pesticide/fertilizer in the agricultural sector. Further, these can also be used as eco-friendly alternatives for the removal of toxic dyes and heavy-metal contaminants from water bodies.
Key Points
- To work towards economic wealth creation, job creation, and increased contribution to GDP through metal recycling.
- To promote a formal and well-organized recycling ecosystem by adopting energy-efficient processes.
- To minimize the effect of end-of-life products on landfills and environmental pollution by promoting an environmentally sound recycling system.
- To evolve a responsive ecosystem by involving all stakeholders.
Implementation Guidelines:
- The framework envisages the setting up of a central Metal Recycling Authority to facilitate recycling of metals.
- The government will work towards establishing standards for the Quality of scrap used for recycling.
- A mechanism for registration of segregators, dismantlers, recyclers, collection centers, etc. Will be developed to promote recycling to an organized sector It is proposed to set up Urban Mines, envisaged as a location to collect and hold large quantities of similar materials.
- An Online market platform/ exchange platform for recycled/secondary metal will be developed.
- Recyclers may explore the possibility of entering into collection contracts with industrial and commercial establishments.
Roles/ Responsibilities of Stakeholders:
- Responsibility of Manufacturer: To ensure that any Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines/Regulations are strictly adhered to. Designing products that are easier to recycle and reuse in an efficient and environmentally sound manner.
- Role of Public: The Public should responsibly dispose of scrap at designated scrap collection centers for their effective and environmentally sound processing. Role of Government: MoEF&CC to streamline the regulatory requirements, eliminating multiple clearances wherever feasible, for the recycling units. Role of Recycling Authority: Developing technical, safety, and environmental norms and SOPs for handling and processing of scraps in consultation with MoEFCC, CPCB, BIS, etc.
Challenges Faced By the Non-ferrous Metals Recycle Industry:
- A major challenge is its heavy dependence on the import of metal scrap.
- Lack of an organized/systematic scrap recovery mechanism.
- Lack of sustained implementation of existing regulations on waste collection and recycling.
- The lack of standardization of recycled products adversely affects market adoption.
- Lack of specific skill sets on responsible methods and technologies.
Government Initiatives For Recycling:
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is in the process of formulating a National Resource Efficiency Policy (NREP) which aims to mainstream resource efficiency across all sectors, wherein the Aluminium sector has been considered a priority sector.
- The Ministry of Steel has brought out a Steel Scrap Recycling Policy which envisages a framework to facilitate and promote the establishment of metal scrap recycling centers.
- NITI Aayog is proposing a comprehensive “National Material Recycling Policy” to drive concerned and coordinated national and state-level programs, plans, and actions towards ramping up material recycling in India in a formal and organized manner.
Waste to Wealth
Plastic- Pathways To Circularity& Sustainability International Summit on Plastic Recycling, Waste to Wealth & Packaging.
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