Plastic recycling

There is a growing problem regarding recycling of plastic. Discarded plastic products and packaging contribute to a growing portion of Municipal Solid Waste. In recent times the amount of plastic thrown has increased by more than 50 percent than at the beginning 0f 1990s. Plastic waste accounts for one-fifth of all waste in waste stream.Plastic recycling ws never expected to be widespread because the process is too expensive, unpractical and inefficient.This though is slowly being turned.


The difference between a polymer and a plastic
The term “plastics” is used to describe a wide variety of resins or polymers with different characteristics and uses. While all plastics are polymers, not all polymers are plastic. Polymers are rarely useful in themselves and are most often modified or compounded with additives (including colours) to form useful materials. The compounded product is generally termed a plastic.

For this discussion of recycling, an understanding of two basic types of polymers is helpful:
Thermoplastic polymers can be heated and formed, then heated and formed again and again. The shape of the polymer molecules are generally linear or slightly branched. This means that the molecules can flow under pressure when heated above their melting point.
Thermoset polymers undergo a chemical change when they are heated, creating a three-dimensional network. After they are heated and formed, these molecules cannot be re-heated and re-formed. Comparing these types, thermoplastics are much easier to adapt to recycling.

Plastic consumer goods not identified by code numbers are not usually collected. Plastic tarps, pipes, toys, computer keyboards, and a multitude of other products simply do not fit into the numbering system that identifies plastics used in consumer containers. There are actually thousands of different varieties of plastic resins or mixtures of resins. These are developed to suit the needs of particular products. There is limited recycling of some of these specific plastic products in truckload quantities from industrial sources. No one has entered the business of collecting a variety of these plastics in small quantities.

The Problem with Plastics Recycling
When glass, paper and cans are recycled, they become similar products which can be used and recycled over and over again. With plastics recycling, however, there is usually only a single re-use. Most bottles and jugs don't become food and beverage containers again. For example, pop bottles might become carpet or stuffing for sleeping bags. Milk jugs are often made into plastic lumber, recycling bins, and toys.

Currently only about 3.5% of all plastics generated is recycled compared to 34% of paper, 22% of glass and 30% of metals. At this time, plastics recycling only minimally reduces the amount of virgin resources used to make plastics. Recycling papers, glass and metal, materials that are easily recycled more than once, saves far more energy and resources than are saved with plastics recycling.

There are five factors that are necessary in order for the recycling of plastic to be a successful process. First, the supply of used plastic has to be of a large quantity. This large quantity of plastic is collected at certain areas, which is the second step. Once the plastic is collected, the sorting and separating process begins; this is the third step in the process. The sorting and separating process depends upon the type of polymers that make up the plastic. Plastic products are given codes to help the sorting and separating process. The fourth step in plastic recycling is reprocessing. The reprocessing of polymers includes the melting process, the melting process can be accomplished if the polymers have not been widely cross-linked with any synthetics. If the cross-linking of polymers contain too many synthetics, the polymers will be difficult to stretch and less pliable. The final step is the manufacturing of the melted plastic into new products.

Automobiles and pollution

A significant portion of the growth in the use of automobiles is seen especially in developing countries like China, Brazil, Russia , India, representing a desire of people in these countries to experience the freedom that comes with owning a vehicle and improve their quality of life. Also, given the large population, the demand for efficient, economical public transport is also in the increase. Therefore, the challenge of modern mobility is to meet these aspirations, satisfy the need for mobility and yet do it in a manner ,in harmony with nature, that has minimum impact on the environment and does not accelerate climate change.

The increasing price of fuel, depletion of fossil fuel resources, decline in availability of raw materials like iron ore and coal, recent reports on climate change in some cities are all true and present unique set of challenges for the growth and development of the automobile industry.

There is a need for the regulation in the transport sector to minimize the impact of vehicular emissions on the air quality.A number of court judgements in some places limited the age of commercial vehicles in the road and recommended a number of measures to reduce the environmental impact of vehicles. Those policies also set out a definite road map for fuel quality and emission levels which have only partially been implemented.

Technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emission , as well as local pollution for engines include currently off-the-shelf technologies, such as variable valve timing, cylinder deactivation, smaller engine with supercharger, throttles engines , and diesel vehicles.

In many developing nations vehicles used were manufactured and developed at a time when there were no emission legislation. To solve such issue ,vehicles produced before a certain date should not be allowed on the road after a certain other date.Also mandatory inspection should be introduced with view of maintenance of vehicle ,that which fail the test and cannot be rectified should not be allowed on the road.

A study has shown that vehicles over eight year old account for nearly eighty per cent of the pollution. To help take decisions regarding emission norms, air quality monitoring source apportionment studies has been done in many countries in Europe and Japan. But many times, lack of data and perceptions about the contribution of various sources to air pollution does not result in appropriate decisions.

Global warming-The price paying nations

As the saying goes, there is only one Earth. It is a reality .Another reality is that the Earth is deteriorating , that it is dying slowly and we as the residents living on it are responsible. Yes, all of us are responsible for bringing our Mother Earth to this state although it would not not be wrong to say some are more responsible than others.

The First world nations, with the industrialization and economic development are among the most privileged and rank in top among nations.T heir economy is booming and they lead the way for other less developed nations to follow. Yet , following to the development there have been various by –products given off , which have been extremely harmful to the environment we live in. The Co2 produced as by products of large factories and as emissions of vehicles etc. have increased and still increasing temperature on Earth by trapping the solar heat excessively.

We are all aware of causes and implications of earth’s rising temperature and global warming now .Recently, there have been undeniable calamines in various places in the world attributing to climatic change due to environmental pollution. The first world nations especially are now very actively participating in promotion of various campaigns against global warming and they are requesting other nations to join them. Recently,there was a summit held in Copenhagen where various world leaders participated, including the US President Barack Obama.The summit was about global climatic change.

There have now been suggested new legislation regarding the industrialization and production and manufacture so such to cut down on by product released in the atmosphere.This is going to contribute on environmental benefit but at the same time will bring economic development to a slow pace.The recently developing countries are going to be affected the most e.g. countries like India, China. Small underdeveloped countries like Nepal had done little in contributing to global warming effects as regards to producing industrial by-products in the air but nevertheless paying the price as the whole world.It’s once heavily snow covered mountains have begun melting due to global heat.

Fair or not, the price is here for all of to pay.For our sake and for the sake of future generations, the time has passed to lay the blame on each other and join hand in cause for a solution .