Plastic – Boon or Bane

Did you realise the very first pliables were produced by German chemists in the 19th hundred via a fermentation processes. moldables be everywhere Plastics atomic number 18 one of the groovy innovations of the millennium. The fact that plastic is lightweight, does not rust or rot, helps lower transfer costs and conserves natural resources is the reason for which plastic has gained this much popularity.Plastics are everywhere and have innumerable uses Plastics are durable, lightweight, and useful. Also, the are used in packaging umteen unspoileds. Did you know that if the Titanic was made of plastic, it might calm down be cruising around the world?Below, I will discuss few of the countless number of ways that plastics change your lifePlastic has replaced metals and frappe as the primary worldly used.Used in pillows and mattresses (cellular polyurethane or polyester)Used in cars and hi-tech computersThey provide good insulation for the wiring and are durable in extre me weather conditions.They provide as a good non-reactive medium as water pipes.They are light weight and colourful.Safe for children when they are food grade plastics.Ordinary plastics commence tumefyness hazards to humans when eaten in them. accomplished as disposable bags, deal bags, wrapping paper, etc. Plastic has benefited our fraternity in a number of ways. In fact, plastic has helped in advancements in satellites, shuttles, aircraft, and missiles. As a result, civilian air travel has improved, as healthful as military air power and space exploration. In addition, the structure and construction, electronics, packaging, and transportation industries have any benefited greatly from plastic. Did you know that researches are nerve-wracking to make a television (made of plastic) that will roll up in your living room? Plastic Health and purlieual HazardsAlthough plastic has many positive influences in everyday lives, in that location have been instances when plastics have be some health and environmental hazards. Most plastics do not commove any health or environmental hazards, but some monomers that are used in manufacturing plastics, have been proved to intellect potcer. Even though recycle continues to reuse plastics, most plastics do not rot and cannot be reused. Unfortunately, this has become an environmental problem Where will the plastic be attached? But, many researchers hope to let a solution to this dilemma in the future.When every plastic can be broken down, plastic will truly become the most useful product Plastic BaneNon biodegradable.Obstruct subsurface water percolation.Microbes cannot destroy them.Produce harmful gases when burn down.Plastic bags thrown into the open drains and sewers clog them and cause stagnation of water, which in turn poses health hazardsDisposable syringes, drip bottles, blood and pee bags and other medical accessories when disposed off in an irresponsible manner, cause a lot of serious health prob lems.Animals sometimes giftd on plastics and die painfully as plastic chokes their digestive and respiratory tracts. What we can do Avoid using plastic bags for shopping. Avoid disposing plastic bags with constituent(a) decamps. Avoid using plastic chairs and tables. Plastic is made of crude oil. So lesser usage of plastic saves the crude oil. Plastic from Plants Is It an Environmental benefaction or Bane? Plant-based plastics are beginning to replace petroleum. But as the price drops and usage rises, will the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? Facts-More than 2. billion plastic bottles partially made from plants * PlantBottle from the Coca-Cola Co. is made by converting sugars from sugarcane farmed in Brazil into the polyethylene terephthalate ( pet) * Most importantly from Cokes point of view, none of the six other major varieties of plant-based plastic can keep the carbonation from leaking out.PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT IN INDIAPlastic have is recycled in India in an uno rganized way. 60% of the plastic- redundancy collected and nonintegrated gets recycled back into materials for further processing into consumer products, while the balance is left unutilized.Regulations and legislations are being enforced in two States of India viz. Haryana and Himachal pradesh, while a field of carry Plastic Waste Management Council Task Force has been execute up by the regime of India, Ministry of Environment of afforests, with the association of Department of rock oil and Chemicals, Ministry of Ur banish Affairs, Municipal confederation of Delhi and confused groups/associations of plastic manufacturers. Scope is there for the cycle/management of plastic pine away, as an organised activity in IndiaMunicipal solid molder in India contain 1-4 per cent by weight of plastic waste. Indias rate of recycling of plastic waste is the highest (60%) in the world as compared to other countries (China 10%, Europe 7%, Japan 12%, South Africa 16%, USA 10%). As a sour ce of hazard to environment, plastic account for 16% of atomic number 17 in the environment and have 54 carcinogens, polythene bags for disposal if burnt irresponsibly releases highly toxic gases wish well phosgene, carbon monoxide, chlorine, sulphur dioxide, normality oxide, besides deadly dioxin.Polymers are gradually replacing natural materials like metal, timber and fibres and thereby conserving the natural environment. Polymers are now finding change uses through blends and alloys and giving higher standards of performance and life cycles to various products. Plastics waste forms a wide range. Predominantly it is film packaging and polythene carry bags, followed by blow moulded containers, and broken and discarded moulded items.POLICY MEASURES IN INDIA various(a) policy measures are being taken to tone down the nuisance caused by plastic waste in India, through there is no certain(prenominal) policy and legislation ramed in respect of mitigating the plastic waste in the c ountry. These are Regulations and legislation (a) Until recently there has been no definite environmental policy and legislation framed in respect of plastic waste in India.The plastics waste gets generated, collected, traded, and reprocessed by known methods into useful products, thereby supplementing supply3 of untoughened materials, and at economic price. However, a HP Non-biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 1995, has been introduced by the Government of Himachal Pradesh.The Act appropriately envisages prohibition of throwing or depositing plastic articles in human race places and to facilitate the collection through garbage in identifiable and mark garbage receptacles for non-biodegradables, placed at convenient places. Haryana State has announced a Bill (1997) on Non-biodegradable Garbage on similar lines as that of Himachal Pradesh.The internal Plastics Waste Management Task Force of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, has recommended a strategy and action programme of Plastics Waste Management in India. b) Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India have issued criteria for labeling plastic products as Environmental Friendly under its Ecomark Scheme, in association with the Bureau of Indian Standards.One of the requirements for plastic products, is that the material used for packaging shall be recyclable or biodegradable. (c) The Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi (BIS) has issued guidelines on recycling of plastics waste including code of practices for collection, sorting through conventional practices continue to be adopted and accepted, enquire has been voiced to heave these, both by the authorities and NGOs.However, while formulating Indian standard specifications for various plastic products, used for critical applications like plastic piping system, water-storage tanks, packaging for food articles, a clause is included which reads no recycled plastics waste shall be used. An exercise has also been carried out by the Ministry of Environment and Forest in association with Bureau of Indian Standards to include use of recycled plastic waste wherever appropriate in the manufacture of plastic products and this should be qualify accordingly in the relevant Indian Specifications.(d) The Prevention of sustenance Adulteration Department of the Government of India, has issued directives to various catering establishments to use except food-grade plastics, while selling or serving food items. Rules have specified use of foodgrade plastic, which meets certain essential requirements and is considered safe, when in contact with food. The intention is to check possible contamination, and to avert the danger from use of recycled plastic. The Scheme announced in February, 1995 is being implemented in cooperation with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) which has formulated a series of standards on this subject.The Bureau of Indian Standards Sub-committee PCD 12. 17 is charged with formulating guidelines, codes and specifications for recycling of plastics. Two documents, viz. , Guidelines for Recycling of Plastics and Recycled Plastics for Manufacture of Products, Designation have been finalised. (e) The aboriginal Pollution Control Board, New Delhi had assigned a study on Status of Waste Plastics Recycling in NCR Delhi to Shri Ram Institute for industrial Research Delhi.Among the conclusions of this study, the following deserve particular mention There is need to formulate and enforce code of good practice both for the processor and the consumer. In particular, standards need to be laid down for products from various plastics waste including the co-mingled one. Directives should be imposed for a periodic air quality and health/hygienic check in the reprocessing units. (f) During September 1996, (and earlier during September, 1994) a depicted object Conference on Plastics and Environment was organised at New Delhi, by FICCI and Plast India Foundation.It was during the Conference that the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India announced the setting up of national Plastics Waste Management Task Force, with representations of Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Urban Affairs, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Plast India Foundation, The All India Plastics Manufacturers Association, All India Federation of Plastics Industry, NOCIL, IPCL, and experts from BMTPC, FICCI and CII.The Task Force has submitted its report (August 1997) and skeletal Strategy and Action Programmed for Plastics Waste Management in India. (g) A National Association of PET industry has recently been formed by PET manufacturers and users in India which is expected to look after the organized collection and recycling of PET bottles/containers waste.CONCLUSIONPlastic Waste Management has assumed great significance in view of the urbanization activities.Plastic waste generated by the polymer manufacturers at the production, extrusion, quality control lab. Testing etc. , stages, as well as, by the consumers require urgent disposal and recycling to avoid health hazards. Various strategies are being devised to mitigate the impact of plastic waste in India. Banning plastic bags oversteps the role of government The Huntington Beach metropolis Council voted 4-3 on Oct. 4 to authorize an environmental impact report on the possible effects of banning plastic grocery bags in the city.The study is the next step in the councils ill-advised crusade to eat single-use plastic grocery bags from within city limits and impose a fee of 10 cents per bag on shoppers who opt for paper bags from merchants. The proposed ban would be unwise, invasive and overreaching public policy because it attempts to use the coercive meaning of government to alter port and because it imposes a new fee on shoppers in Huntington Beach the equivalent of a new tax. Residents of Surf city should be offended.Technically non-partisan Mayor Joe Carchio and c ouncil members Don Hansen and Matthew Harper voted against the proposal all three are Republican, though the council is technically nonpartisan. Council members Connie Boardman, Keith Bohr, Joe Shaw and Devin Dwyer voted to move forward with authorizing the EIR. We find it peculiar that Mr. Dwyer would vote for such a policy, given that he describes himself as a conservative Republican. The council selected Rincon Consulting to conduct the study, which will cost nearly $30,000.The city will front the money for the report, but it is to be eventually borne by local environmental groups. The city will also pay an superfluous $10,000 in printing and copying costs for the study. Legislating personal behavior This second vote brings the council closer to making a bag ban a reality. But before proceeding, council members supporting the proposed ordinance ought to reconsider and confer several questions Is there sufficient evidence to suggest plastic bags real have a significant impact o n the environment compared with socalled reusable bags?Is it the role of the local city council to legislate personal behaviors and purchasing choices? Is it in fiscal matters prudent to impose a paper-bag fee on residents? The Huntington Beach council volume is pursuing a reckless policy that will have a negative economic impact on the community and be a blow to the individual liberties of residents. Voters ought to reach out to City Hall, and, if that does not work, nail the council members who support the bag ban accountable at the ballot box.