Plastics and the Environment
INDIAN CENTRE FOR PLASTICS IN THE ENVIRONMENT www.icpeenvis.nic.in / www.icpenviro.org Growing population and increasing demand for various goods and services have put severe pressure on our natural resources and fragile eco system. Plastics offer an effective, environment friendly and economical alternative to score of materials and offer greater protection against environmental pollution. Use of plastics therefore has become not only desirable but also inevitable for a sustainable development.
CONSUMPTION OF PLASTICS World
≈ 225 Mn Tons Per Capita ~ 29 Kgs
India
≈ 8 Mn Tons Per Capita ~ 7 Kgs 2011 Figure
Per Capita Consumption
≈ 250 Mn Tons
USA ~ 109 Japan
~ 116
China Malaysia
~ 29 ~ 55
Singapore Thailand Brazil
~ 43 ~ 42 ~ 32
&
≈ 11 Mn Tons Respectively in 2013
From a meager commercial beginning in the early part of 20th Century, production of synthetic plastics has reached more than 100 million tons by the end of that century. In the year 2011, the world production of plastics has reached about 225 million tons and per capita consumption stood at around 29 Kgs. During the same year India’s production figure stood at around 8 million tons with per capita consumption just over 7 kgs, much below the world average.
MAJOR REASONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AIR POLLUTION WATER POLLUTION SOIL POLLUTION GREEN HOUSE EFFECT & GLOBAL WARMING DEPLETION OF OZONE LAYER If we analyse different reasons for Environmental Pollution, we note that the following are the major ones: Air Pollution, Water Pollution, Soil Pollution, Global Warming and Depletion of Ozone layer. We will attempt to examine the role of plastics in each of these environmental issues.
Plastics TOP GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION SAVER In 2005, Total Global Emissions was 46 GtCO2e It could have been 51.2 Gt CO2e, but for the savings by Chemical Industry Savings by Chemical Industry 11%
Among The Top 10 Green House Gas Emission Saving Sectors - 4 are Plastics
Insulation Materials
Packaging
Automobiles
Piping
Source: McKinsey cLCA study for ICCA
PLASTICS SAVE GREEN HOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
GHG EMISSION SAVING BY PLASTICS PACKAGING
Total Saving ˜ 220 Mt COe Source: McKinsey cLCA study for ICCA
CONSUMPTION OF PLASTICS IN THE PACKAGING SECTOR ALONE HAS SAVED THE EARTH OF 220 MN TONS OF CO2e IN 2005
USES OF PLASTICS
PACKAGING
FOOD & BEVERAGES – – –
READY TO EAT FOOD MILK/ TEA/COFFEE/ BISCUIT / ICECREAME CHOCOLATE SOFT DRINK / FRUIT JUICE/ WATER
PHARMACEUTICALS –
TABLETS/ SYRUP/BASIC DRUGS
MEDICAL –
BLOOD / IV SOLN.
COSMETICS / TOILETRIES
PACKAGING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS RICE/ WHEAT/ PULSES/SUGAR/ED OIL
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS CEMENT / FERTILISERS
CHEMICALS WATER BOTTLES
BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION • PIPES & FITTINGS
• DOORS / WINDOWS
• PARTITION
• FLOORINGS
MEDICAL APPLICATIONS • DISPOSABLE SYRINGES • I V SETS • CATHETRES • HEART VELVE • TUBE FOR PACEMAKER WIRE • INSTRUMENT TRAYS • X-RAY FILMS
AGRICULTURE
Canal lining Green House
Mulch Film Sprinkler/Drip/Micro irrigation
WATER TRANSPORTATION
ELECTRICALS & ELECTRONICS
AUTOMOBILES
MAJOR BENEFITS OF PLASTICS
MILK
Today, more than 45 Million Indian families daily receive fresh Milk ‌.. thanks to Plastic Pouches No Polyethylene Pouch ???
Operation Flood will have to be recast, Can we turn the clock back?
ENERGY SAVING One Lac Litres of Milk Packaging Glass vs. Plastic Energy consumption in GJ for Manufacture of Packaging Raw Materials, Packaging and Transportation of Milk
Energy Saving – 86% Energy Recovery with Plastics Waste - 20 GJ Source: LCA Study by IIT (Delhi)
ENERGY SAVING One Lac MT. of Atta Packaging Jute vs. Plastic Energy consumption in GJ for Manufacturing Packaging Raw Materials, Packaging and Transportation of Atta Energy Saving – 81% Energy Recovery with Plastics Waste-35 GJ Source: LCA Study by IIT (Delhi)
EFFICIENT PACKAGING ‌ Cost of Packaging
Energy Consumption
Volume of Waste
Without Plastics With Plastics
Weight of Packaging Source: GVM, Germany-1987 / 91 (APME) Use of plastics for efficient packaging has resulted in: Reduction in cost of Packaging by 300 %, Reduction in Energy Consumption by 150 %, Reduction in Volume of Waste by 100 %, Reduction in Weight of Packaging by 200 %, in comparison to alternate materials of packaging.
