Seminar Report

On
PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT
Submitted in partial fulfillment for the award of the degree
Of
BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY
In
PETROLEUM ENGINEERING
RAJASTHAN TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY KOTA

Guided by: Submitted by:

MANOJ VAISHNAV ARSHAD KHAN
Associate Professor CRN- 18/522
Department of Petroleum Engineering URN- 18EUCPE006

DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENTS
RAJASTHAN TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY KOTA
MARCH 2022

1
 Department of Petroleum Engineering
Rajasthan Technical University, Kota-324010

Dated:

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that Mr. ARSHAD KHAN College Roll No. 18/522 and
University Roll No. 18EUCPE006 has submitted the seminar report entitled
“PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT” in partial fulfillment for the award of
the degree of Bachelor of Technology (Petroleum Engineering). The report has
been prepared as per the prescribed format and is approved for submission and
presentation.

Signature of Guide

MANOJ VAISHNAV
Associate Professor
Department of Petroleum Engineering
UD, RTU,
Kota-324010

2
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I express my deep sense of gratitude to my seminar guide MANOJ VAISHNAV

for providing me constant encouragement, professional guidance, valuable support,
frequent assess, useful & constructive recommendations to carry out my seminar
smoothly with a great insight of understanding.

Finally I wish to thank my parents, my friends for their support and encouragement
throughout my study.

Date - ARSHAD KHAN

CRN NO.-18/522
Final Year B. Tech. (Petroleum)

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 CONTENTS

LIST OF FIGUERS 6
LIST OF TABLES 7

ABSTRACT 8
1. INTRODUCTION 9
1.1 PLASTICS AND THEIR ROLE IN OUR LIVES 9
2. PLASTICS AND SOURCES OF PLASTICS WASTE 14
2.1 INTRODUCTION 14
2.2 CATEGORIES OF PLASTICS 14
2.3 PLASTIC MATERIALS 15
2.4 TYPES OF PLASTICS 16
2.5 SOURCES OF PLASTIC WASTE 21
2.6 INDUSTRIAL WASTE 21
2.7 COMMERCIAL WASTE 22
2.8 MUNICIPAL WASTE 22
2.9 HAZARDOUS EFFECTS OF PLASTICS 23
3. PLASTIC WASTE IN INDIA 24
3.1 GROWTH OF WASTE IN INDIA 24
3.2 WASTE GENERATION AND COMPOSITION IN INDIA 24
3.3 PLASTICS CONSUMPTION IN INDIA 24
3.4 CHALLENGES CONCERNING PLASTIC WASTE 25
3.5 PLASTIC WASTE RECYCLING 27
3.6 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF A CIRCULAR ECONOMY 28
3.7 PWM IN INDIA AND THE GLOBAL SCENARIO 29
3.8 RULES AND GUIDELINES – PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT 29
4. PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT 31
4.1 PWM 31
4.2 MICRO PLANNING -LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT 34
4.3 RECYCLING OF PLASTIC WASTE 34

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 4.4 TECHNOLOGICAL DISPOSAL OPTIONS 35
4.5 ASSESSMENT AND QUANTIFICATION OF PLASTIC 39
WASTE QUANTIFICATION IN SIXTY CITIES IN INDIA
4.6 BIODEGRADABLE & COMPOSTABLE PLASTICS 39
4.7 PLASTICS WASTE REDUCTION MODEL 40
4.8 PLASTICS RECYCLING & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 40
4.9 BOTTLENECKS OF PLASTIC RECYCLING 41
5. PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME 42

(2018-2024) by UNDP
6. CASE STUDIES 44
6.1 NO LONGER GOING TO WASTE: MADHYA PRADESH 44
SHOWS THE WAY FOR INTEGRATED PWM
6.2 KARNATAKA: A TEXTBOOK MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE PWM 46
7. CONCLUSION 49

REFERENCE 50

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 LIST OF FIGURES

FIG. NO TITLE PAGE NO.

2.1 The Structure Of Thermoplastic And Thermosets 16
2.2 Categories Of Plastic. 18
2.3 Plastic Segregation Representation 23
3.1 The Projected Solid Waste Collection Rising Up To 235 Million 24
Ton/Year In Financial Year 2041
3.2 Environmental, Health And Economic Impact Of Plastic Waste 27
3.3 Types Of Plastics And Their Applications. 28
4.1 Porta-Cabin For Collection Of All Plastic Waste 32
4.2 The Integrated Sustainable Waste Management Model 34
4.3 Schematic Diagram Of Plastic Recovery Option 36
4.4 Life Cycle Of Plastics In Waste Reduction Model 40
4.5 Characterization Of Municipal Solid Waste. 41
5.1 Waste Management Cycle 42

6.1 Role Of Stakeholders 48

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 LIST OF TABLES

TABLE NO. TITLE PAGE NO.

Table 2.1 The Typical Thermoplastic And Thermosetting Resins 14

Table 2.2 Melting Point Of Common Thermoplastic 15

Table 2.3 Types Of Plastics And Variation In Bending Strength 18

Table 2.4 Physical Properties Of Waste Plastics 20

Table 2.5 Data On Waste Generated Based On Income With 21

Characterized Of Some Asian Countries

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 ABSTRACT

Plastics are integral part of society and have varied application. Plastics are composed of a network
of molecular monomers bound together to form macromolecules. There are increasing concerns
due to non-degradability and generation of toxic gases on combustion during incineration. Due to
fabrication of desired shape colour and specification convenient to customers there is increasing
application in packaging, agriculture, automobiles and biomedical. They are indispensable to the
modern generation due to development in information technology, intelligent and smart packaging
system. Efforts are in progress for development of efficient and precise conversation of renewable
raw materials into innovative polymeric product through recent technologies which are superior
in terms of performance, environmental and cost perspectives. In rivers and at coastal regions the
marine pollution is increasing at a faster rate due to indiscriminate disposal by the consumers

Plastic waste management is a critical issue. Over 300 million metric tons of plastics are produced
in the world annually and about fifty percent of this volume is for disposal applications, product
that are discarded within a year of their purchase. It is the boon and bane of our times. Although
there are multiple uses, its waste and the resultant pollution clogs up our rivers, oceans, lands and
adversely affects the biodiversity. We need to plan for disposal of new synthetic product, implants
etc which have completed their shelf life. Soil and ground water quality may be affected in
dumpsite areas. Plastic waste becomes one of the world's growing concerns due to its increasing
production and consumption by human. By 2050, the world might have plastics in the oceans much
more than fish. Therefore, it is threatening the world's environment, economy and human health.
Based on latest global statistics, most common plastic waste is either landfilled, recycled or
incinerated. Recycling is the least implemented method. Degradation of manufactured plastics can
take between 100 to 600 years. Plastic waste management is the responsibility of both, global
governments, and individuals. Most parts of the world lack laws that address "plastic waste" in
particular, not as "all waste". Moreover, laws have to be strictly enforced in countries where they
are being violated. Individuals' awareness should be raised through their engagement in new
innovative strategies built by their governments.

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 CHAPTER-1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 PLASTICS AND THEIR ROLE IN OUR LIVES

Within a specific ecological–economic system, each material is generally connected to and also
dependent on others. Moreover, plastics contribute to the overall integrity of this life system.
However, since all plastics contribute to the functional scheme of things in waste generation, it is
undoubtedly a very important issue. In particular, plastics provide key applications that are also
unique; without plastics, the underlying ecological–economic system would be very different.

