Plastic Waste

What is Plastic Waste?

Plastic waste is defined as the waste consisting of discarded plastic material as it possesses no more consumption value and is discarded. It may include any type of domestic or industrial plastic products, packaging, or miscellaneous materials. Common sources of plastic waste include households, industries, agriculture, healthcare facilities, construction sites, commercial establishments, and institutions.

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Plastic waste is a non-biodegradable material which can remain in the environment for a long period of time, if not processed properly. Although some plastic types can be biodegradable, they still can cause environmental pollution owing to their composition. Hence, it is essential to process plastic waste in an accurate manner.

Sources

Municipal household waste

• plastic packaging (bags, wrappers, pouches, films)
• food containers and takeaway boxes
• plastic bottles (water, soft drinks, milk)
• household cleaning product bottles
• personal care and cosmetic containers
• disposable cutlery and plates
• plastic toys
• broken household items (buckets, mugs, storage boxes)
• sanitary waste (diapers, sanitary pads)

Commercial and retail waste

• shopping bags
• shrink wrap and stretch films
• blister packs
• plastic hangers
• product display packaging
• courier envelopes and bubble wrap
• disposable cups and lids

industrial and manufacturing waste

• plastic scrap and trimmings
• rejected plastic products
• resin pellets (nurdles)
• plastic drums and containers
• industrial packaging films
• plastic pallets and crates

Construction and demolition waste

• pvc pipes and fittings
• insulation foam
• plastic sheets and membranes
• flooring materials (vinyl)
• window and door frames
• cable insulation
• paint containers

Agricultural waste

• mulch films
• greenhouse plastic sheets
• irrigation pipes and drip lines
• fertilizer and pesticide containers
• silage wrap
• plastic seed trays

Healthcare and biomedical waste

• syringes and needles (plastic components)
• iv bags and tubing
• blood bags
• disposable gloves
• face masks
• medical packaging
• test kits and cartridges

Electronic and electrical waste

• plastic casings of appliances
• cable coatings
• computer and phone bodies
• circuit board components
• battery casings
• plastic connectors

Types of Plastic Waste

Post-Consumer Plastic Waste

Post consumer plastic refers to those plastic items that have completed their cycle of use, and are generally disposed of as they are of no use to the consumer. This plastic can arrive from multiple sources such as households, industries, businesses, etc. The post-consumer plastic waste constitutes the highest quantity of plastic waste processed by the municipal bodies.

Agricultural Plastic Waste

This includes the plastic waste generated from the agricultural sector. It includes components such as mulch films, greenhouse sheets, drip irrigation pipes, silage wraps, seed trays, and agrochemical containers. The agricultural waste is often contaminated with soil, and hence it must be processed using special protocols

Medical and Biomedical Plastic Waste

The waste generated from medical and biomedical is generally considered hazardous as it may be contaminated with body fluids of infected individuals, drugs, parasites, harmful chemicals, etc. This type of waste is obtained from facilities such as hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and diagnostic centers.

Problems Caused by Improper Disposal

Problems caused by improper waste disposal include:

• Non-biodegradable plastics contaminate all the ecosystems in the soil, waters, and the air (in the form of microplastics).
• In urban systems, large amounts of plastics can block the drainage systems which may lead to urban flooding.
• Plastic can pose a serious threat to wildlife through ingestion by animals.
• Unprocessed plastic waste can accumulate debris and water, thus becoming a breeding ground for insects, pests, and pathogens.
• Burning of plastic releases toxic fumes which further contribute to air pollution.
• Microplastics enter the food chain and eventually in human bodies, which can lead to long-term health consequences. Chemical additives in the plastic waste cause endocrine disorders in humans.
• Improper disposal of plastic puts a strain on the municipal and healthcare systems due to increased demand for processing and higher plastic-related health issues.
• If plastic waste is not disposed of properly, then there is a demand for creation of new plastic products, which increases the overall carbon footprint.
• As new regulations for plastic waste disposal are created, improper processing of plastic can warrant penalties for non-compliance.

Benefits of Recycling Plastic

The benefits of re-using and recycling plastic are explained below:

• Recycling plastics increases the average lifespan of plastic products and keeps them in use for a longer time, which reduces the demand for new plastic production.
• This practice also keeps more and more plastic out of natural environments- soil, water and air (by reduced plastic burning).
• It reduces energy consumption associated with plastic manufacturing.
• Moreover, reusing and recycling plastic prevents its ingestion by wildlife.
• Plastic recycling also drastically reduces its dumping in landfills, and burning haphazardly.
• Plastic recycling is emerging as a major sector, providing employment to a large number of people.
• Recycling plastic prevents it from ending up in the surroundings and ruining the environmental aesthetic

How is it Processed?

Collection and Transporation

• The first step in plastic processing is the collection of plastic waste from its sources, and transportation to the processing facility.
• Ideally, the plastic waste must be sorted at the source. However, in practice, the sorting is done after the collection of the plastic.

Segregation and Sorting

• The plastic waste is separated from other debris such as metals, glass, organic waste, etc.
• The segregated plastic is further divided into PET, HDPE, LDPE, PP, PS, and multilayer plastics types.

Cleaning and Washing

• After the sorting process is complete, the plastic material is cleaned and washed to remove any food residue, labels, adhesives, oil, and dirt.
• This step improves the quality of recycled plastic.

Size Reduction

• Using industrial chopping units, the plastic is chopped into fine pieces.
• This increases the surface area of individual plastic particles.

Recycling the Plastic

• Finally, the cleaned and particulates plastic is melted to produce a homogenous mass.
• This mass is then converted to small pellets, which are reused to make new plastic products.

Chemical Recycling

• This step is performed for those plastic components that cannot be easily separated from the contaminants.
• It consists of turning these products into individual monomers or creating plastic-based gas or fuel.

India Regulations

Plastic Waste Management Rules (PWM Rules), 2016 (and Amendments)

These rules were first introduced under India’s Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and they deal with the overall plastic management in the country. It outlines rules for the segregation, processing, organizational responsibilities and standards involved in plastic waste management. Under the PWM rules, several amendments were added to enhance the plastic waste management in the country as explained below:

• 2018 amendment: It targets the multilayer plastic that is non-recyclable, and extends the responsibility of the waste management to the manufacturers and producers.
• 2021 amendment: This amendment was made to curb the use of single-use plastics (SUPs) through several regulations.
• 2022 amendment: The 2022 amendment added new compliance standards and waste management protocols for compostable and biodegradable plastics.
• 2025 amendment: This amendment sets new compliance standards for the plastic packaging material for all kinds of products.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Guidelines (under PWM Rules)

The EPR guidelines are a section outlined under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. It explains the obligations of producers and manufacturers regarding the processing, recycling and reuse of plastic provided by them.

Why Choose ScrapRefit for Paper Waste?

At ScrapRefit, we provide high-quality plastic waste management services to organizations producing large quantities of plastic waste. With expertise in compliance with waste regulations and consistent quality, we ensure the plastic waste management requirements of our partners are fulfilled efficiently.

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