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PLASTIC POLITICS SYMPOSIUM ON PLASTIC POLLUTION AND MANAGEMENT FOR THE STATE OF KERALA On 10 TH OCTOBER 2012 In Kochi Organized by Co- hosted by TheCorporation of cochin Beaumonde The Fern Kochi Muzris Biennale

"Plastic Politics" by Global Ocean

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A report on plastic pollution in Kerala *How Plastic Enters the Food Chain *Types of Debris *Plastic Consumption in India *Plastics Recycling and Integrated *Waste Management *Innovative Plastic Recycling *Questionnaire and Poll Results *Recommendations

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Page 1: "Plastic Politics" by Global Ocean

 

PLASTIC POLITICS

SYMPOSIUM ON PLASTIC POLLUTION AND MANAGEMENT FOR THE STATE OF KERALA

On

10TH OCTOBER 2012

In Kochi

Organized by

Co- hosted by

TheCorporation of cochin Beaumonde The Fern Kochi Muzris Biennale

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PROCEEDINGS

Edited By : Solly Solomon

Education Director Global Ocean India .

Published by : Global Ocean India

1/1903 Kunnumpuram

Fort Kochi PO Kerala 682001

Copyright : Global Ocean India

1/1903 Kunnumpuram

Fort Kochi PO Kerala 682001

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Foreword

Global Ocean ia a marine conservation foundation with a mission to mitigate the

harmful effects of plastic pollutants in the environment for the benefit of human and marine

health. Human activities are responsible for a major decline of the world’s biological

diversity, and the problem is so critical that combined human impacts could have accelerated

present extinction rates to 1000–10,000 times the natural rate. In the ocean, the threat to

marine life comes in various forms, such as over-exploitation and over-harvesting, pollution,

alien species, land reclamation, dredging and climate change. One particular form of human

impact constitutes a major threat to marine life: the pollution by plastic debris.

Plastics is one of the fastest growing industries in India and the next 20 years will

witness an unprecedented growth in all sectors of the plastics industry according to the

PlastIndia Foundation (www.plastindiafoundation.org).

It is, therefore, imperative that a system to keep plastics out of our environment is put

in place as soon as possible. One cannot have awareness of this issue without action, and as

we are collectively responsible for using plastic, we are equally responsible for removing the

plastic from our natural environment.

The symposium was targeted to give a platform to discuss management of plastic

waste and its immense opportunities for recycling, reusing, conversion and alternatives. It

also looked at innovative ideas that could become a permanent solution for the plastic menace

that we face.

It is also imperative for businesses and organisations to work together to tackle the

multiple challenges of pollution control. It is hoped that greater awareness will reduce the

amount of plastics that gets into our water, air and food supplies, by making us more diligent

in its disposal and more committed to creating efficient waste management systems.

The Corporation of Cochin is indeed making a commendable effort in making the city

clean and organizing various awareness initiatives. More than these initiatives and awareness

programs it is the self initialization of public concern that has to be ignited. If the people of

Kerala can build on efforts already in existence today and implement other systems already

successful elsewhere in the world, the state may indeed offer a formula for managing

discarded plastic that could be implemented in a national framework.

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We are grateful to be offered a platform by the Cochin Corporation and The Kochi

Biennale foundation and for the generous hospitality of our hosts at the The Fern Hotel.

Solly Solomon Education Director Global Ocean India.

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Organizing committee

• Ms. Melanie Salmon, Director, Global Ocean .

• Mr. T.K Ashraf, Chairman, Health Standing Committee, Corporation of Cochin.

• Dr. Rajan Chedambath, Secretary, Centre for Heritage, Environment and Development, Corporation of Cochin.

• Dr. Nirmala Padmanabhan, Head, Dept of Economics St Theresas College Cochin

• Mr. Solly Solomon, Education Director, Global Ocean India.

• Ms. Dhanya Chungath, Global Ocean India

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1. Inaugural session

The symposium was willingly attended by people from different sectors of

society including policy makers, businessmen, educationalists, hoteliers, builders,

environmentalists, The Navy, social workers, Non-Profit-Organizations, people from

various print and electronic media and others.

Dr.Rajan Chedambath, Secretary of the Centre for Heritage, Environment and

Development of the Corporation of Cochin, welcomed the delegates and guests.

Melanie Salmon, Founder of Global Ocean, gave a brief introduction about Global

Ocean and its activities around the world.