The first synthetic plastics developed were celluloid (cellulose nitrate) in 1869 and phenol
formaldehyde in 1909. Other plastics such as cellulose acetate and polyvinylchloride were made
into semi-durable items, such as electrical equipment or insulation, motion picture film, billiard
balls, etc., which are considered a nuisance when they become waste. Plastics production and
consumption have increased considerably since the first industrial production of plastics in the
1940s. The high-volume production of low density polyethylene began in 1940, which is also when
plastic waste started being recycled. Included in the rapidly growing plastics industry are all
thermoset plastics and thermoplastics, with the consumption of plastic materials having grown to
around one million tons per year as of 1962. Worldwide production and consumption of plastics
has increased at an average rate of about 8 percent per annum. However, it is now a billion tons of
plastics waste. Plastics consumption has increased rapidly while the deposit of natural resources
is decreasing. The decrease in crude oil and natural gas puts pressure on plastics production.
Therefore, rapid, large changes in oil prices can cause significant long- and short-term economic
consequences. Obtaining and using this oil also carries with it the enormous burden of adverse
environmental consequences, social issues, and geopolitical risk, since plastics undergo little
degradation and dispersion by natural processes.

However, the lack of sustainable plastic waste management (PWM) poses a serious threat to our
environment and natural ecosystem globally. Data indicates that while a large quantum of plastic
waste is generated, low levels of it are sustainably managed and discarded worldwide. From 1950
to 2015, around 8.3 billion metric tonnes (BMTs) of plastic had been produced globally, and of
this, 80 percent – 6.3 BMTs – was accounted as plastic waste. Of these 6.3 BMTs of waste, only

9
9 percent was recycled, 12 percent incinerated and 79 percent dumped into landfills, oceans or
water bodies. There are two primary ways to manage plastic waste. The first is recycling or re-
processing different categories of plastic waste into secondary material. The second is the
incineration of plastic waste. However, incineration is expensive and causes pollution if not done
using the right equipment.

Global post-consumer waste generation totals approximately 900–1,250 metric tons per year. In
an underdeveloped country, the per capita solid waste generation rate is less than 0.1 tons per
capita per year as opposed to developed countries where it is greater than 0.8 tons per capita per
year in high-income industrialized countries.

Plastics waste is closely linked to population type and size, and the degree of urbanization and
material comfort. It remains a major challenge for municipalities to collect, recycle, treat and
dispose of increasing quantities of plastics waste in most developed and developing countries.
Most technologies for plastics waste management are immature and have been difficult to
implement in many countries.

Plastic waste has gone up both in absolute terms and as a percentage of solid waste. However, the
volume may not be enough to warrant systems to separate different types of plastics from each
other for recovery. Because of the amount of plastic waste disposed of in municipal solid waste, it
needs to be managed. Plastics waste can be used as a raw material for recycling operations or can
be treated prior to disposal, resulting in the waste being transformed into material which can be
safely disposed of or reused. The proper management of plastics waste starts at the production
stage. Plastics waste has an economic advantage, in comparison with many other solid wastes, as
it can be regularly recycled. Current processing technology enables the efficient conversion of
waste into new recycled end products.

Plastics waste management does not exist in a vacuum; waste plastics are affected by and impact
upon many different aspects of national life, i.e., there is a balance between the utilization of
plastics waste and its production and processing. The majority of plastics waste generation is
related to material comfort items; however, recycling/reuse initiatives for mixed plastics are
limited.

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In particular, it is crucial that plastics waste management is linked to the parallel development of
production and processing, otherwise there is a risk that controls to limit the environmental
pollution of one operation will lead to an increased level of pollution in another, hence

• Plastic processes and activities should be chosen which produce the lowest amount of
waste.
• The production of hazardous waste from antimony and lead and so on from additives,
should be kept to a minimum.
• All feasible and reasonable steps should be taken to recycle and reuse materials from
plastics waste and convert this waste into useful marketable products.
• The waste disposal process should include arrangements for the disposal of plastics
waste that cannot be reclaimed, such as degraded polyvinyl chloride. Disposal should
reduce the level of risk to public health, water supplies and the environment to
acceptable levels.
• All types of solid waste should only be disposed of at sites suitable for the disposal of
that particular waste, which will not be reclaimed. The site can stipulate upon
acceptance, any special requirements regarding the method of deposal which includes
preparation to receive the waste, the methods involved in disposing of the waste and so
on.
• Plastics waste treatment and the methods to be used for the disposal of the residues
from the treatment should be included in the waste disposal process.
• Waste generators are responsible for their waste, which is a very important aspect for
plastics waste. Generators of waste must be assumed to have adequate knowledge of its
composition, form, and of the potential hazards to public health and the environment,
to ensure disposal of the waste is not detrimental to the environment. The waste
generator is responsible for ensuring that only appropriate disposal methods are used
for their waste.
• Future planning needs to include the proper management of plastics waste.

Recycling of post-consumer plastics has not yet become a significant recovery option. Plastics
pollution in most cases results in already stressed ecosystems. Humans fear that the dangers posed
by plastics waste tend to create problems more often than not. An attempt is being made to treat

11
plastics-waste-related environmental and natural resource problems as part of an important task to
help the societies of the world. The world has an emerging interest in moving away from plastics
waste towards material management due to their non-degradable nature. There are strong drivers
at all levels towards a culture of more sustainable plastics waste management.

Industrialists should know the type and quantity of waste produced by their operations and
processes, whereas a waste generator should know the composition, properties and environmental
impact of the waste. Without this knowledge industrialists cannot properly manage their operations
and cannot discharge their responsibilities to protect the health and safety of employees, i.e., the
nature of the waste they are exposed to must be known, otherwise they are not in full control of
their operation; in addition, if the quantity of waste is unknown the cost, material balance and
efficiency cannot be determined.

When solid waste including plastics waste disappears from an ecological–economic system, the
system changes dramatically. In fact, what is particularly significant is that the disappearance of
plastics often triggers the loss of other applications, and when this happens, the complex
connections among nexus components, such as packaging with other substitute material, begin to
evolve. Minimizing solid waste through an ecological–economic system in effect addresses
environmental problems.

Plastic products have become an integral part of our daily life as a basic need. It is produced on a
massive scale worldwide and its production crosses the 150 million ton per year globally. In India
approximately 8 Million ton plastic products are consumed every year (2008). Its broad range of
application lies in films, wrapping materials, shopping and garbage bags, fluid containers, clothing,
toys, household and industrial products, and building materials. It is a fact that plastics will never
degrade and remains on landscape for several years. Mostly, plastics are recyclable but recycled
products can again be recycled but the litter left over in earth system and water systems are more
hazardous to the environment. The recycling of a virgin plastic material can be done many times,
but after every recycling, the plastic material is deteriorated due to thermal pressure. Considering,
70% of plastic consumption is converted as waste over time, approximately 5.6 million ton per
annum (TPA) plastic waste is generated in country, which equals to 15342 ton per day (TPD).
Plastic waste has a significant portion in total municipal solid waste. Though, there is a formal
system of waste collection in urban areas, however, informal sectors i.e. rag pickers, collect only

12
value based plastics waste such as pet bottles etc. Plastic carry bags, metalized plastics and low
quality plastic less than 20 micron do not figure in their priorities, because collecting them is not
profitable. This is primarily because the rewards are not much as compared to the efforts required
for collection, and this leads to plastic bags and other packaging materials continuing to pose a
major threat to the environment. Moreover, the major concern for this waste stream is that these
are non-biodegradable and remains in the environment for many years. Clogging of drains by
plastic waste is a common problem. The packaging and poly vinyl chloride (PVC) pipe industry
are growing at 16-18% per year. The demand of plastics goods is increasing from house hold use
to industrial applications. It is growing at an annual rate of 22% annually. The polymers production
has reached to 8.5 million ton in 2007.

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 CHAPTER 2

PLASTICS AND SOURCES OF PLASTICS WASTE

2.1 INTRODUCTION

Plastic is the general term for a wide range of synthetic or semi synthetic polymerization products.
They are composed of organic condensation or addition polymers and may contain other
substances to improve performance or economics. There are few natural polymers generally
considered to be "plastics". These polymers are broken in presence of suitable catalyst, into
monomers such as ethylene, propylene, vinyl, styrene and benzene. These monomers are then
chemically polymerized into different categories of plastics.

