Developing countries plastics

Plastics and Other Synthetic Products. Sulfur is used in the production of a wide range of synthetics, including cellulose acetate, cellophane, rayon, viscose products, fibers, and textiles. These uses may account for 2% of sulfur demand in developed countries. Sulfur intermediates for these manufacturing processes are equally divided between carbon disulfide and sulfuric acid. 

Table 1.2, based on Modern Plastics sources, provides USA consumption figures (based on sales data) for the main groups of plastics materials. The figures probably underestimate the global importance of the major tonnage thermoplastics since these are also manufactured in quantity in developing countries and OPEC countries. 

Abstract RISKCYCLE is an artificial word which addresses the risks associated with the global recycling streams. As part of materials like waste paper, plastic, and electronics, pollutants and chemical additives are transported abroad, e.g., they are exported to emerging and developing countries. Here these pollutants/additives can cause risks for humans and the environment especially if treatment/recycling is performed on a lower technical standard. The specific risks that can occur have been studied in an international EU-funded research program, which is the basis of this publication. 

Over the past several decades, there has been a continuing growth in the worldwide demand for plastics, films and fibers, particularly polyesters. The raw materials that make up these polymers are based primarily on the C8 family of aromatics (C8A)-ethylbenzene (EB), para-xylene (PX), meta-xylene (MX), and ortho-xylene (OX). Polyester (PET plastic), derived from PX, in particular has experienced rapid growth and is projected to see continue rapid growth as many developing countries desire to have the lifestyle flexibility that such readily available, versatile plastics support. While the markets for MX- and OX-derived plastics are smaller (plasticizers and specialty polyesters, respectively), all C8A markets continue to increase with population growth [59],... 

Amine-resin thermosetting materials (plastics) are manufactured in all industrially developed countries. Aminoplasts are still one of the most common types of polymeric materials although production of novel plastics is rapidly growing. 

The high consumption of plastics in developed countries (over 50 million tons in the year 2001 and an increase of 4% year-1 is expected) explains the great interest for exploitation of post-consumer plastics. Taking into account that the environmental regulations prohibit their exploitation by combustion, thermal decomposition or pyrolysis is one of the procedures for recycling plastic with best perspectives for obtaining feedstock and fuel. 

A TLC method/approach that is low cost, maintenance free, fast and reliable, an apparatus that is made of a plastic bag, and that does not require electricity (for developing countries) has been suggested [3J. The feasibility was demonstrated by the analysis of a partial list of the essential drugs established by the World Health Organization. 

The plastic content of the MSW is 10 to 11 percent, amounting to about 40 billion pounds per year (Table 4), which is less than 50 percent of the fiber/ resin produced. However, this is a significant amount of plastics going into the landfill. This problem of increasing consumption of plastics and its share in MSW for Europe, Japan, and Australia is comparable to that of the United States. There are limited data on developing countries, but the growth rate for plastic consumption in China is very high, in the order of 20 percent per year. 

A wide variety of synthetic plastics have been applied in countless products, replacing metal, wood, natural rubber, and other materials. Polymer production has been a base industry in developed countries since the early twentieth century. Today, the production of plastics amounts to about 150 million tons per year and displays an upward trend [1, 2]. 

Groiving environmental awareness has prompted plastics recycling programs in most developed countries. In spite of this, however, currently only some 5-25% of plastic waste is being recycled but, as worldwide consumption of plastics is set to grow, this will have to expand [B.83]. As shown in Tab. 8.8, plastics constitute about 8% by weight of all MRF materials. By volume this represents about 18% of which... 

The increase is mainly due to rapid development of the plastics consumption in the developing countries. When this large captive market is taken into account, the leveling of the plastics production is expected to exceed one billion ton/year [Utracki, 1989, 1997]. At the end of its service-time most of this mass becomes a solid waste. Even if plastics constitute but a small fraction of the total waste (4-6%), such an amount represents large economic value. Many countries have adopted policy known as 3R s re-use, repair, and recycle [Banerji, 1997]. 

Recently, artificial teeth made of plastics and ceramics have seen growing application in elderly patients, especially in developed countries. There are nearly one million pieces of artificial teeth manufactured in Japan (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in Japan, 2010), and the total number worldwide is reported to be 3 billion. Artificial teeth should be harmless to human health and designed to harmonize with the tissues in the oral cavity. They must also have the functional properties for chewing. Intrinsically, plastic teeth have more harmonized properties than ceramic teeth, and hence the percentage of plastic teeth (80%) in Japan is expected to increase in the future. 

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