The program was formally inaugurated by the honourable member of the

legislative assembly, Sri. Hiby Eden. In his inaugural address the Hon. MLA, stressed

on the significance of the symposium and the various ill effects of plastic pollution in

the State of Kerala. He highlighted the need to develop and implement initiatives in

order to make a better environment for future generations to sustain and manage.

The inaugural session was felicitated by the Hon. Deputy mayor Smt. Bhadra,

She explained how the City of Cochin is dependent on the marine sectors, and how

the pollution of the marine environment adversely affects the social and economic

well-being of us all. Moreover, she briefly described the impact of plastic pollution

on marine life. She commented on the initiative taken by Global Ocean in this regard.

Sri. T.K. Ashraf, Health Standing Committee Chairman of the Corporation of

Cochin, delivered the vote of thanks to all the guests and delegates who spared their

valuable time for this noble cause and to all who worked on and off the screen for the

successful conduct of the program.

The inaugural session was followed by screening the trailer of the film Plastic

Oceans (www.plasticoceans.net). This preceded the technical sessions which were

handled by experts from the field who described what actually happens around us that

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is largely hidden from our eyes.

2. Technical sessions

2.1. Dr. V. Kripa, Principal Scientist and Head, Fishery Environment Management Division, CMFRI Cochin, handled the first session on ‘How plastic enter into the food chain?’

About the speaker:

Dr.(Mrs).V.Kripa, Principal Scientist, is the Head of Fishery Environment Management Division of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute India. She has more than 26 years of service in Research, Management and Extension activities relating to the Fisheries and Aquaculture sector; has published more than 95 publications in related subjects; has been awarded the T.V.R.Pillay award (as a team) for coastal livelihood development through bivalve mariculture in the year 2011, and received the commendable paper award for the work on Women empowerment in the International symposium on Gender and Fisheries organized by the Asian Fisheries Society. In a recent competition conducted by UNEP for World Environment Day Celebrations (WED-2012) for promoting Green Economy, Dr Kripa’s Environment team from CMFRI, was among 35 finalists shortlisted from 9200 global contestants.

She is currently working on coastal habitat restoration, participatory programmes in environment conservation, climate change and environmental aspects related to marine fisheries.

Summary of her presentation

Dr. Kripa briefly explained the sources and types of plastic wastes that enter into our

environment, and how it enters into the food chain causing irreversible damage. Through her

scholarly talks she explained how plastic affects the surface waters, impacts negatively on

plankton, the commercial fisheries and the water-column, and how it adversely affects the

bottom flora and fauna.

She described direct and indirect sources of marine litter. The characterisation of

marine debris was based on its floating nature. According to her, micro-plastics were the

most unnoticed but deleterious pollutant. Possible effects of microplastics on marine

organisms after ingestion are threefold: physical blockage or damage of feeding appendages

or digestive tract, leaching of plastic component chemicals into organisms after digestion, and

ingestion and accumulation of sorbed chemicals by the organism.

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Nurdles - pre-production plastic resin pellet typically under 5 mm (0.20 in) in

diameter found outside of the typical plastics manufacturing stream can carry two types of

micropollutants in the marine environment: native plastic additives and hydrophobic

pollutants absorbed from seawater. For example, concentrations of PCBs and DDE on

nurdles collected from Japanese coastal waters were found to be up to 1 million times higher

than the levels detected in surrounding seawater.

Ingestion of plastic causes Blockages of the esophogus and intestinal tract. Sharp

objects results in injuries and infections, Toxins can accumulate in an animal’s tissues

affecting the health and wellness of the animal. Seabirds and hatchling sea turtles may eat

plastic debris that is toxic when ingested, resulting in reproductive failure or death. Sea turtles

may mistake floating debris for food, which can lead to suffocation or intestinal blockage

when ingested. Whales can ingest marine debris that can become entangled in their baleen,

cause choking, or interfere with digestion.

She quoted the study On July 1, 2006, Cynthia Vanderlip conducted a necropsy of a

chick. The contents of the bird’s stomach amazed and shocked the teachers and scientists.

The dead chick was severely impacted and literally full of plastics. Some pieces were

approximately 6 inches long and several were sharp and jagged. We could conclusively state

this bird was killed by the plastic debris because of the observed puncture in the lining of the

proventriculus. We removed the plastic from our bird and counted an excess of 306 pieces of

plastic.

