Page 24 - Plastics News March 2017

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to visit) PET recycling units across the country. We on plastics, people need to realise their value through
identified large-scale industries that used discarded PET reusing them,” said Dr Vijay Habbu, former NCL scientist
bottles to produce a variety of products and visited their and consultant to various petrochemical bodies. “The
recycling facilities to incorporate our data,” said Dr study highlights the need for people to strike a balance
Magesh Nandgopal, scientist from NCL’s polymer science between our social behaviour when it comes to discarding
and engineering division who carried out the study along plastic and making the best out of waste.”
with Dr Ashish Lal, head of the division.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is clear, tough, and
He added, “What is striking and not many people are shatterproof. It provides a barrier to oxygen, water, and
aware that the entire Indian cricket team’s apparel for carbon dioxide and is identified with the number 1. PET’s
the 2015 world cup was made from recycled PET bottles. ability to contain carbon dioxide (carbonation) makes it
Even the their current jersey is made from this material.” ideal for use in carbonated soft drink bottles. PET is also
used to make bottles for water, juice, sports drinks, beer,
The scientists observed that PET bottles were collected,
sorted, cleaned, shredded, and made into ‘washed mouthwash, catsup, and salad dressing.
flakes’. “These washed flakes are then used to make “The basic ingredient of PET comes from a fossil fuel base,
(predominantly) polyester fibre, which is used as filling which is a non-renewable source and high in demand.
material for cushions, pillows, and converted to fabrics The idea was to reduce the amount of PET ending up at
for use in clothing, upholstery, etc.,” said Lal. landfills and develop a comprehensive database for all
citizens, the maximum users of this plastics,” said PC
The study estimated that while the PET recycling business
has a turnover of Rs3,500 crore in a given year in India, the Joshi, secretary general, PACE.
end products sell at anywhere between Rs50-110 per kg. PET was produced in India 2015-16 and today its usuagehas
Discarded PET bottles fetch waste collectors Rs14-15 kg. increased to about 900 kilo tons. of this 820 kilo tons is
These bottles are bought by kabadiwallahs (scrap dealers) used to make PET products, the remaining is used to make
or waste traders, who employ people to segregate, sort clothing apparel, fabrics, cushions, pillows and other items
and further sell it to large vendors or recyclers. using polyester
Experts said that the study would help distinguish between (Inputs: PET Packaging Association for Clean
different types of plastics and their value. “Not all Environment (PACE))
plastics are the same and people are unable to identify
them differently. Rather than asking for a complete ban

Major categories of plastics

1. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) – PET bottles, plastic jars, containers
2. High density polyethylene (HDP) – Milk bottles, liquid soap and shampoo bottles, detergent cans

3. Low-density polyethylene (LDP) – Plastic chairs, flooring, tiles, curtains, carrier bags, bin liners
4. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) – PVC pipes, door and window frames, automotive parts

5. Polypropylene (PP) – Plastic corks, plastic bottle caps, battery casing

6. Polystyrene (PS) – Food packaging, food containers, disposable plastic ware, electronic goods and toys,
insulating material used in construction industry

7. Polyamides (PA) – Tubing, toothbrush bristles

Plastics News | March 2017 24