2.2 CATEGORIES OF PLASTICS

A. Recyclable Plastics (Thermoplastics): PET, HDPE, LDPE, PP, PVC, PS, etc.

B. Non-Recyclable Plastics (Thermoset & others): Multilayer & Laminated Plastics, PUF,
Bakelite, Polycarbonate, Melamine, Nylon etc.

As per BIS Classification, there are seven categories of plastics like; PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE,
PP, PS and other. The typical thermoplastic and thermosetting resins are shown in table no 2.1.

Table 2.1- The Typical Thermoplastic and Thermosetting Resins

S. No. Thermo plastic S. No. Thermoset Plastic

1 Polyethylene Tetraphthalate (PET) 1 Bakelite
2 Polypropylene (PP) 2 Epoxy
3 Poly Vinyl Acetate (PVA) 3 Melamine
4 Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) 4 Polyester
5 Polystyrene 5 Polyurethane
6 Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) 6 Urea-Formaldehyde
7 High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

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2.3 PLASTIC MATERIALS

Plastics are man-made organic materials that are produced from oil and natural gas as raw
materials. Plastics consist of large molecules (macromolecules), the building blocks of all
materials. The molecular weights of plastics may vary from about 20,000 to 100,000 mg/L. Plastics
can be regarded as long chains of beads in which the so-called monomers. Development of plastics
production worldwide ethylene, propylene, styrene and vinyl chloride are linked together to form
a chain called a polymer. Polymers such as polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) are the end products of the process of polymerization, in which the monomers are
joined together. In many cases only one type of monomer is used to make the material, sometimes
two or more. A wide range of products can be made by melting the basic plastic material in the
form of pellets or powder. Plastics can be either thermoplastics or thermosets, having melting point
which is given in table 2.2

Table 2.2: Melting Point of Common Thermoplastic

Polyolefin Melting point (0 C)

LDPE 115
LLDPE 123
HDPE 130
Polyethylene (PE) 135
Polypropylene (PP) 170
Polystyrene (PS) 240
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) 245
Polyamide 6 (PA6) 233
Materials that repeatedly soften on heating and harden on cooling are known as thermoplastics.
They can be melted down and made into new plastic end products. Thermo plastics are similar to
paraffin wax. They are dense and hard at room temperature, become soft and moldable when
heated, dense and hard again and retain new shapes when cooled (see Figure 1 for a schematic
overview of the structure of thermoplastic and Thermoset).

This process can be repeated numerous times and the chemical characteristics of the material do
not change. In Europe, over 80% of the plastics produced are thermoplastics. Thermosets, on the

15
other hand are not suitable for repeated heat treatments because of their complex molecular
structures (see Figure 1b).The structure of thermosetting materials resembles a kind of thinly
meshed network that is formed during the initial production phase. Such materials cannot be
reprocessed into new products unlike thermoplastics. Thermosets are widely used in electronics
and automotive products. The properties of plastics can be modified by a number of substances
known as additives.

Figure 2.1: The Structure of (A) Thermoplastic And (B) Thermosets

2.4 TYPES OF PLASTICS

In industrialized countries, literally hundreds of plastic materials are available commercially. In

economically less developed countries however, fewer types of plastics tend to be used. In both
economically less developed and industrialized countries, the four types of plastics that are most
commonly reprocessed or recycled are polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS)
and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Each of these can be subdivided according to their density, the type
of process involved in their manufacture, and the additives they contain. These four types are
briefly described below.

I. Polyethylene (PE)
The two main types of polyethylene are low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density
polyethylene (HDPE). LDPE is soft, flexible and easy to cut, with the feel of candle wax.
When very thin it is transparent, when thick it is milky white, unless a pigment is added.

16
 LDPE is used in the manufacture of film bags, sacks and sheeting, blow-molded bottles,
food boxes, flexible piping and hosepipes, household articles such as buckets and bowls,
toys, telephone cable sheaths, etc. HDPE is tougher and stiffer than LDPE, and is always
milky white in color, even when very thin. It used for bags and industrial wrappings, soft
drinks bottles, detergents and cosmetics containers, toys, jerry cans, crates, dustbins, and
other household articles.
II. Polypropylene (PP)
Polypropylene is more rigid than PE, and can be bent sharply without breaking. It is used
for stools and chairs, high-quality home ware, strong moldings such as car battery
housings, domestic appliances, suitcases, wine barrels, crates, pipes, fittings, rope, woven
sacking, carpet backing netting surgical instruments, nursing bottles, food containers, etc.
III. Polystyrene (PS)
In its unprocessed form, polystyrene is brittle and usually transparent. It is often blended
(copolymerized) with other materials to obtain the desired properties. High-impact
polystyrene (HIPS) is made by add in grubber. Polystyrene foam is often produced by
incorporating a blowing agent during the polymerization process. PS is used for cheap,
transparent kitchen ware, light fittings, bottles, toys, food containers, etc.
IV. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Polyvinyl chloride is a hard, rigid material, unless plasticizers are added. Common
applications for PVC include bottles, thin sheeting, transparent packaging materials, water
and irrigation pipes, gutters, window frames, building panels, etc. If plasticizers are added,
the product is known as plasticized polyvinylchloride (PPVC), which is soft, flexible and
rather weak, and is used to make inflatable articles such as footballs, as well as hosepipes
and cable coverings, shoes, flooring, raincoats, shower curtains, furniture coverings,
automobile linings, bottles, etc. Other types of plastics include polycarbonate (PC),
polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyurethane (PU) and nylon or polyamide (PA). Table
2.3 depicts the types of plastics and their variations in bending strength.

17
 Figure 2.3: Categories of Plastic. Source: American Chemistry Council

Table 2.3 Types Of Plastics And Variation In Bending Strength

Type of Plastic Percentage of Bending strength Compression

Plastic in Kg strength (Ton)
PE 10 325 250
20 340 270
25 350 290
Poly propylene 10 350 280

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 20 370 290
25 385 310
PS 10 200 155
20 210 165
25 215 170
PE foam 10 310 250
20 325 265
25 335 290
PP foam 10 340 270
20 360 290
25 365 270
Laminated plastic 10 360 290
20 385 310
25 400 335
BOPP 10 380 300
20 400 310
25 410 330

2.5 SOURCES OF PLASTIC WASTE

Plastics can be used for many purposes, and thus, waste plastics are generated from a wide variety
of sources. The main sources of plastic waste can be classified as follows: industrial, commercial
and municipal waste.

2.6 INDUSTRIAL WASTE

Industrial waste and rejected material (so-called primary waste) can be obtained from large plastics
processing, manufacturing and packaging industries. Most of this waste material has relatively
good physical characteristics; i.e., it is sufficiently clean, since it is not mixed with other materials.
It has been exposed to high temperatures during the manufacturing process which may have
decreased its characteristics, but it has not been used in any product applications. Many industries
discard polyethylene film wrapping that has been used to protect goods delivered to the factory.

19
This is an excellent material for reprocessing, because it is usually relatively thick, free from
impurities and in ample supply. Many industries may provide useful supplies of primary waste
plastics:

• The automotive industries: spare-parts for cars, such as fan blades, seat coverings,
battery containers and front grills.
• Construction and demolition companies: e.g. PVC pipes and fittings, tiles and sheets.
• Electrical and electronics industries: e.g. switch boxes, cable sheaths, cassette boxes,
TV screens, etc.