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Study by CMFRI indicates the quantity of non biodegradable waste ranged between at

2 to 18 kg day-1 and consisted of rubber tyres, bottles, metal plates, tin cans etc during the

pre-monsoon period. The quantity of debris flowing into the coastal ecosystem was found to

be considerably higher during the full moon and new moon period coinciding with the spring

tides.

Types  of  debris  /  litter  in  Kerala  The   occurrence   by   weight   as   well   as   nature   of   the   biodegradable   objects  strewn  along  beaches  was  studied.   Canals  in  urban  areas  were  more    affected   The  intensity  varied  in  different  locations.  

Plastics  in  turtle  stomach

CMFRI,  Kochi

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Number of plastic and glass bottles accumulating in a stake net

placed near Northern Vermbanad area

Latest research suggests that plastic is also a source of dissolved substances that can

easily become widely dispersed in the marine environment. Many of these chemicals are

believed to be toxic to humans and animals. They release a range of chemicals, such as

bisphenol A and substances known as polystyrene-based (PS) oligomers, which are not found

naturally. Bisphenol A has been implicated in disrupting the hormonal system of animals,

including humans.

8   7   9  12  

25  28  30  

38  32  

44  48  

10  13  18  17  21  

24  32  

6   4   6   0   3   0   4   1   0   2   0   1   4  6   4   7   0  0  

1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18  Day  of  observa,on  

No  of  plas3c  In  one  stake  net  of    

frame  area  15sqm  about  48    plas3c  bo?les  are  accumulated  during    a  period  of  6  hrs  

CMFRI,  Kochi

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In September 2010, Canada became the first country to declare BPA a toxic

substance. The EU, Canada, and recently the US have banned BPA use in baby bottles.

Bisphenol A is an endocrine disruptor which can mimic estrogen and may lead to negative

health effects. A 2011 study that investigated the number of chemicals pregnant women are

exposed to in the U.S. found BPA in 96% of women. Higher bisphenol A levels were

significantly associated with heart disease, diabetes, and abnormally high levels of certain

liver enzymes.

“The problem is, BPA is also a synthetic estrogen, and plastics with BPA can break

down, especially when they're washed, heated or stressed, allowing the chemical to leach into

food and water and then enter the human body. That happens to nearly all of us; the CDC

has found BPA in the urine of 93% of surveyed Americans over the age of 6. If you don't have

BPA in your body, you're not living in the modern world”…The perils of plastic – TIME

Magazine.

The session was concluded by the suggestion of various management and preventive

measures that can be adopted by everyone to tackle this issue.

2.2 Dr. Bijoy Nandan Associate Professor CUSAT explained about the impact of plastic pollution on the marine and human health.

About the speaker

Dr. S. Bijoy Nandan, an ECOLOGIST, is presently Associate Professor in Marine Biology, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science & Technology (CUSAT). He had earlier served as Senior Scientist and Head, Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute Centre (ICAR), Kerala and as Sr. Officer in Central Institute of Fisheries, Nautical & Engineering Training (CIFNET), Govt. of India, Cochin. He has conducted post doctoral research of CSIR, in the Dept. of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries, University of Kerala. He was a participant of the Indian Arctic research Expedition in 2011 and also worked as consultant in the United Nations funded research project in King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Saudi Arabia. Bijoy Nandan is member of noted professional/ academic bodies in India and abroad. He is the Technical member of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board. Bijoy Nandan has over 103 research publications in peer reviewed journals of national and international repute, books, book chapters, and popular articles. He has visited several countries in connection with his academic and research assignments and is supervising

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students for Ph.D programmes in several universities.

Summary of the presentation

Plastic is used very commonly in the world because they are cheap, easy to make and

long lasting. But sorry to say, these useful qualities make plastic a real menace to the

environment. Neither biodegradable nor sustainable, 105 million tons of plastic is produced

annually in the world, whilst 2.5 million tonnes is produced in India. The use of plastic in

Western and European countries is averaging 70 kg per person per year, whilst in India it is 4

kg per person per year.

Global per capita consumption of plastic (kg)

World average 26

North America 90

West Europe 65

East Europe 10

China 12

India 5

South-East Asia 10

L. America 18

Individual plastic consumption in India

Material Year1999-2000 2000-01

HDPE 515496 540000

PVC 649000 700000

PP 789480 905000

PS 175382 193300

LDPE/LLDPE 723860 820000

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Health impacts due to burning of plastics.

