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Glimpse of trends in Plastic Pollution!

Updated: Feb 26, 2023

by: Samriddhi Chaturvedi, Shambhavi Krishna & Isha


History and Meaning of plastic pollution: Plastics are persistent materials that first made an appearance in the 1800s. These chemical substances are organic polymers which can either be synthetic or semisynthetic. Most plastics are composed of petrochemicals and can be thermosetting polymers or thermoplastics. Additives such as stabilizers, colourants, plasticizers, reinforcements and fillers are added to the polymers to alter the chemical and mechanical properties of the plastic produced. Though such additives increase the functionality of the plastic, they can also be toxic to certain species as well. It has been determined that polyvinyl chloride is the most toxic polymer type used on a daily basis and lead stabilizers, benzene and phthalates are some of the most unsafe additives.


Production of Bakelite, the first synthetic plastic, in 1907 marked the beginning of the global plastics industry. In 2021, the annual production of plastics went up to more than 390.7*10^9Kg. A considerable amount of this plastic contributes to waste and this accumulation of plastic in the environment to the extent that flora and fauna of the area are affected is referred to as plastic pollution. In 1972, Carpenter et al. reported the presence of small plastic particles in the Sargasso Sea. Since then, the plastic nuisance has just spiralled out of control and currently, we have around 5.7 billion tonnes of this pollutant wreaking havoc in the ecosystem.



Eradicating plastic pollution:

Plastics have inadvertently become an indispensable part of our life. Thus, eradicating plastic pollution is a difficult and long journey. Individuals can take the following steps to do their part towards this end.

Reduce the use of plastics by finding alternatives:

The easiest and most obvious way to eradicate plastic pollution is to stop using plastic. Once demand goes down, the production and waste generated will automatically go down. Alternatives such as cloth or paper bags, wooden utensils and earthen containers can be used.

Reuse:

If buying plastic products is inevitable, one must not discard them after a single use. There are many ways in which plastic containers can be repurposed and used for a longer duration. For example, a few holes can be punched at the base of a plastic bottle, which can then be used as a flower pot.

Recycle:

Many of the plastics we buy can be recycled to produce a plethora of goods. Thus, we must be mindful of the plastic waste we produce and ensure that it goes in for recycling to the necessary authorities.

Ideonella sakaiensis is a naturally occurring bacteria that can degrade PET (the most common thermoplastic polymer resin) into monomeric units. Scientists are working on designing genetically engineered bacteria which can do the same for other plastics such as LDPE.


In recent years bioplastics have been seen as a greener alternative to conventional plastics. However, as seen in the adjacent figure, this is not always the case.

*Persistent material: A substance that does not change form i.e., gets degraded under ambient conditions for a long period of time. Plastics are persistent substances or non-degradable materials and are thus considered polluting agents.

* PET: Polyethylene terephthalate

* LDPE: Low-density polyethylene

* Resin coding system: Resin codes can be observed on almost every piece of plastic. Though not designed for consumer communication, they tell us about the plastic resin type used in the product. We can determine if and how the plastic can be recycled.


The environment has been polluted extensively by more than six types of plastic.

PET/Polyethylene Terephthalate:

It is common to find PET plastics in almost every store section; they are ubiquitous in our everyday lives. Most commonly, they are used to package sodas, water, drug jars, household cleaners, and other items. Since they prevent food from rotting, they are widely used. They are among the most commonly recycled plastics.

HDPE/High-Density Polyethylene:

Milk, motor oil, conditioners, chillers, and other toiletries containers are commonly made of HDPE plastic, which is typically opaque. Plastics of this type are stronger, more stable, and can be recycled more easily than those of Type 1. It is only possible to reuse these polymers for food and beverages if they were originally designed for that purpose. Otherwise, they risk interfering with human hormone secretion.

PVC/Polyvinyl Chloride:

PVC is a tough plastic that is primarily used in plumbing in pipes and tiles. It is also found in gadgets, cleansers, cooking oil bottles, air-filled mattresses, and a variety of other items.

LDPE/Low-Density Polyethylene:

Low-density plastic products are the most robust and elastic types of plastic that are simple and inexpensive to process. Shopping bags cling wrap, squeezable bottles, and other products contain LDPE plastics. Although LDPE plastic is ideal for human convenience, it is nearly impossible to recycle and thus frequently ends up in our landfills.