Physical properties of waste plastics are given below in table 2.4

Table 2.4- Physical Properties of Waste Plastics

Commercial Plastic Nature of Plastic Thickness Softening point

material
Cup PE 150 100-120
Carry bag PE 10 100-120
Water bottle PET 210 170-180
Cool drinks bottle PET 210 170-180
Chocolate covers Polyester + PE + 20 155
metalized polyester
Parcel cover PE 50 100-120
Supari cover Polyester + PE 60 120-135
Milk pouch LDPE 60 100-120
Biscuit covers Polyester + PE 40 170
Decoration papers BOPP 100 110
Film PE 50 120-130
Foam PE NA 100-110
Foam PS NA 110
Considerable amounts of waste plastics generated by many industries remain uncollected or end
up at the municipal dump. Industries are often willing to cooperate with private collecting or
reprocessing units.

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2.7 COMMERCIAL WASTE

Workshops, craftsmen, shops, supermarkets and wholesalers may be able to provide reasonable
quantities of waste plastics for recovery. A great deal of such waste is likely to be in the form of
packaging material made of PE, either clean or contaminated. Hotels and restaurants are often
sources of contaminated PE material.

2.8 MUNICIPAL WASTE

Waste plastics can be collected from residential areas (domestic or household waste), streets,
parks, collection depots and waste dumps. Considerable amounts of plastic waste can be found
within the Municipal Solid Waste stream due to the littering habit of the population. The most
common type of plastic waste within the municipal waste stream is the water film bags that are
discarded in discriminately soon after consuming its contents. In Asian countries in particular, the
collection of this type of waste is widespread. However, unless they are bought directly from
households, before they have been mixed with other waste materials, such waste plastics are likely
to be dirty and contaminated. Sometimes the plastics can be separated and cleaned quite easily,
but contamination with hazardous waste is not always visible and may be more difficult to remove.
Litter that has been waiting for collection for some time may have been degraded by sunlight. This
is mainly a superficial effect, however, and does not always mean that the plastics cannot be
reprocessed. The data on waste generated based on income with characterized of some Asian
countries.

Table 2.5- Data on Waste Generated Based on Income With Characterized of Some Asian
Countries

Country GDP, Waste Composition (% wet weight basis)

PPP generat
Bio- Paper Plastic Glass Metal Textile/ Inert
capita ion
degrad leather and
estimat (Kg/ca
able others
ed for pita/
2077 day)
(USD)

21
Hong 35,385 2.25 38 28 19 3 2 3 9
Kong
Japan 33,010 1.1 26 46 9 7 8 - 12

Singapor 31,165 1.1 44.4 28.3 11.8 4.1 4.8 - 6.6

e
Taiwan 31,040 0.667 31 26 22 7 4 9 -

South 23,331 1.0 25 26 7 4 9 29 -

Korea
Malaysia 12,702 0.1-0.8 40 15 15 4 3 3 20

Thailand 9426 1.1 48.6 14.6 13.9 5.1 3.6 - 14.2

China 8854 0.8 35.8 3.7 3.8 2 0.3 - 47.5

Philippin 5409 0.3-0.7 41.6 19.5 13.8 1.3 4.8 - 17.9

es
Indonesi 5096 0.8-1 74 10 8 2 2 2 2
a
Sri 5047 0.2-0.9 76.4 10.6 5.7 1.3 1.3 - 4.7
Lanka
India 3794 0.3-0.6 42 6 4 2 2 4 40

Vietnam 3502 0.55 58 4 5.6 1.6 1.5 1.8 27.5

Lao PDR 2260 0.7 54.3 3.3 7.8 1.5 3.8 - 22.5

Nepal 1760 0.2-0.5 80 7 2.5 3 0.5 - 7

22
2.9 HAZARDOUS EFFECTS OF PLASTICS

Polluting Substances

In terms of environmental and health effects it is important to differentiate between the various
types of plastics. Most plastics are considered nontoxic (PVC is an important exception).
Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), for example, are inert materials, but it should be
realized that plastics are not completely stable. Under the influence of light, heat or mechanical
pressure they can decompose and release hazardous substances. The environmental effects of
plastics also differ according to the type and quantity of additives that have been used. Some flame
retardants may pollute the environment (e.g. bromine emissions). Pigments or colorants may
contain heavy metals that are highly toxic to humans, such as chromium(Cr), copper (Cu), cobalt
(Co), selenium (Se), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) are often used to produce brightly colored
plastics.

Cadmium is used in red, yellow and orange pigments. In most industrialized countries these
pigments have been banned by law. The additives used as heat stabilizers (i.e. chemical compounds
that raise the temperature at which decomposition occurs), frequently contain heavy metals such
as barium (Ba), tin (Sn), lead and cadmium, sometimes in combination.

Figure 2.3: Plastic Segregation Representation. Source: CPCB Guidelines on Plastic Waste
Management

23
 CHAPTER 3

PLASTIC WASTE IN INDIA

3.1 GROWTH OF WASTE IN INDIA

While working on plastics littered waste, it is pertinent to understand the other waste streams in
India including the Municipal solid waste (MSW), Biomedical waste(BMW), Industrial hazardous
waste(IHZ) or Electronics waste (WEEE). Figure 5 depicts the rapid growth of Municipal Solid
Waste from 1990 to 2010 in India. The graph shows that the projected solid waste collection rising
up to 235 Million ton/year in financial year 2041. These rising line also shows that, how the Indian
cities are being engulfed into waste dump sites all around them.

Figure No. 3.1: The Projected Solid Waste Collection Rising Up To 235 Million Ton/Year
in Financial Year 2041

Cities in India with growing population, changing life styles, migration of people from rural areas
to urban areas and rapid industrialization end up generating an enormous quantity of urban waste
(Municipal Solid Waste - MSW) every day. By and large, the Municipal Bodies/Urban Local
Bodies (“ULB”) in various cities/towns collect MSW, transport it to the dump yards and dispose
it off in open ground dumping or non-sanitary landfill. These landfill sites are an environmental
hazard – emanating methane causing greenhouse effect, smell & dirt causing health problems, and
contaminating the ground water, etc.

When the MSW Handling & Management Rules 2000 were framed, all the ULB’s were directed
by Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India (MoEF, GoI) to set up municipal
waste processing facilities. Over a 100 ULBs have implemented the directive, with Jawaharlal

24
Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme
for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT), and local grants as well as industry investments

3.2. WASTE GENERATION IN INDIA

The rate of waste generation in India is growing very quickly owing to urbanization and higher
incomes. The current composition of waste carries a high potential for recycling that is barely
exploited. Generally, about 15 percent of waste materials which consist mainly of paper, plastic,
metal, and glass can be retrieved from the waste stream for further recycling. Another 35 to 55
percent of waste material is organic waste, which can be converted into useful compost, leaving
only 30 to 50 percent that needs to go as inert or as soil supplement.

3.2.1 Waste Generation in Rajasthan

The estimated plastic waste generation is approximately 51965.5 TPA during 2019- 20. There are
69 plastic manufacturing and 16 Multilayer plastic units registered and no unregistered plastic
units in the state. State government has imposed complete ban on use, manufacture, storage,
import, sell or transport of plastic carry bags irrespective of thickness. Violations have been
observed in the state and Direction for closure has been issued to one unit. Further 4000kg of
plastic has been seized. 157 ULBs have submitted the Annual Report.

3.3 PLASTICS CONSUMPTION IN INDIA

National plastic waste management task force in 1997 projected the polymers demand in the
country. Polymers Demands in India (Million Ton) documents the demand of different polymers
in India during years 1995-96, 2001-02 and 2006-07. The comparison of demand and consumption
from more than one fourth of the consumption in India is that of PVC which is being phased out
in many countries. Poly bags and other plastic items except PET in particular have been a focus,
because it has contributed to host of problems in India such as choked sewers, animal deaths and
clogged soils.

3.4 CHALLENGES CONCERNING PLASTIC WASTE

Plastic waste has numerous implications on the environment and health. The plastic waste dumped
in landfills leaches into the ground and nearby water systems causing land and water pollution and
ultimately reaches the food chain. The uncontrolled burning of the waste, including plastic, causes

25
air pollution. In addition, the clogged plastic waste in sewerage systems
further pollutes rivers and groundwater. The plastic in food and water
can cause severe health issues such as genetic disorders, and endocrine
system damage. According to the United States Environmental
Protection Agency, all the plastic waste ever generated is still present
on Earth today, this makes sustainable management of plastic waste
important.