Burning plastic bottles releases heavy metals such as cadmium and lead, along with

toxic chemicals into the air. These chemicals include benzene, dioxins, furans and

polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Burning polyvinyl chloride (PVC) releases hydrochloric acid,

which contributes to acid rain. Dioxins and furans occur from the burning of waste,

including plastics. One dioxin, known as TCDD, is linked to cancer in humans. Burning of

polyurethrene foam releases about 57 cancer causing chemicals which include extremely

toxic toluene diso cyanate. The PVC gives off vinyl chloride gas, even the trace quantities of

which cause liver cancer. Generally, higher concentration of vinyl chloride is detected around

the rubbish dumps. Often they are set fire or they catch fire emitting smoke containing

hydrogen fluoride, which is not only very poisonous but also contributes to acid rain.

Antimony is also found in many fruit juice and squash bottles.

When PVC is processed in a poorly ventilated area formed in the absence of

sufficient oxygen and at a temperature more than 300°C, carbon monoxide is produced.

During incineration, PVC evolves dioxin, which is also highly toxic. Bisphenol - an

endocrine disruptor which can mimic oestrogen and has been linked with an array of

afflictions as diverse as diabetes, heart disease, breast cancer, thyroid disorders, ADHD,

infertility, erectile dysfunction, early-onset menstruation and obesity. Bisphenol A and other

persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can pass through the placental wall and also enter infants

through breast milk.

The Tragic Condition of The Marine Environment

Within the oceans of the world, there are five plastic islands, or five “gyres.” The

oceans’ currents, the world’s wind patterns, and the Earth’s rotation cause “gyres.” Within

the gyres, plastic congregates and accumulates, creating gyres in the North Pacific, South

Pacific, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Indian Ocean. These gyres resemble “plastic

soups” more than “plastic islands”.

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An estimated 1.1-1.26 kg/person/day is generated on board the ships as waste plastic

and thrown overboard. It is estimated that merchant ships alone dump about 5, 00,000 plastic

containers each day in international waters.

Plastic degradation at sea takes between 45-1000 years. When plastic reaches one of

the gyres, it remains there for years, gradually disintegrating, until the oceans’ currents take it

to a beach. Research on the Great North Pacific Garbage Patch, or the plastic island in the

North Pacific, has shown that the concentration of plastics at the heart of this gyre is six

times greater than that of plankton

Entanglement - animals get trapped or stuck in plastic pollution which limits the

animals movement and can lead to starvation. In the ocean, plastic debris injures and kills

fish, seabirds and marine mammals. Marine plastic pollution has impacted at least 267

species worldwide, including 86% of all sea turtle species, 44% of all seabird species and

43% of all marine mammal species. The impacts include fatalities as a result of ingestion,

starvation, suffocation, infection, drowning and entanglement.

Coral reefs can be harmed via scouring, abrading, or breakage when marine debris

snags or entangles coral . Ghost fishing—the entrapment of fish in lost or abandoned gear

such as gillnets, traps, cages, and pots—is a widely acknowledged problem

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Algalita Marine  Research  Foundation  N.  Pacific  Central  Gyre  voyage  2008

672  fish  caught,  6  species35%  had  ingested  micro-­‐plastic  fragments

A recent study found that plastics take up and accumulate persistent organic pollutants (POPs), It affect ultimately humans through food chain.

Plastics contaminate the marine food chain Ingested plastic has potential to transfer

toxic substances to the food chain(Teuten el at. 2009). By migration of toxic additives: Many

studies show that additives leach out of plastic packaging. Chemicals in plastic are harmful to

wildlife-the most widely used plasticizers impact molluscs, crustaceans, insects, fish and

amphibians-impairing development,reproduction at concentrations that mimic environmental

concentrations. Plastic fragments also act as attractor molecules PAHs, PCBs, PBA and other

bioaccumulative contaminants in seawater adhere to surface and concentrate significantly –

upto 100 times background levels (Mato et al 2001, Teuten et al 2009)

This preliminary baseline study of Indian Ocean debris accumulation rates, nature and

colonization reflects patterns suggested by other authors for parts of the Atlantic and Pacific

Oceans. The Indian Ocean has already become a major source of export of marine organisms

to the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal. Debris and ship carried invaders now seem

likely to pose a serious threat to the Southern Ocean around Antarctica, the only marine realm

from which exotic invaders are unknown. (David K.A. Barnes)

