Plastic global environmental problem

The recognized lack of biodegradability of most commercial polymers, in particular those used for food packaging, focused public attention on the potential global environmental problem associated with plastic waste build-up in the countryside and on the seashore. Therefore, there is a growing demand for sea-biodegradable polymers. 

Regardless the improvements and technologies advances succeeded in the field of nanocomposites, increasing amount of plastic waste has become a major global environmental problem. There are two approaches that can be used for keeping the environment free from these plastic wastes First one is the storage of wastes at landfill sites. However, due to the rapid development of society, satisfactory landfill sites are also limited. Besides that, burial of plastics wastes in landfill is a... 

Increasingly, guidelines resulting from political decision process of the European Union influence national markets and global competition. In order to have an influence on behalf of the interests of the plastics industry, the Association of Plastics Producing Industries, (VKE), is reported to wish to intensify its communication with European political institutions. The VKE sees the discussion about the EU book on the environmental problems relating to PVC as particularly controversial, and does not consider that it takes important points of view sufficiently into account. The treatment of the PVC theme, is examined as an example of so-called europisation of the work of associations. (Article translated from Kunststoffe 91 (2001) 4, pp.26-27). 

Plastic waste is becoming a serious global issue, thanks to extensive plastic usage all over the world, the treatment of waste plastic has gained the utmost importance. Scientists and experts all over the world are concerned over this major environmental problem which is expected to attain mammoth proportions by the year 2010, with an expected annual increase of global plastic consumption crossing the 5.5% mark. 

Currently, almost all plastic wastes are treated by either landfill or incineration. As great concern in conserving the global environment is growing worldwide, other methods of plastic waste treatment without raising environmental problems are eagerly sought. 

Environmental issues of today are conveniently discussed within two broad classes global issues and regional or local issues. Table 1.2 summarizes the various issues in each category that impact the polymer industry. The following discussion examines each of these environmental concerns in an effort to understand the extent to which the plastics industry potentially contributes to it. Serious environmental problems that do not involve the polymer industry directly, such as the loss of biodiversity or the increase in urban population density, are excluded from the present discussion. 

Plastics are increasingly important from a global perspective and increase the amount of waste needed to be discharged into the environment. Discarded plastics waste is dumped in the countryside or burned in the open air and the resulting pollution causes hygiene and environmental problems. The correct management of plastics waste is essential to reduce the amount of waste and possible environmental and health risks. 

Because most common substances are compounds, we must understand compounds to understand what is happening in the world around us (4.1). Compounds, either natural or man-made, are important in everything from the materials we use every day-plastics, detergents, and antiperspirants-to the environmental problems that we face as a society—ozone depletion, air pollution, and global warming. 

The general concerns about environmental protection and resource conservation have led to the development of a variety of solid waste management techniques to reduce both the environmental impact of the different types of waste and the depletion of natural resources. Management of plastic wastes cannot be treated as an individual problem it must be considered as an integral part of the global waste management system. 

Wieslaw Sulkowski I would like to stress the problem of the environmental impact of plastics, which has to be faced at a global scale. For instance, some countries are trying to solve their problems by exporting plastics wastes to other countries which certainly is not an acceptable solution. 

---