Single-use Plastic

The Plastic Waste Management Rules, amended in 2021, define single

use plastic as plastic item intended to be used once for the same purpose
before being disposed of or recycled. The United Nations defines
single-use plastics, often referred to as disposable plastics, as being
commonly used for plastic packaging, including items intended to be used only once before being
thrown away or recycled. These include grocery bags, food packaging, bottles, straws, containers,
cups and cutlery. Single-use plastic is the most popular kind of plastic due to its easy access and
high use. While it is cheap, strong and hygienic for transporting goods, it is the most difficult to
recycle. Plastic carry bags are produced using less energy and water and generate less solid waste
than paper bags as they take up less space in landfills. These salient features of single-use plastics
make it a preferred material in commercial use.

The adverse impacts of single-use plastic have created an alarming situation across the globe with
a call for countries to make commitments against plastic pollution. The management of single-use
plastic waste requires using an integrated model that focuses on minimizing plastic waste
generation, improving waste management through improved collection services, a recycling
industry and ensuring the safe disposal of waste to controlled (scientific) landfills. To do this, the
model should focus on adopting a circular economy approach that looks at recycling good quality
plastics and different ways of minimizing the production and usage of single-use plastic including
plastic bags and Styrofoam.

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3.5 PLASTIC WASTE RECYCLING

In India, the Plastic Waste Management Rules of 2016 and 2018 and the recently announced
amendment of 2021 focus on single-use plastics. The rules detail the various categories of plastics
and recommend recycling methods based on the type of plastic polymer used. Additionally, as
seen in figure 5, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has defined the numerous
applications of these categories under Guidelines for Disposal of Plastic Waste, 2017.

According to a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report titled ‘Managing Plastic Waste
in India’, the plastic in polystyrene (PS) and other categories are non-recyclable and a threat to the
environment. In addition, industries generating plastic waste, commonly known as pre-consumer
waste, need as much attention as post-consumer waste. Various manufacturing industries across
the globe produce 400 million tonnes of plastic waste per year, with the packaging industry being
the largest contributor. According to a report by FICCI, 40 percent of the packaging needs in India
are fulfilled using plastic. The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 and 2018, mention the
extended producer responsibility (EPR) approach, which gives producers substantial responsibility
(financial and/or physical) for the treatment and disposal of post-consumer plastic waste.

Figure 3.2: Environmental, Health and Economic Impact of Plastic Waste

27
For sustainable PWM, all stakeholders from the private and public sectors, communities and other
organizations need to adopt the circular economy approach, thereby reducing and offsetting the
plastic waste going into landfills and posing serious threats to our environment, economy and
health.

Figure 3.3: Types of Plastics and Their Applications. Source: Moefcc Rules on PWM

3.6 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF A CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Since the second industrial revolution, our economy has been linear, working on take-make-use-
dispose principles. On the one hand, this has resulted in increased economic benefits and
prosperity, but on the other hand, it has also led to the overuse of resources by promoting a ‘use-
and-throw’ approach. According to the Circular Gap Report 2021, 100 billion tonnes of different
materials enter the Earth every year. This model not only leads to environment degradation and
resource depletion, but it also increases the cost of products by disturbing the material supply
system. This results from fluctuating raw material prices, low materials availability, geopolitical
dependence on different materials and increasing demand.

28
To address this issue, we need to focus on resource efficiency by adopting a circular economy.
The circular economy is defined as an alternative to the linear ‘take-make-waste’ approach. It seeks
to design out waste, regenerate natural ecosystems and keep materials and products in use for as
long as possible. To this end, resources are not consumed and discarded, destroying their value.
Rather, their value is retained by reusing, repairing, remanufacturing or recycling. The circular
economy entails new business models, strategies and innovations focusing on the optimization of
processes and products. Adopting a circular economy results in extended life of products and assets
by recycling/ upcycling end-of -life products and closing the loop.

3.7 PWM IN INDIA AND THE GLOBAL SCENARIO

Globally, plastic pollution has emerged as a serious menace in the absence of streamlined PWM
focusing on reuse, reduction, and recycling of plastic waste. The global recycling percentage is
low, only 9 percent, and this calls for immediate and integrated actions to manage plastic globally
and focus on recycling or upcycling. All developed and developing countries are individually
taking actions to manage plastic waste, but the onus is mainly on developing countries.

According to a report on PWM released by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the global
average of plastic per capita consumption is 28 kg and India has a per capita plastic consumption
of 11 kg. The CPCB Report (2019-20) states that 3.4 million metric tonnes of plastic waste are
generated in India annually.

3.8 RULES AND GUIDELINES – PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT

To address the challenge of the mounting waste crisis in the country, India
started setting up its regulatory framework on waste management almost two
decades ago. In 2000, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate
Change notified the first-ever law on waste management in the form of the
Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules. Since then, the
country’s waste management regulations have developed in several aspects
and undergone a massive transformation.

The global recycling percentage is only 9 percent. There is an urgent need for
immediate and integrated actions to manage plastic globally and focus on

29
recycling or upcycling. To address the challenge of the mounting waste crisis in the country, India
started setting up its regulatory framework on waste management almost two decades ago.

30
 CHAPTER 4

PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT

4.1 PWM

Plastic Waste Management will involve activities associated with segregation, collection, storage,
transportation, processing and disposal. Plastic waste disposal in an environmentally sustainable
manner should be achieved by adopting principles of economy, aesthetics, and energy
conservation and pollution control. It encompasses planning, organization, administration,
financial, legal and engineering aspects involving interdisciplinary relationships.

India as a developing country needs simpler, low cost technology keeping in view of maximum
resource recovery in environmental friendly manner. An advanced technological solution for
plastic waste disposal available in developed countries but cannot be directly adopted in
developing countries due to difference in waste characteristics, financial constraints and socio-
cultural aspects. With the aim of restrain littering and have proper disposal process for plastic
waste, following activities are required to enforce in plastic waste management.

4.1.1 Two-Bin/bag collection System

In order to follow appropriate plastic disposal technologies, segregation at source is essential. The
recyclable waste material should be separated from food waste and other biodegradable waste, in
a separate bin at the source of waste generation, by having a two bin/bag system for waste storage.
It is proposed to have recycling waste collector is a waste trader of the network, and gives a plastics
bag free to every household.

The bags are clearly labeled/marked on them “Recyclable Waste” which could also be a bag for
easy handling, since it will contain mostly dry waste and not wet “Bio-degradable Waste”. This
will be replaced when full with another bag.

4.1.2 Waste Exchange Center (WEC) as Porta cabin

A WEC is a waste collection point, placed in earmarked communities. It is most suitable for almost
all of the recyclable waste collection. The methodology as devised here is based on the operability
of a system, which has three major factors:

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 1. Responsibility of a Urban local Body with respect to Plastics waste management as is in
the PWM rules:
2. Harnessing the informal sector working for recyclable waste into a formal system.
3. Rehabilitation of waste pickers,
4. Picking the Litter lying around harming the earth and ecosystem.

Figure No. 4.1: Porta-Cabin for Collection of All Plastic Waste

4.1.3 Quality control

As already mentioned, the quality of the sorted plastics has a direct influence on its sale price. In
order to maintain the desirable quality, routine quality control must be established. Samples of
sorted materials should be analyzed in detail and the results compared with the requested quality.
This enables streams that have sorting deficiencies to be identified. A more detailed analysis will
identify the cause of a bad sorting: misunderstanding of the sorting instruction, equipment failing
etc. In order to maintain the desirable quality, routine quality control must be established. Samples
of sorted materials should be analyzed in detail and the results compared with the requested quality.
This enables streams that have sorting deficiencies to be identified. Reduction of volume and
storing sorted waste plastics which can be bulky to transport and store. To make these activities
more economical, some type of volume reduction process is necessary.