The Sea Education Association’s (SEA) expedition to the western North Atlantic

Ocean found bits of HDPE (high density polyethylene), LDPE (low density polyethylene),

and PP (polypropylene) from items such as milk containers, plastic bags, and straws, which

float on the surface because they are less dense than seawater. It did not find PET

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(polyethylene terephthalate), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), and PS (polystyrene solid), which

sink because they are denser than seawater. Algalita, Marine Research Foundation which

sampled down to depths of 100 hundred meters throughout the eastern side of the North

Pacific Gyre, found LDPE, styrene, PP and PET.

Despite all these environmental and potential human health impacts, most scientists

agree that it is not feasible to clean up the plastic soup in our oceans. The areas are huge, and

the debris is unevenly distributed and always shifting. A cleanup would entail filtering

enormous amounts of water, and the by-catch of plankton and other marine organisms would

be harmful to ocean ecosystems. Moreover, the fact that the trash gyres are in the open ocean,

in international waters, makes it difficult to get governments to invest in research or cleanup

efforts.

2.3 Mr. Mohan Chandran Deputy Manager BPCL, Cochin refinery handled the session on the management of plastic waste and reduction of its impact on our environment.

About the speaker

Mr. Mohan Chandran K C work as Deputy Manager (Information Systems) at Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd – Kochi Refinery. Has conducted classes and seminars for over 45 residents’ associations, 8 colleges, and 2 Engineering colleges on following subjects “Waste management and Organic Farming” “No waste only wealth” “Waste management and terrace gardening”. Has introduced “PLASTEND” and “SAVE A TREE” projects in 4 Schools and 3 Residents’ Association in tripunithura. These projects are introduced in school with a motive of reaching their parents and then to the society. Founder and Vice-Chairman of Tripunithura Rajanagari Union of Residents’ Association an apex body of residents’ which includes 85 residents’ associations with 50 to 250 members in each association in tripunithura municipality . This organisation plays a main role in development of tripunithura municipality along with municipality with the help of people. The main objective of this organisation is to create awareness in the society, mainly the requirement and necessity of degradable solid waste at its origin, the hazard of plastic waste to the universe and coming generation and methods to avoid it, encouraging and propagating Organic farming/terrace farming . Founder of “Prerana” “The Inspiration” which is a charitable organisation focused on the development of children and ladies. The slogan of the organisation is “Through the students to the parents, through the parents to the society”. For any development and change in the society we have to model the new generation. We extend quality development program for them, study classes, memorising techniques and tress management techniques.

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Summary of the presentation

Mr Mohan Chandran clearly briefed on the various possible management methods

that is in vogue as well as those that can be possibly implemented in our society for the

successful mitigation of the plastic menace. He notifed that as on date the main methods of

plastic waste disposal practiced are by landfill, incineration, energy recovery, resource

recovery, avoidance and reduction methods.

Plastic is widely used to fill lands to reclaim unutilized areas. It takes 1000 to 1Mn

years for a polyethylene bag to breakdown in soil. As it breaks down toxic substances leach

into the soil and enter food chain . it choke the soil and the soil inhabitants for ages and

destroy their natural habitats.

Plastics are widely incinerated in our society. Unscientific incineration of plastic

results in more hazardous environmental and clinical problems. 1 kg of polyethylene

produces 3.20kg of CO2. This becomes one ofthe worst forms of air pollution as CO2 is one

of the major green house gases and heightens to the global warming. If plastic with chlorine

or fluorine or any halogen in that respect is burned, cancer causing toxic substance called as –

dioxins are produced. This results in serious health hazards.

Plastic has a very high caloric value. This property of plastic can be exploited

usefully. Many furnaces and turbines already practice this. Since burned at very high

temperature and controlled air supply, CO2 emission will be very low.

Recycling and reusing of plastic is also a better way to prevent its entry into the

environment. PET bottles can be recycled to fibre, nylon, rope, net, tables, chairs, bottles etc.

Shredded plastic can be used for the blackening of the roads along with the coal tar. This

increases the life and durability of the roads. Plastic bocks or bitumen can also be used in the

construction industry.

The major way to reduce the entry of plastic is by the avoidance and reduction

method. The self initialization of reduced plastic usage must come from each and everyone.