PP/Polypropylene:

Polypropylene polymers have a high melting point and are used to store hot food and microwaveable meals due to their high melting point. Due to their durability, they are also used in yoghurt containers, syrup, and prescription bottles. Despite having many effective properties such as heat resistance and long-term durability, this plastic cannot be recycled and is not safe for human consumption.

PS/Polystyrene

Polystyrene (PS) plastic is a normally thermoplastic polymer that can be found as solid plastic, as well as rigid foam pollution, caused by plastic in ecosystems.

It is common to find plastic pollution in mountains, plains, and oceans on nearly all continents


1. Plastic Pollution in ocean and coasts

Plastic pollution has long been recognized as a problem primarily affecting the ocean, and both marine and coastal ecosystems are severely impacted. Despite current efforts, 75 to 199 million tons of plastic are approximated to be prevalent in our oceans and are the most prevalent, harmful, and long-lasting component of marine litter, contributing to at least 85% of total marine waste.


2. Plastics in the mountains

Mountain areas are not immune to the effects of plastic pollution. Plastic is the most pervasive type of waste found in mountains, a trend that has been driven in large part by tourism. The spread of atmospheric microplastics adds to the already significant plastic waste strain carried by mountains. Due to their remoteness, limited access to human and financial resources, lack of economies of scale, and challenging natural conditions, these regions face additional challenges in addressing plastic waste.


3. Atmospheric plastic pollution

Microplastic pollution is not limited to the ocean; these particles have been found in urban, suburban, and also in remote areas such as high-altitude glaciers, the Arctic, and Antarctica. This implies that microplastics travel long distances in the atmosphere. While the atmospheric plastics study is still in its initial phases, current evidence shows that plastic pollution is widespread as particles travel around the world.


Practice by various countries to reduce plastic pollution

Most of the world's developed nations are targeting to minimize the use of single-use plastic. Examples - Canada, China, Egypt, Japan, Mexico, Spain, etc.

· Norway recycles 97% of its plastic bottles. It is the world leader in recycling plastic bottles, due to its refundable deposit program.

· Countries like Indonesia are trying to reduce non-recyclable plastic waste.

· Kenya’s plastic ban is probably one of the strictest in the world.

· In 2016, France became the first country in the world to ban the sale and use of plastic items like food ware, takeaway boxes, cutlery etc.

· Egypt has launched Banlastic which delivers workshops, training, beach clean-ups, and various environmental events.

· Portugal has banned free plastic bags in all commercial businesses.

· The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will increase the recycling rate to 50% by 2030.

· The city of Curitiba in Brazil is known for its recycling scheme. Over 70% of the waste produced is recycled.

· In Switzerland, there are around 12,000 different recycling points across the city of Zürich. Recycling is either done through door-to-door collection or at the recycling collection points.


CASE STUDY OF HAUZ KHAS (DELHI)

A new report titled ‘State of India’s Environment 2022’ released by CSE (Centre for Science and Environment) says Delhi generates 6,89,800 Kg of plastic waste daily.

“The main reason is population density. Delhi’s population has risen over 200% between 1951 to 2001. “Deer Park” in Hauz Khas has a tall fence put up to keep people away from the animals, but this hasn't stopped people from feeding the deer with objects wrapped in plastic. In a recent example, authorities seized the environmentalist's camera when he captured images of cheetahs or deer eating polythene that was put into a cage with food. Plastic bags, broken bottles, and pan masala sachets are all over the forest, which covers 435 acres of land in South Delhi. South Delhi environmentalists also frequently hear of instances where animals have died or become ill after swallowing plastic. People carelessly dump things like plastic bags, straws, paper cups, etc. into animal enclosures or bodies of water without considering where they may end up.

Environmentalist and sea turtle expert Christine Figgener, explains how the food and air passages in turtles are connected similarly to how they are in humans. The straw may have become stuck in the reptile's nostril due to the way some of the things we vomit come out of our noses. Animals are at risk from plastic, and there have been cases of animals choking to death, as a result, all across the world. In a number of instances, animals become ill when plastic gets stuck in their intestines and stomachs.

People can be seen tossing straws and paper cups into the water at Hauz Khas Lake. Surya Prakash, an ecologist, said: "Human meddling in feeding chappatis and bread must stop as birds know how to feed themselves and what their nutritional components are. More appropriate behaviour from visitors is needed to preserve cleanliness.

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