Plastics - The best packaging medium
WOOD CONSERVATION : A MUST Wooden Crates are Simply not available anymore !!
Yearly consumption 50 million Plastic Chairs & 15 million Crates
Savings over 10 yrs. ~ Close to 20 million trees Source: Economic Times Polymer Bureau
ENERGY REQUIREMENTS OF VARIOUS MATERIALS
LDPE
HDPE
PS
PVC
ABS
PP
PMMA
PC
PET
PA-66
PA-6
MOD.PPO
ACETAL
STEEL
Zn-DIE CAST
Al-DIE CAST
Mg-DIECAST
Plastics consume least energy for conversion into product. Hence, wherever plastic products are replacing alternate materials like metal, glass or even paper, we save energy and save the environment to that extent.
DESPITE ALL THESE BENEFITS PLASTICS ARE UNDER THE SCANNER
• ISSUES: • SAFETY • TOXICITY • BIODEGRADABILITY • DISPOSAL
SAFETY
PLASTICS ARE APPROVED SAFE MATERIAL FOR USE •
IN CONTACT WITH FOOD, PHARMACEUTICALS AND DRINKING WATER
•
AS IMPLANTS WITHIN HUMAN BODY
TOXICITY ISSUE: PLASTICS ARE TERMED AS TOXIC AND INJURIOUS TO HEALTH REALITY: •
PLASTICS ARE INERT MATERIALS AND HENCE DO NOT POSE ANY DANGER OF TOXICITY
•
ADDITIVES USED IN PLASTICS ARE APPROVED AS PER BIS / FDA STANDARDS
•
EMISSIONS AT FIRE SITUATION HAVE SIMILAR OR LESSER IMPLICATIONS IN COMPARISON TO SITUATION INVOLVING NATURAL ORGANIC MATERIALS LIKE WOOD & COTTON
BIODEGRADABILITY •
PLASTICS ARE USEFUL FOR ITS LONG LIFE CHARACTERISTICS
•
BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS ARE REQUIRED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS LIKE NURSERY BAGS, MULCH FILM, ONE – TIME USE ITEMS TO BE CARRIED IN REMOTE PLACES / SHIPS.
•
THERE ARE IMPORTANT APPLICATIONS OF BIOPLASTICS IN MEDICAL SECTOR AND IN AGRICULTURAL SECTOR.
•
BIS HAS RECENTLY ADOPTED ISO 17088:2008 ON COMPOSTABLE PLASTICS IN ITS INDIAN STANDARD
•
BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED FOR MASS APPLICATIONS AS COMPOSTING CREATES GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION – CO2 AND CH4. WITHOUT SPECIFIC CONDITIONS COMPOSTING DOES NOT TAKE PLACE. THERE ARE DISPUTES OVER THE ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY IN THE USE OF SOME OTHER TYPES OF BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS.
• • •
BIODEGRABLE PLASTICS WOULD POSE A CONFLICT WITH RECYCLING ACTIVITY. WORLD PRODUCTION OF BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS IS AROUND 0.5 Mn TONS COMPARED TO ABOUT 250 Mn TONS OF NORMAL PLASTICS.
INDUSTRY RECOMMENDS RECYCLING OVER BIODEGRADATION
DISPOSAL ISSUE: PLASTICS ARE BLAMED AS THE MAJOR CAUSE OF SOLID WASTE PROBLEM REALITY: • ACCORDING TO INDIAN STUDIES PLASTICS FORM ABOUT 5 – 6 % OF TOTAL MSW
WHILE ALL SOLID / THICK PLASTICS WASTE ARE SYSTEMATICALLY PICKED UP BY THE WASTE COLLECTORS FOR RECYCLING, DISPOSAL OF THIN PLASTIC CARRY BAGS, SINGLE-USE PLASTIC WASTE AND MULTI-LAYER PACKETS HAVE CREATED SOLID WASTE PROBLEM
THIS IS THE REAL ISSUE AND REQUIRES SOLUTION
SOLUTION TO DISPOSAL PROBLEM • SEGREGATION AT SOURCE • PROPER SYSTEM FOR COLLECTION OF SEGREGATED WASTES FOR FORWARDING TO RECYCLERS • INCENTIVES / ENCOURAGEMENT FOR RECYCLING • UPGRADATION OF THE EXISTING MECHANICAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGY • ENCOURAGEMENT FOR ALTERNATE METHODS OF RECYCLING / RECOVERY OF ENERGY
WASTE MANAGEMENT
SEGREGATION OF WASTE AT SOURCE
Rag pickers with van
Loading of dry waste in Municipality van
Dry waste being carried for loading into Municipality van Dry waste at housing colonies
Municipality van with dry waste on way to segregation area
SEGREGATION OF WASTE AT SOURCE
Segregation of dry waste
Storing of segregation dry waste in secured place
Packing of segregated dry waste
Segregation of dry waste being weighed and sold to recyclers / traders
PLASTICS RECYCLING / RECOVERY OPTIONS ISO 15270:2008 Material Recovery Plastics Waste
Mechanical Recycling Feedstock Recycling Biological Recycling
Energy Recovery
Most Adopted
•Monomer •Fuel •Reducing Agent in Blast Furnace •Gasification
•Co‐ Processing in Cement Kilns •Heat & Power Generation
RECYCLING
Waste fertliser, cement and other bulk packaging bags are recycled in to Newar Patti for making cots and to Box Strapping for use in packaging industry.