Education from a young age for the proper segregation, disposal and reuse of plastic must be

encouraged. Government and Non-Government-Organizations working with similar interests

must work together to reduce society’s reliance on plastics and eventually leading to its

gradual elimination..

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Plastic is produced by the polymerisation of oil in the presence of a few catalysts

under specific conditions. Similarly, thermal depolymerisation is a process that reduces

complex organic materials usually biomas plastics into light crude oil. Utilizing pressure and

heat, the process breaks down the long-chain polymers into short-chain petroleum

hydrocarbons with the aid of a catalyst.

MK AROMATICS, Alathur on Old Mahabalipuram road Tamil Nadu is a company

established 5 years ago that uses 10 tonnes of plastic per day to produce 10000 litres of crude

oil per day. Any plastic waste like industrial and municipal waste and others like the bumbers

of cars and computer cases can be used. Halogenated plastic cannot be used as it produces

dioxins.

The plastic is turned into a molten state using a catalyst and vaporized before being

converted to oil. The process is easy as it doesn’t need segregation or washing . they also

pocess distilling facilities to make diesel from crude . they claim to have a reslt of 12%

petrol, 40% diesel 28% heavy oil and 20% furnace oil. The residual dry coke depends on the

quality of the plastic used for the pyrolysis process.

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3. Institutional session

Dr.T.O.Varghese Manager ( Project) CENTRE FOR BIOPOLYMER SCIENCE &

TECHNOLOGY (A unit of CIPET) Eloor, Udyogamandal, Kochi, delivered the institutional

presentation on the topic Plastics Recycling and Integrated Waste Management.

Recycling of Plastics is a daunteding challenge as there are about 10-12 main polymer

types and thousands of different resin grades and blends available for commercial

applications. In addition to this, polymers have become increasingly multi-component

through the use of multi-layers, laminates and composites. Furthermore, many polymers are

rarely additive free. Normally they contain additives, formulates and modifiers such as

fillers, pigments, antioxidants and flame-retardants, which can further interfere with the

recycling process.

SP - 37CENTRE FOR BIOPOLYMER SCIENCE &

TECHNOLOGY ( A unit of CIPET )

Estimate suggests that around 2500mechanical recycling industries are spreadover the length and breadth of the countryinvolving around 3 lakh people.

The statistical informations on Indianscenario are enumerated as follows.Volume Recycled - 1.2 MMTNo. of units - 2500Pelletizers - 3200Turnover (USD in Million) - 1124Value Add (USD in Million) - 360Ragpickers Employed - 130 KEmployment - 300 K

Indian Experience and Success in Plastics Waste Recycling

In the 90’s, emphasis was on the mechanical recycling of plastics. Today there is an

integrated approach to plastics recycling including feed-stock recycling and incineration with

energy recovery. Demand for post-consumer recyclates is steadily increasing due to the

implementation of legislation on recycling; a favorable cost of recyclates; an advancement in

recycling technology and an expanded collection network.

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Innovative Centrifugal technology for Separation of Waste renders excellent

separation of Plastics of different density: fine separation independent of size or form of the

flake with high through-put due to quick separation (300 - 5000 kg per hour is

possible with low energy-consumption and low ground-noise).

Various size reduction methods used in the recycling technique are Cutting Process-

Shredders, Rotary Grinder, Grinders, Rotary Knife Cutters, Wet Size Reduction, Slicers,

Screw Cutters; Laminate separation; Densification-agglomerators.

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SP - 15CENTRE FOR BIOPOLYMER SCIENCE &

TECHNOLOGY ( A unit of CIPET )

Innovative Free-flowing agglomerate from mixed plastics waste materials

The Innovative Free-flowing agglomerate from mixed plastics waste materials

undertakes careful handling of plastics by processing below melting temperature. Versatile,

dry, and free-flowing recycled material with a bulk density of up to 480 kg/m3 Flexible use

of recycled material as a result of its excellent dosability and storability. Any thermoplastic

sheeting and blisterpack materials made of PE, PP, PA, PET and PVC can be processed.