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4.1.4 Bailing

This device reduces the volume of plastic waste by compacting, so that storage and transportation
becomes relatively easier Baling is a suitable option for both films and bottles, providing a
reduction in volume that aids storage, transportation and management of the waste plastics. The
baler must be compatible with the baled materials and with the flow. Over-compaction may weld
the waste together making it difficult to separate, whilst under compacted bales will be unstable
and difficult to stack. Most balers can be used for several materials, but adjustments may be
necessary. The choice of baler strapping is also important; it must be strong enough to contain
long-term baled material and particularly if the material is to be stored outdoors, be rust-resistant.
Polyester strapping or stainless steel is commonly used. For plastic bottles, previous perforation
of the bottles improves the density of the bales.

4.1.5 Storing sorted waste plastics

Rain does not affect the quality of plastics; however, UV light does degrade the physical and
chemical structure of most plastics. The effect of UV degradation varies according to the virgin
polymer, therefore if plastics are to be stored outside, they should be protected by tarpaulins or
other UV-protective material. To avoid contamination by dust and dirt, plastics should be stored
on clean concrete floors; storage of the material on pallets can also reduce contamination. Where
plastics are to be stored indoors, fire-safety and prevention systems should be installed. Plastic is
flammable and while it is difficult to ignite baled plastics; it is much easier for non-baled material.
As such, these considerations must be integrated into the planning stages of storage areas.

4.1.6 Collection and transportation

The collection and transportation of plastic waste on a daily basis is an imperative step. Since the
waste cannot be removed as fast as it is littered, it is stored and transported as soon as possible at
specific pre-defined frequencies by private traders. The system of storage and types of vehicles are
often compatible.

4.2 MICRO PLANNING -LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT

An efficient and cost beneficiary system of waste management requires micro planning for
collection, storage, transportation processing and disposal of plastic waste. This should also
ensure an effective participation of the Government, citizens and NGO’s in planning and waste

33
management system.

34
 Figure 4.2: The Integrated Sustainable Waste Management Model

Life-cycle analysis is a technique used to quantify the environmental impact of products during
their entire life cycle. The different parts of the life cycle are examined from raw material
extraction, manufacture, transport and use through to waste processing. For each stage, an
inventory is made of the energy and material consumption and of any emissions to the
environment. This makes it possible to identify components where improvement can be made to
benefit the environment.

4.3 RECYCLING OF PLASTIC WASTE

The practice of recycling post-manufacturing plastic waste has been in vogue, since the last many
years. The recycling of plastic is done through different methods. The compacted bales of plastic
waste should reach the recycling units by a dedicated supply chain network on a daily basis.
Recycling of plastics waste is carried with a view to make an alternative product for better profit.
Following issues should be taken into account, while recycling the plastics.

 Minimize the pollution level during the process

 Enhance the efficiency of the process, and
 Conserve the energy

4.3.1 Mechanical Recycling

Mechanical recycling involves processing of waste in to a product with characteristics similar to

those of original product. This is the most preferred and widely used recycling process due to its

35
cost effectiveness and ease of conversion to useful products of daily use. The limitation of this
process is that the process requires homogenous and clean input. The process of mechanical
recycling of waste plastics into products of varying usefulness mostly involves the essential steps
namely:

 Collection/ Segregation (Plastic wastes are separated/segregated by Flotation Process in

which varying density property of plastic waste is made use for segregating plastics);
 Cleaning & Drying (Post consumer plastic wastes require cleaning and drying than
industrial waste. The wastes generated during these processes require proper treatment and
disposal methods);
 Sizing/ Chipping (Cleaned plastic waste products should be sized/chipped to fed into the
extruders for processing and palletizing and these operations depends upon the type and
size of the plastic waste);
 Agglomeration/Coloring (Depending upon the end product, sized plastic waste is mixed
with color master batch in high speed mixers/ agglomerators);
 Extrusion/ Pelletisation (Chipped plastics are plasticized and re-granulated to make the
plastic material ready for fabrication) and finally fabrication into End Product.

4.4 TECHNOLOGICAL DISPOSAL OPTIONS

The selection of appropriate technology for plastic waste disposal and its processes for the
management of plastic wastes are available in market. Several processes and technologies have
been explored and developed for plastic waste management. Some of these are:

 Chemical recycling of pet bottles into fibers

 Processing of plastic waste in Blast Furnace
 Co-incineration of plastic waste in cement kilns
 Utilization of plastic waste in road construction with bitumen
 Plasma Pyrolysis Technology for disposal of plastic waste and
 Gasification,

36
The Flow Chart for Recovery Process is depicted in Figure No. 9

Figure 4.3: Schematic Diagram of Plastic Recovery Option

4.4.1 Chemical recycling of pet bottles into fibers

This method of plastic recycling, involves the breaking down of polymer chain in to their basic
components, which can then be used in various industries. The feedstock plastic recycling process
is flexible and more forbearing to the plastic additives, as compared to the mechanical plastic
recycling. This is the most costly method of recycling. The varying end products are obtained by
using following process;

Monomerization: The waste plastics are initially broken down into their constituent monomers
by chemical reaction (depolymerization). These monomers are then extracted for use as the raw
material in new plastic products. Monomerization produces higher quality plastic raw materials
than material recycling. About 50% recovery is possible through this process. The limitations of
this process is that, the large scale process setup along with clean and single resin plastic waste as
input is required.

37
4.4.2 Processing of plastic waste in Blast Furnace

Plastic waste can be co-incinerated as fuel in the iron and steel industry. This will reduce coal
consumption and hence in reduction in the consumption of energy. The proportion of waste plastic
added to coal should be about 1% by mass. When plastics are used together with coke, CO2
emission is significantly less. The excessive reducing gases are also used for blast furnace stove
and power generation.

Blast Furnace: Plastics waste can be used as an alternative raw material in blast furnaces to
generate energy for manufacturing of iron. Plastic waste can be successfully used as a reducing
agent in blast furnaces for the manufacturing of iron from its ore. Use of coke in blast furnace
provides only one type of reducing agent- carbon Monoxide. In contrast, use of plastic waste
provides one additional type of reducing agent – Hydrogen. Advantage of this process includes
use of all types of plastics including laminated plastics without creating any environmental
pollution. The high temperature inside the blast furnace around 20000C ensures that there is no
possibility of any dioxins formation even if PVC is processed.

Furthermore, as the reducing atmosphere in the low- temperature region at the top of the furnace
contains no oxygen, no dioxins are produced or resynthesized in the lower temperature zone also.

4.4.3 Co-incineration of Plastics Waste in Cement Kilns

Keeping in view the problems associated with the disposal of plastic waste, CPCB initiated a study
on “Co-incineration of plastic waste in cement kiln” in collaboration with Indian Centre for
Plastics in the Environment (ICPE), MP Pollution Control Board and ACC Ltd. Co-incineration
refers to the usage of waste materials as alternative fuels to recover energy and material value from
them. The temperature in the cement kiln process is about 14000 ° C.

The CPCB permitted the RDF and mixed plastics to be used in cement kilns and steel furnaces, as
alternative fuel, which operates above 1200 degree centigrade.

4.4.4 Utilization of plastic waste in road construction

To address the plastics waste disposal issue, an attempt has been made to describe the possibilities
of reusing the plastics waste (post-consumer plastics waste) in road construction. Central Pollution
Control Board (CPCB) Delhi has published “Indicative Operational Guidelines on Construction

38
of Polymer – Bitumen Roads for reuse of waste plastics. The document explains the method of
collection, cleaning process, shredding, sieving and then mixing with bitumen for road laying. This
study was carried out by Thiagaraj college of Engineering, Madurai and the report was circulated
to all the State Pollution Control Boards / Pollution Control Committees and other road laying
agencies for References.