RECYCLING
Waste Automobile battery cases are recycled into cheaper luggage and Brief cases for use by common mass.
RECYCLING
Waste PET bottles are converted into Floor Carpets, Fibre filling for pillows, mattresses and other fibre products.
FUEL FROM WASTE PLASTICS
Waste generated out of mixed plastics, co-mingled plastics and multilayered plastics are generally difficult for normal recycling and hence creates waste management problem, as those are often abandoned. Success has already been achieved in recycling such plastics waste in to industrial fuel in an environmentally friendly technology. Technologies are available indigenously. This option has the benefit of using mixture of different types of plastics waste, mixed together, without segregation. Elaborate cleaning / washing is not required. Encouragement is required for popularizing this technology among the entrepreneurs for its commercial utilization and solving the plastics waste issue.
FUEL FROM WASTE PLASTICS
Mobile Waste to Fuel Plant – 50 kgs per batch
ENERGY RECOVERY IN CEMENT KILN
ACC PLANT AT KYMORE, MP
RECOVERY OF CALORIFIC ENERGY FROM PLASTICS CALORIFIC VALUES OF DIFFERENT PLASTICS MJ/Kg – POLYETHYLENE 46 – POLYPROPYLENE 44 – POLYAMIDE 32 – PET 22 CALORIFIC VALUE OF COAL : 29 MJ/Kg One of the most effective methods of recycling of plastics waste for recovery of energy is its use as an alternative fuel in cement kilns. The high temperature used in the cement kilns gives a scope for use of even some type of plastics waste contaminated with toxic chemicals like pesticides and some other hazardous materials. No segregation or cleaning is required for such type of disposal. Low-end plastics waste, which creates a waste management problem, may provide the vital energy to the cement industry. There are about 170 cement kilns in the country, in different zones. Even at the rate of 30 MTD of plastics waste per cement kiln, the total requirement of plastics waste by theses cement kilns could be more than 2.0 million tons, much higher than the total plastics waste generation in India. Plastics Waste are also used as Reducing Agent in Blast Furnace for the manufacture of iron from its ore. Use of coke in the blast furnace provides only one type of reducing agent – Carbon Monoxide. In contrast, use of plastics waste provides one additional reducing agent – Hydrogen. The process also reduces generation of ‘ash’. A steel manufacturing facility having production capacity of 3 million tons per anum, can consume 600, 000 Mts of plastics waste (reference – Japan).
ADVANTAGES
• ALL TYPES OF MIXED PLASTICS WASTE CAN BE USED TOGETHER – NEEDS NO SEGREGATION • NO MAJOR CLEANING REQUIRED • NO TOXIC EMISSION – OPERATIONAL TEMPERATURE ≈ 2000 ° C
CPCB in India has approved such co-processing of plastics waste in Indian Cement Kilns
PLASTICS WASTE IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION
Prof. V S Aghase Road – Dadar, Mumbai
Plastics Waste has been successfully used in the construction of asphalt roads. Plastics waste is converted in to powdery form or is shredded in to small pieces and is added with the hot bitumen or hot aggregates, partly substituting bitumen to the tune of 10 – 15 % by weight. This results in better quality of road with higher life at lesser cost and providing a scientific solution to the disposal of low-end plastics waste.
PLASTICS WASTE IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION
August 2008
ASPHALT PLANT OF BMC, WORLI, MUMBAI
Prof. V S AGHASE ROAD DADAR, MUMBAI
PLASTICS WASTE IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION
July_2010
Prof. V.S. Agashe Road, Dadar, Mumbai
PLASTICS WASTE IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION
Bidyasagar Street – Kalyani Near Kolkata, West Bengal
Bidyasagar Road Kalyani – West Bengal
3 Years After Construction
MECHANICAL RECYCLING OF MIXED PLASTICS
Sanjay Gandhi National Park - Mumbai
LUMBER AS WOOD SUSTITUTE INDIAN MACHINERY MFRER OFFERING SMALLER & CHEAPER PLANT
ALL THESE OPTIONS ARE EFFECTIVE WHEN THE WASTE GENERATED IS SEGREGATED AT THE SOURCE AND IS HANDLED APPROPRIATELY
Segregate waste at source. Adopt and popularize the concept of Two – Bin Culture