Also suitable for the compaction of foams, fibers, and flow-moulded plastics

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SP - 19CENTRE FOR BIOPOLYMER SCIENCE &

TECHNOLOGY ( A unit of CIPET )

Flow Diagram for Recycling of Consumer Waste

Consumer Waste

Scrap wholesalers

Hotel/Hospital Waste Dump yard

Rag pickers

Recyclers Sorting & CleaningGrinding,

Cleaning, Drying

Lump formation & grinding

Granulation & Packaging

Sold to processors/

Product conversion to end

Household Waste Street Waste

Scrap Dealers

SP - 20CENTRE FOR BIOPOLYMER SCIENCE &

TECHNOLOGY ( A unit of CIPET )

Flow Diagram for Recycling of Industrial Waste

Industrial Waste

Scrap wholesalers

End Users

Scrap pickers

Recycler Sorting & CleaningGrinding,

Cleaning, Drying

Lump formation & grinding

Granulation & Packaging

Sold to processors/

Product conversion to end

Street Waste

Scrap Dealers

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Essential elements for the successful recycling of plastics waste include a stable

supply source which involves reliable collection and sortation, an economical, proven and

environmentally sound recycling process and end-use applications for the recycled polymer

which yields economic market values and captures consumer confidence.

Technology Options for the Recycling of Plastics Waste

In – House recycling in processing industries

Product to Product approach

Monomer to Monomer

Mixed plastics to oil

Mixed plastics to plastics lumbers.

Mixed plastics to energy

INTERACTIVE SESSIONS.

I. The delegates were given a questionnaire fill in. A time of 15 minutes was

given and the completed answers were collected back. The statistical analysis

of their answers is given below.

1. What  sector  are  you  in?    

 

0.00%  5.00%  10.00%  15.00%  20.00%  25.00%  30.00%  35.00%  40.00%  

Government   Industry  and  Corporate  

Fisheries   Educa3on   Plas3cs  and  recycling  

Other  

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2. How  can  your  sector  work  together  to  reduce  plastic  pollution  with  the  local  government?  

 

 

 

3.  Please  circle  below  what  you  think  is  the  biggest  problem  of  plastic  pollution  in  Kerala?  

 

 

 

4. Please  circle  below  what  ways  your  organisation  could  help  to  reduce  plastic  pollution:  

0.00%  10.00%  20.00%  30.00%  40.00%  50.00%  

Educa3on  and  awareness  

Recycle   decision  making  

Collec3on  and  disposal  of  plas3c  

Alterna3ves   Development  of  new  

technology  

0%  10%  20%  30%  40%  50%  60%  70%  80%  

Aesthe3c   Health  and  safety   Nega3ve  effects  on  tourism  

Others  

Series1  

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5..  Which  sector  (rank  in  order)  do  you  think  contributes  most  to  plastic  waste?  

 

 

0.00%  

5.00%  

10.00%  

15.00%  

20.00%  

25.00%  

30.00%  

0.00%  

5.00%  

10.00%  

15.00%  

20.00%  

25.00%  

30.00%  

35.00%  

Household   Backwater  villages  

Industry  and  corporates  

Cruise  ships   Fisheries   Tourism   The  Public  

Series1  

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6.What  do  you  think  are  the  solutions  to  plastic  pollution,  in  order  of  priority?  

 

 

 

7.  Please  circle  below  the  number  of  years  you  think  it  might  take  to  put  in  place  a  functional  waste  management  system  for  plastics,  if  all  the  sectors  face  the  challenges  together:  

 

 

 

 

0.00%  

10.00%  

20.00%  

30.00%  

40.00%  

50.00%  

60.00%  

 waste  management  

facility  

       educa3on  and  awareness  

       investment  and  funding    

               new  technologies  

         economic  incen3ves  to  reduce  plas3c  pollu3on  

       other  

Series1  

0.00%  5.00%  10.00%  15.00%  20.00%  25.00%  30.00%  35.00%  40.00%  45.00%  50.00%  

2  years   5  years   10  years     never   other  

Series1  

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8.  What  is  the  biggest  challenge  plastic  is  having  on  your  business?  

 

 

 

 

9.    Do  you  think  that  the  government  should  legislate  the    plastics  industry  to  behave  responsibly  towards  its  plastic  pollution?    

 

 

0%  

5%  

10%  

15%  

20%  

25%  

30%  

35%  

Disposal   Recycling   Unsegregated  wastes  

Health  issues   Single  use  plas3cs    

Series1  

0.00%  

10.00%  

20.00%  

30.00%  

40.00%  

50.00%  

60.00%  

70.00%  

80.00%  

Yes   No   May  be  

Series1  

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10.  Do  you  think  toxic  plastic  needs  to  be  declared  by  the  Pollution  Board  a  pollutant?  

