International Journal of Waste Resources

Abstract

Plastics: Issues Challenges and Remediation

Vipin Koushal, Raman Sharma, Meenakshi Sharma, Ratika Sharma and Vivek Sharma

Plastics have become a vital asset for humanity. Though extensive research and new technologies have led to invent of newer and safer plastics, but drawbacks and challenges of plastics have never been resolved and impact is on the rise. Some of the major compounds (vinyl chloride, dioxins, and plasticizers) are causative factors of hormone-disruption, reproductive dysfunction, breast growth and testicular cancers. The harmful effects are also pronounced in newborns via mothers during pregnancy or young children exposed directly. Recycling is one of the most convenient and easiest ways. Smarter sorting, energy efficient ways, developing smarter plastics and research to develop certain fungi and bacteria that hasten degradation of conventional plastics are some of the present era needs. Source reduction (Reduce and Reuse) can occur by altering the design, manufacture or reduced use of plastic products. Biodegradable plastics are similar to conventional plastics, with the additional quality of being able to naturally decompose and break into natural and safe byproducts. Bioplastics, nature derived plastics, are derived from biological sources such as sugar cane, cellulose etc. and these either degrade in open air or are made to compost using fungi, bacteria or enzymes. To conclude, it is not the plastics to blame, but it is the misuse of plastics. The present time need is to look for biodegradable measures and effective policies and their implementation.