By using this technology (plastics waste coated aggregate bitumen mix), several roads have been
laid in the States of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Goa. To
evaluate the performance of the built roads using plastics waste coated aggregate (PCA) bitumen
mix and also to generate data base for evolving Standards by Indian Road Congress (IRC), CPCB
has instituted a study on “Performance Studies of Polymer Coated Bitumen Built Roads during
2002-2007” to Thigarajar college of Engineering, Madurai. In the report parameters suggested by
Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) and Indian Road Congress (IRC) have been incorporated.

4.4.5 Plasma Pyrolysis Technology (PPT)

Plasma pyrolysis is a state of the art technology, which integrates the thermo-chemical properties
of plasma with the pyrolysis process. 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. Plasma Pyrolysis is the thermal
disintegration of carbonaceous material in oxygen-starved atmosphere. When optimized, the most
likely compounds formed are methane, carbon monoxide, hydrogen carbon dioxide and water
molecules.

4.4.6 Gasification

Gasification is a recycling method where waste plastics are processed into gases such as carbon
monoxide, hydrogen and hydrogen chloride. These gases are then used as the chemical raw
material for the production of chemicals such as methanol and ammonia. Almost all types of
plastics, including those containing chlorine, can be recycled under the gasification method. This
method is therefore suitable for miscellaneous plastics or plastics that are hard to sort.

39
4.5 ASSESSMENT AND QUANTIFICATION OF PLASTIC WASTE QUANTIFICATION
IN SIXTY CITIES IN INDIA

CPCB has sponsored a study to CIPET for Assessment and Quantification of Plastic Waste
generation in sixty major cities. The objective of study is given below;

 To assess the type, nature and quantum of plastics waste in the country through field survey
and physical assessment at 60 towns and Cities.
 Establish a Co-ordination mechanism with local Municipal/Metro corporations in
identifying the dump grounds/Localities of higher waste generation for the physical
assessment/characterization of MSW as per the prescribed methodology.
 To report on the existing methodology for collection of waste by urban local
bodies/Municipal bodies in different states of the country.
 To suggest the viable and appropriate recycling technologies at major cities with
investment estimation for effective Plastics waste Management (based on “Zero Waste
Concept”).

The total MSW Generated in 60 cities in India is around 48592 MT/Day and the Total Plastic
Waste generated in same cites around 3905.64 MT/Day.

4.6 BIODEGRADABLE & COMPOSTABLE PLASTICS

Compostable Plastics: The Plastics that undergoes degradation by biological process during
composting to yield CO2, water, inorganic compounds and biomass at rate consistent with other
known compostable material and leave no visible, distinguishable or toxic residue.

Biodegradable plastics made with bio based polymers have been available for many years. Their
high cost, however, has meant they have never replaced traditional non-degradable plastics in the
mass market. Types of Biodegradable Plastics: There are several degradable plastic are reported
such as: Biodegradable, Compostable, Hydro-biodegradable, Photodegradable and Biodegradable.

4.7 Plastics Waste Reduction Model

Waste Reduction Model (WARM) to estimate streamlined life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG)
emission factors for various plastics, beginning at the waste generation References point. The
WARM GHG emission factors are used to compare the net emissions associated with management

40
of plastics in the following four materials management alternatives: source reduction, recycling,
land filling, and combustion (with energy recovery).

WARM also allows users to calculate results in terms of energy, rather than GHGs. Plastics
included in WARM are high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE),
polyethylene terephthalate (PET), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), polypropylene (PP),
general purpose polystyrene (PS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). These plastics were chosen for
WARM because they represent plastics commonly found in the MSW stream.

4.8 PLASTICS RECYCLING & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The recycling of plastic waste can be a positive contribution to a sustainable development policy,
integrating environmental, economic and social aspects, within a framework of effective
legislative instruments. Continuing advances in sorting and processing technologies is increasing
the accessibility of waste previously deemed unsuitable for recycling. Greater ranges of materials
are now accepted for recycling; while developments in collection and sorting systems continue to

Figure 4.4: Life Cycle of Plastics in Waste Reduction Model

Increase quality of recycle waste generated. It should look towards the material needs of the
present, using best available technologies and practices to meet market demands, while
appreciating the impacts that future technological and material quality requirements will have on
current practice.

41
The benefits of recycling can be categorized into these aspects such as; environmental, economic,
social and Environmental awareness of the population. The more that is recycled, the longer will
natural resources be available for future generations

4.9 BOTTLENECKS OF PLASTIC RECYCLING

Plastic waste recycling has increased the world over and has been largely successful. Nevertheless,
much more effort must be done in order to reach terms of sustainable development. There are still
some difficulties that the plastic recycling industry must overcome regarding technological
bottlenecks for multilayered plastics recycling and those of demand from end-markets for the
recycled materials.

Figure 4.5: Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste. Source: CPCB

42
 CHAPTER 5

PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME (2018-2024) by UNDP

5.1 GENERAL

India generates 15 million tonnes of plastic waste every year, but only one fourth of this is recycled
due to lack of a functioning solid waste management system. This leads to burden on the landfills
and poor socio-economic conditions of the waste pickers, mostly women.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India, in partnership with Hindustan Coca-Cola
Beverages Private Limited (HCCBPL), Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), HDFC Bank & Coca
Cola India Foundation (CCIF) is building on existing systems to reduce the impact of plastic waste
on environment in India.

The partnership promotes collection, segregation and recycling of all kinds of all kinds of plastics
to move towards a circular economy.

5.2 This project aims to

 Creates a socio-technical model for

taking plastic waste management from
informal to formal economy
 Establish Material Recovery Centres
for sustained practices in waste
management.
 Institutionalize Swatchhta Kendras
within governance framework structures
and improved socio-economic
conditions of waste pickers.
Develop technology supported
knowledge management promote cloud
based traceability, accountability and
digit digital governance along waste
Figure 5.1: Waste Management Cycle

43
Value chain through our technical partner Mindtree through our technical partners.

5.3 ACHIEVEMENTS

 The project is currently operational in 36 cities, with 22 Material Recovery Centres

(swachhta Kendras) established for sustainable waste management practices.
 The plastic collected and processed so far has already crossed 66,000 metric tonnes.
 Through these centres, the project has reached out to 5500 Safai Sathis, in an effort to
institutionalize workers from the informal sector.
 UNDP was felicitated as a key partner by the Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs at the
Swachh Survekshan Awards 2020 under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
 With a strong approach towards providing social security to the Safai Sathis, Utthaan, a
social protection programme was launched to help 9000 Safai Sathsi on with regular
workshops organized for them Swachhta Kendras, where they are given assistance with
opening bank accounts, attain Aadhar cards, availing health check-up, and several other
personal other personal training sessions.

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 CHAPTER 6

CASE STUDIES

6.1 NO LONGER GOING TO WASTE: MADHYA PRADESH SHOWS THE

WAY FOR INTEGRATED PWM

The city of Indore, which is home to almost 2 million people, generates 900–1,00012 metric tonnes
of waste every day, 14 percent of which is plastic, and this is enough to fill five to seven shipping
containers. The city of Bhopal generates around 800 metric tonnes of waste per day. It is no
surprise that urban waste management is one of the top priorities of the Government of India, and
that local and affordable innovations in this sector are highly valued.

In this context, the concept of the ‘circular economy’ – an economic system intended to eliminate
waste and the ever-increasing use of resources – offers a pathway to more sustainable resource
management. It means reduced production, use and disposal of plastics. Through the single,
powerful objective of reduce > reuse > recycle, waste collectors in Bhopal and Indore are working
to prevent cast-off plastic from entering the environment in the first place.

