Page 30 - Plastics News October 2024

ENVIRONMENT NEWS

In 2019, the government declared 6 lakh villages and urban areas, except cities in West Bengal, as
ODF. More than 10 crore toilets were built across the country, and the government provided over
57,000 crore in funds to states and Union Territories to support this mission. Under SBM 2.0, launched
in 2021, the focus shifted to making cities garbage-free and improving management of plastic waste,
sludge, and greywater. As of now, 5.54 lakh villages and nearly 4,000 cities have been declared ODF+,
which means they not only prevent open defecation but also manage liquid waste. However, the ef-
fort to clean 2,400 legacy landfills in cities, which are old dumpsites, has been slower. So far, only 30%
of the land area has been cleared, and 41% of the waste has been processed.

SBM has had a significant impact on public health. According to the World Health Organization, the
mission helped prevent an estimated 3 lakh deaths caused by diseases like diarrhea and malnutrition.
A study published in Nature in 2023 also found that between 60,000 to 70,000 infant deaths were
likely prevented each year from 2014 to 2020 due to improved sanitation under SBM.

While the mission has made remarkable progress, its full impact remains to be seen, especially since
the 2021 Census, which would provide updated data on sanitation coverage, has been delayed.

Source: The Indian Express

Recycled Plastics in Construction: Promise and

Challenges

ach year, humans produce over 380 million tons of plastic, with up to 50% of it being used just
once before being thrown away. Meanwhile, construction is happening at a rapid pace world-
Ewide. What if some of that plastic waste could be repurposed in construction, reducing the
amount of trash heading to landfills or oceans?

Well, it’s already happening. A 2023 study looked at over 100 efforts from 1992 to 2022 to use recy-
cled plastic in building materials. These innovations include plastic in roads, concrete, insulation, and
even soil reinforcement. The study found that almost two-thirds of these efforts had positive results.
Plastic-reinforced materials were said to benefit the environment, reduce pollution, and even improve
social and human health impacts. Roads made with plastic, for instance, last longer and need less
maintenance. Plastic insulation can help keep buildings warmer or cooler while using less energy.

However, the study also highlighted concerns.
Some experts worried that using recycled plastic
in construction might be “greenwashing”—a way to
look eco-friendly without solving the real issue of
plastic waste. Others warned that processing and
reusing plastic can release microplastics and nano-
plastics, which are tiny fragments that could leach
into waterways and harm the environment.

30 PLASTICS NEWS October 2024