Plastic wastes environmental impact

In this chapter, we will examine the types of plastics packaging, their fabrication methods, their occurrence in municipal solid waste, environmental impacts (both positive and negative) associated with their use and disposal, and packaging changes that can reduce those environmental impacts. First, we will examine... 

Biodegradable films made from edible biopolymers from renewable sources could become an important factor in reducing the environmental impact of plastic waste. Proteins, lipids, and polysaccharides are the main biopolymers employed to make edible films and coatings. Which of these components are present in different proportions and determine the properties of the material, as a barrier to water vapor, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and lipid transfer in food systems (Gomez-Guillen et al. 2002 and 2009). 

Coal used in power stations has the potential to be partly replaced by fuels derived from pre-treated plastics and paper waste, reducing both dependency on fossil fuels and reliance on landfill. APME reports on a project in the Netherlands which it co-sponsored to develop a substitute fuel from plastics. The environmental assessment of the project compared the environmental impacts of coal substitution with other plastics recovery methods, including gasification in feedstock recycling and energy recovery from plastics waste in cement kilns. The study also compared coal substitution with the generation of power from burning biomass. 

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS BY DISPOSAL OF PLASTIC FROM MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE... 

An Ecoprofile is an assessment of the environmental and resource impacts of a waste disposal process. This paper describes ecoprofiles for six different ways of disposing the plastic fraction in municipal solid waste -two material recycling processes that include separation of the plastic waste, material recycling without separation of the plastic waste, pyrolysis, incineration with heat recovery, and landfill. 17 refs. 

It may be useful to recall some facts concerning the environmental impact of plastics. Sustainability, pollution minimization, recycling and safe elimination of wastes are basic principles of environment policy. 

United States alone, 5 x 109 kg of plastic resins (typically used in packaging and transportation) are produced every year. Disposable goods and packing material represent about one-third of the total plastic production and have the largest environmental impact. More than 90% of the plastic material in municipal waste consists of polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polystyrene, which are all resistant to biodegradation (see Table 9.1). 

A study by the Association of Plastics Manufacturers in Europe (APME) assessed the environmental impacts of mechanical and feedstock recycling and energy recovery of waste plastics. It was compared in terms of consumption of resomces and environmental emission pollution potential. The criteria of consumption of energetically exploitable resources and contribution to the greenhouse effect lead to the following order of preference for feedstock recycling and energy recovery processes ... 

Plastic wastes represent a significant environmental impact due to the following facts ... 

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. 

One of the more recent applications of polymer blends and alloys is in plastics recycling. The current solid waste crisis has resulted in public demands for industrial solutions that would result in a reduction of all landfilled solid waste, while minimizing alternate negative environmental impact. It has been perceived by the public that plastic materials account for the overwhelming majority of the landfilled solid mass, when plastics account for only approximately 7 wt% of 18 vol%. 

Our actions are part of an ambitious program to valorize all plastic materials at their end of life, to treat all the waste from our industries. This program is based on the study of the impact of polymers, from their produetion to their treatment after use. Each year, PlasticsEurope invests 250,000 euros to update arrd complete the lifecycle analysis of the production of polymers. We share data and collaborate closely with the Joint Research Center of the European Commission which works on calculating the environmental impact of products throughout their lifecycle. 

---