Page 64 - Plastics News May 2018

in the news

Maharashtra government likely Nainital researchers develops

to have policy for micro plastic by SWAYAMBHU Waste Recycle
December Machine 2021

he state government might look at banning micro esearchers at the nanotechnology department
Tplastics. This means your face wash, detergents, RofKumaun University have developed a machine
some fabrics and so on will be impacted by any new which they claim can convert plastic waste into both
policy in micro plastic. At present, the state government crude oil and wonder material graphene. A 100 kg of
is looking at ways to promote recycling of plastic along plastic waste churns out 30 to 40 litres of crude oil or 15
with plastic producers. Raising concern over plastic that kg of moderate-quality graphene, researchers claimed. At
cannot been seen but are making a way to water bodies,
Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray said, small micro beads present, graphene costs anywhere between Rs 1 lakh to
(plastic) are of greater concern. “The work on this has Rs 1.5 lakh per kg. The project was funded by the Union
started and one can expect some action against that ministry of environment, forests and climate change. The
too. By December, there will be a decision taken on it.” next step would be to improve quality of the graphene
Such micro plastics are present in exfoliators, scrubs,
washing powder etc. Meanwhile, convener for committee
on Maharashtra plastic ban, Harpal Singh believes that
having a policy for micro plastics, will not take place
soon. “At present, everyone is working towards making
the plastic ban as smooth as possible.” Talking about ban,
he added more awareness drive will take place and space
for waste segregation centres have to be allotted. “All the
initiatives of extended producer responsibility will not be
possible if local authorities don’t work alongside.” At the
launch of the plastic waste recycling initiative in Mumbai, obtained, said Nand Gopal Sahoo, assistant professor at
Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam defended the the department of chemistry. At present, the team is able
plastic ban by saying that it was a well-thought process. to produce five layered graphene and aims to bring it
The work on this ban started seven months back, added
down to single layer which is the finest quality. Graphene
is widely used in defence, aerospace, smartphones and
superconductors. Sahoo, who is heading the research,
said, “We have named the machine SWAYAMBHU Waste
Recyc le Machine 2021 and have patented the invention.
This breakthrough can effectively deal with the problem
of plastic waste by turning it into fuel and graphene.”
D K Nauriyal, vice-chancellor of the varsity, added,
“The breakthrough could solve the problem of non-
Kadam. Kadam stressed that all this while when the state biodegradable waste.” Experts in the field said that
was working in developing a policy for ban no one came
forward to express the grievance. “But the minute it was the research addresses most pressing issues of the day.
banned people started running around and now they also Commenting on the research, Ze Xiang Shen, co-director,
moved the court against the move,” Kadam added. He Centre for Disruptive Photonic Technologies, Singapore,
stated the state government has no plans to kill companies said, “Treating plastic waste poses a major problem.
and make people jobless. Giving the background of the This invention simultaneously contributes to two of the
ban, he added that city of Mumbai get clogged despite most challenging issues - clean environment and energy.”
cleaning of storm water drains, during monsoons.

Plastics News May 2018 64