6.1.1 A plastic waste revolution

In Bhopal, ULBs in partnership with a local organization, have been working with waste collectors
since 2008 to streamline plastic waste collection and sales to recyclers. The organization initially
developed a sustainable integrated waste management system for five wards in Bhopal, which
served as a model for the creation of a PWM policy at the state level in 2011. This model, now
known as the ‘Bhopal model’, has been replicated in all states across India (and even onwards to
Bangladesh). This innovative model recycles and processes plastic and reuses it in the construction
of roads, benefiting over two million people.

Waste pickers collect and hand over plastic waste to collection centres run by the Bhopal
Municipal Corporation. The plastic waste is scanned and segregated, and most single-use plastics
which comprise half of all the plastic in this waste stream are shredded and baled. The bales are
then taken for co-processing at cement kilns or used to build roads. It’s a win-win situation: for
waste-collectors one of the more vulnerable communities in Indian society because it doubles their
wages and ensures that something useful is done with the plastic litter. In 2010, in close

45
collaboration with the Bhopal Municipal Corporation, UNDP’s Small Grants Project (SGP)
provided an initial grant that enabled a local organization to conduct focused interventions in five
wards. Part of the interventions included organizing waste pickers into SHGs. In 2014, the local
organization was awarded another SGP grant to mobilize more than 2,000 unorganized waste
pickers in 70 wards of Bhopal Municipal Corporation.

6.1.2 Lending legitimacy

A crucial element of the project’s success was the organization’s partnership with the ULBs and
local industries. Through the SHGs, the waste collectors many of whom are socially marginalized
and illiterate women were organized and trained in waste collection and recycling activities.

The majority of these waste collectors have been provided with municipal identity cards and
uniforms through this project. While improving their livelihoods and protecting the environment,
these women contributed approximately 10 tonnes of plastic waste collected at five recovery
centres in Bhopal every day, which was recycled by cement industries in and around the city

By the end of 2016, 646 waste pickers in Bhopal were organized into 42 SHGs. More than 60
percent of these waste pickers are women, who earn a daily living from selling plastic waste. Forty
members from the various SHGs have also been trained in making bags out of used polythene,
which are sold in exhibitions across India. The success of the Bhopal project led to the
establishment of a pilot plastic recovery centre in Indore, and as a result, 3,500 waste pickers were
organized into SHGs. In addition, given the occupational hazards involved, the local organization
also conducted regular health camps, and over 850 waste collectors are now enrolled in health
insurance schemes.

6.1.3 From Waste Collection to Waste Recovery

By collaborating with local government bodies, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation allocated
230m2 of land for waste collection centres. The Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board
facilitated waste transportation to cement kilns, and the Bhopal Municipal Corporation provided
850 cycle rickshaws to the local organization to enable easier waste collection

In 2014, five plastic waste collection centres in Bhopal were upgraded to plastic waste recovery
centres. This included fitting the centres with plastic shredders, compressor scrap baling machines,

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and other necessary machinery. The centres are facilitated by the local organizations and managed
by the women SHGs. Approximately 10 tonnes of plastic waste are collected at these centres every
day. Around 45 tonnes of plastic waste is sold to cement industries in and around Bhopal to be
used as fuel in the furnaces. Around 60 tonnes of plastic waste is sold to the Madhya Pradesh Rural
Road Development Authority every month to be used in road construction.

6.1.4 On the Road

One of the most environmentally sensitive and economically useful means of repurposing plastic
waste is using it in road-making. Higher-grade polyethylene is baled and sent to cement plants to
be used as alternate fuel. These are non-recyclable plastics and can burn with coal at temperatures
>1,300°C. In collaboration with the local organizations, the SHGs in Bhopal, who manage the
plastic recovery centres, constitute small enterprises via the sales of processed plastic wastes to
recyclers, road construction agencies and cement factories. Roads made with mixed plastic are
highly durable due to their high resistance to water, which is significant for a region with an
extended monsoon.

6.2 KARNATAKA: A TEXTBOOK MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE PWM

Saahas Waste Management Pvt. Ltd. (Saahas Zero Waste, SZW) is a social enterprise, offering
integrated waste management services to BWGs (Bulk Waste Generators), corporations,
apartments and government institutions. SZW offers plastic waste services to corporations through
its EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) vertical.

The model currently provides consultancy services to help implement a holistic, decentralized
waste management system, enabling the recovery of maximum value from waste. SZW has an
ongoing project being implemented in these four locations: Udupi, Ramanagara, Mangalore and
Ballari. This project entails the design and construction of an MRF (Material Recovery Facility),
a semi-mechanized facility which receives and processes dry waste from BWGs, gram panchayats
and ULBs. The set-up of the MRF entails capital expenditure, including investments in
infrastructure, monitoring devices, material handling and safety equipment etc. The operating
expenditure is recovered through collecting a user fee from waste generators, which is charged by

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the municipal corporation. SZW engages with ULBs towards the implementation of EPR by
securing authorizations for collection of plastic waste pan-India.

6.2.1 Impact of the Model

 20,300+ metric tonnes (MTs) of waste diverted

from source to authorized end destination.
 37,000+ MTs of CO2 emissions averted.
 200,000 trees every year saved due to recycling
paper.
 252 people employed from lower socio-
economic groups.
 Formalization of waste management and
inclusion of informal workers.

6.2.2 Key highlights of the model

 End-to-end service: Sahaas offering holistic services including EPR registration, design of
action plan, implementation of EPR, quarterly project report submission, reporting and
fulfilling audit requirements.
 Reverse logistics: Saahas has a well-defined reverse supply chain that allows the effective
transportation of post-consumer waste to the authorized end destinations.
 Rejected product collection services: SZW supports brands/producers in the collection and
safe disposal of their expired/damaged products
 Traceability tool: SZW has developed tools for traceability, data monitoring and the
digitization of data through software platforms and Internet of Things and for the computer-
assisted sorting of waste, etc.
 Impact measurement: SZW is a member of UNDP’s Business Call to Action, through
which impact metrics is demonstrated for each EPR plastic waste collection centre. These
impact metrics are aligned to the SDGs

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6.2.3 Implementation process of the model

The stages of PWM implementation include:

 Mapping the supply chain

 Enrolling waste pickers/scrap dealers/micro entrepreneurs and transporters
 Issuing purchase orders, SOPs and registering vendors with end destinations
 Data capturing for waste collection
 Dispatching plastic waste to authorized end destinations for recycling/co-processing
 Providing data reconciliation and obtaining recycling/co-processing certificates from end
destinations
6.2.4 Role of Stakeholders

Fig. 6.1: Role of Stakeholders

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 CHAPTER 7

CONCLUSION

Plastics positively impact our daily lives due to their basic applications in household activities and
industrial packaging of various end-products. Although plastics have several important roles in
our lives due to their physicochemical composition, they can cause different problems to human
life and the ecosystem if the post-use disposal is not well-managed. In conclusion, we have
illustrated different methods that can be applied to treat plastic wastes so that the plastic life can
be cyclic. The applications of these methods will save the lives of people, animals, and the
environment by saving a lot of money by recycling raw-materials and reusing plastics. In addition,
it is crucial to keep the environment safe this will help everyone living in this ecosystem to spend
safe and healthy life. The recycling of plastic waste will help to improve the economy by
decreasing the production cost. Not only economically viable, but also will help to eradicate
infectious diseases that are transmitted through polluted air and water.

The various methods of plastic waste management have been adopted, but there are still prominent
flaws in majority of them which can only be avoided through exhaustive restructuring of the entire
methodology. The awareness of the Government about the waste management scenario, and their
strict intervention is required to improve prevalent conditions. This article has listed various
measures that can be taken to better manage and dispose off plastic used by industries as well as
households. Also, improvements can be made in the current procedures for plastic waste
management by increasing awareness from an elementary level with the cooperation of
educational institutions, establishing city waste disposal units at a larger scale, and also study ways
to manufacture biodegradable plastics in order to eliminate the problems at a manufacturing level
itself.

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