 

 

11.  Do  you  think  single  use  plastics  should  be  banned  in  the  State  of  Kerala?  

s  

0.00%  

10.00%  

20.00%  

30.00%  

40.00%  

50.00%  

60.00%  

70.00%  

80.00%  

Yes   No   May  be  

Series1  

0.00%  

10.00%  

20.00%  

30.00%  

40.00%  

50.00%  

60.00%  

70.00%  

80.00%  

Yes   No   May  be  

Series1  

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3. The Delegates were divided into 6 groups at random and given 8 titles for group

discussion.

1. How can discarded plastic be recycled for

industrial use in Kerala?

The various ways in which plastics can be reused are:

Use of shredders and converting it to bitumen.

Use of shredded plastic in road construction

Increasing the reuse of plastics

Conversion of plastics to fuel

Use of plastic for construction

Use recycled plastic as a substitute to wood

Use of plastic as an art form

2.How can we implement a regular monitoring program of plastics in the water bodies of Kerala?

The different monitoring methods are:

Installation of cameras at sensitive areas

Constant checkups by local government

Strict and stringent rules and its enforcement

Introduction of penalty for polluters

Engaging local fishermen to conduct regular monitoring

Giving financial incentives to well maintained areas

Involvement of Government or Non-Government-Organizations to boost the locals

Introduction of ‘Coastal Police’ ( volunteers to monitor the status and check on the polluters) or a professional ‘Marine Team’ or ‘Coastal Watch Squad.’

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3.How can we set up a measurable standard to

declare plastic a toxic pollutant?

It can be attained by:

Sincere involvement of technical experts.

Thorough and solid research work.

Duty of the Pollution Control Board

4.How can families achieve effective separation and collection of plastic from household waste?

Proper awareness to the people.

Convince them of the need for its collection and segregation.

Providing people with segregation bins.

Incentives for good performance.

5.What solutions are there for single use disposable plastics such as bottles of drinking water and aerated drinks?

Reduce the usage of single use plastic to the maximum.

Replace with glass bottles.

Use of alternatives such as paper or at the least, recyclable plastic.

6.How do we engage the media to promote a

green society?

Constant awareness programs

Advertisements with celebrities

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Call for reduction in the use of plastics

Promotion of alternatives to plastics

Conduct training programs for school students

7.How can the fishing industry be encouraged to

reduce the problem of plastic pollution in the

ocean?

Avoid taking plastic to the sea

Avoid dumping of plastic waste in the sea

Use of better and cheap alternatives

Use of eco-friendly fishing gear

Setting up discarded fishing-net collection units

Giving incentives to the people who return old fishing gear

8. How can we persuade the state government to

encourage the formation of eco-friendly

industries?

Strong recommendation by the local self governments and NGOs

Setting up a model village in this respect and asking for similar enforcement.

Strong student movements

Introduction of tax relaxation for organizations or individuals who perform eco-friendly practices.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

These are the Recommendations that came out of the Symposium and a follow-up presentation by Global Ocean on Impacts of Plastic Debris and Marine and Human Health on 28 November at the Centre for Heritage, Environment and Development.

• To find out the sources of thermocoil pollution on Kerala’s coastline and to put collection systems in place for its safe disposal.

• An awareness and education campaign for schools in Kerala incorporating the 3Rs – Reduce, Re-use and Recycle.

• Government legislation to make the Plastics Industry responsible for plastic pollution - the polluter pays principal?

• Banning Single Use Plastics in the State of Kerala

• To fine coastal vendors for selling plastic and to incentivize vendors to use eco-friendly materials.

• Tax incentives such as heavily taxing the use and manufacture of non-biodegradable, non-sustainable plastics in the State of Kerala.

• Facilitating private investment in technology that converts plastic debris to oil and/or plastic to plastic.

• Introducting a dedicated “Marine Team” to keep the coastline clean and to monitor the sources of plastic pollution and health of the sea.

• To facilitate/incentivize the replacement of petrol-derived synthetics with natural materials that are sustainable and biodegradable.

• To create a working group to voice the Vision of The Corporation to the relevant Ministries.

• To commission a socio-economic and feasibility report on green energy and eco-products for the State of Kerala.

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• To incentivize fishers and boaters to collect plastic from the ocean.

Please contact Melanie Salmon ([email protected]) for feedback.