Question

First preference given to plastic far as management of plastic waste is to

Answer 1

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A MARVEL of polymer chemistry, plastics have become an indispensable part of our daily life. But repeated reprocessing of plastic waste, and its disposal cause environmental problems, pose health hazards, in addition to being a public nuisance.

The importance of this sector to the national economy can be gauged from the fact that the domestic demand is expected to cross 4 million tonnes by 2001-2002, confirming plastics as the material of choice in numerous applications due to depletion of already scarce natural resources. Packaging is the major application, accounting for nearly 52 per cent of plastic consumption.

Over the years a countrywide network for collection of plastic waste through rag-pickers, waste collectors, waste dealers and recycling enterprises, consisting of over 20,000 units, has sprung up. In 1998 around 800,000 tonnes representing 60 per cent of plastic wastes generated in the country was recycled involving 2,000 units. This level of recycling is the highest in the world. The corresponding figure for Europe is 7 per cent, Japan 12 per cent, China 10 per cent, and South Africa 16 per cent. By 2002 around 2 million tonnes of waste will go in for recycling (Central Pollution Control Board figures - 1998).

The balance unutilised waste remains uncollected lying strewn on the ground, littered in open drains or in garbage dumps, often resulting in chokage of municipal sewers and storm water drains. It should be remembered that collection of plastic waste is a source of livelihood for innumerable "rag-pickers'', or waste collectors. Plastic waste collection is a lucrative business when compared with that of other items. A typical kabadiwala displays the following rates: