Plastics are polymers made from fossil fuel feedstocks like petroleum and natural gas. They are lightweight, durable and inexpensive but persist in the environment for centuries. Plastic pollution poses threats to wildlife and ecosystems through entanglement, ingestion, and chemical leaching. While recycling and bans on single-use plastics help reduce plastic waste, the best solution is to minimize plastic usage through alternatives to disposable products and reusable packaging.

3. Plastic are materials formed by
long chains of carbon and
hydrogen called polymers,
formed by units called
monomers. The most important
characteristic of plastic is the
capacity of deformation.

4. Most of the plastics are made up from
these three raw materials:
• Non – Renewable
• Natural ResourcePetroleum
• Non – Renewable
• Natural ResourceCoal
• Non – Renewable
• Natural ResourceCellulose

5. Plastics are made from fossil fuels.
Fossil fuels contains hydrocarbons, which provide
small building blocks called monomer.
These hydrocarbons monomers are link together to
form long carbon chains called polymers.
The process of forming long molecules is called
polymerization.
The polymerization form viscous, sticky substances
known as resins, which are used to make plastic
products.
These joined molecules form a plastic resin known as
polythene.

7.  Plastics are strong , light weight, flexible and
durable.
 Plastics can be easily moulded into a variety
of shapes and sizes.
 Plastics have excellent mechanical strength
(tensile properties, tear resistance, and
impact resistance).
 Plastics are relatively cheaper than compared
to metals like steel, tin etc.
 Plastics are reusable and recyclable.
 Plastics have long use age life.

8.  Plastics are good electricity and
heat insulators.
 Plastics do not corrode or decay.
 Plastics are cheap and dispensable.
 Plastics are resistant to chemicals,
water or grease.

9. Groups of Plastic
Thermoplastics
Thermoplastics can be
repeatedly softened by
heating and hardened
by cooling.
E.g. Polythene.
Thermosetting
Thermosetting plastics
harden permanently
after being heated
once.
e.g. Bakelite.

10.  80% of thermoplastics, and 20% of
thermo set plastic wastes are
generated in India.
 The use of plastics in India is 3kg per
person per year.
 The total consumption of plastic in
India is about 4 million tonnes and the
waste generated is about 2 million
tonnes.
 About 20% of solid municipal wastes
are plastics in India.

11. o Plastic is one of the few new chemical
materials which pose environmental
problem.
o Plastic in the environment is regarded
to be more an aesthetic nuisance than
a hazard, since the material is
biologically quite inert.
o Plastic is cheap, it gets discarded
easily, and, its persistence in the
environment can do great harm.

12.  Plastic pollution on land is both physical and
chemical.
 Plastic reduces soil fertility by forming the part
of manure for years.
 Plastic spoil environmental aesthetics and
hygiene.
 Plastics in soil can lessen the growth of plants
and trees by blocking the absorption of minerals,
water and other nutrients.

13.  Industries emit large amounts of carbon
monoxide, dioxin and hydrogen cyanide.
 These gaseous pollutants contaminate air
and causes respiratory diseases, nervous
system disorders and immune suppression
in human beings.

14.  Plastics wastes dumped in water courses
contaminate and poisons freshwater life.
 On leaching in water, plastic can easily enter
the human food chain and harm human health.
 Plastic debrises clog the sewage drains and
create stagnant water which will be an ideal
habitat for mosquitoes and other parasites.
 Chocked drains cause flooding during
monsoons.

15.  Discarded Plastic usually ends up within marine
sources. The Pacific Ocean has one of the largest
dumping ground for plastics, unknown numbers of sea
birds marine mammals and fish ingest plastics which
causes a variety of negative health effects and
leading to their deaths.
 Effects of plastics on marine life includes
entanglement and ingestion of plastics debris by
marine vertebrates.
 Plastic is mistaken for food and is eaten up by birds,
turtles, seals, and whales. This may choke them, or
impede digestion and causing starvation.

16. Prevention Strategies
REFUSE –
refuse
plastic carry
bags at the
grocer’s
shop..
REDUCE –
Choose
products
with
minimum
plastic
packaging.
REUSE –
Reuse non –
toxic
containers
and goods.
RECYCLE –
Recycling is
not a
sustainable
solution.
- Can be a
last option.

18. 1) Wean yourself off disposable plastics.
Ninety percent of the plastic items in our
daily lives are used once and then chucked:
grocery bags, plastic wrap, disposable
cutlery, straws, coffee-cup lids. Take note of
how often you rely on these products and
replace them with reusable versions. It only
takes a few times of bringing your own bags
to the store, silverware to the office, or travel
mug to Starbucks before it becomes habit.

19. Each year, close to 20 billion plastic bottles are
tossed in the trash. Carry a reusable bottle in
your bag, and you’ll never be caught having
to resort to a Poland Spring or Evian again. If
you’re nervous about the quality of your local
tap water, look for a model with a built-in
filter.

20. .

21. Not only is it healthier, but making your own
meals doesn’t involve takeout containers or
doggy bags. For those times when you do
order in or eat out, tell the establishment you
don’t need any plastic cutlery or, for some
serious extra credit, bring your own food-
storage containers to restaurants for
leftovers.

22. New toys and electronic gadgets, especially,
come with all kinds of plastic packaging—
from those frustrating hard-to-crack shells to
twisty ties. Search the shelves of thrift
stores, neighborhood garage sales, or online
postings for items that are just as good when
previously used. You’ll save yourself a few
bucks, too.

23. It seems obvious, but we’re not doing a great
job of it. For example, less than 14 percent
of plastic packaging is recycled. Confused
about what can and can’t go in the bin?
Check out the number on the bottom of the
container. Most beverage and liquid cleaner
bottles will be (PET), which is commonly
accepted by most curbside recycling
companies.

24. Urge your elected officials to follow the lead of
those in San Francisco, Chicago, and close
to 150 other cities and counties by
introducing or supporting legislation that
would make plastic-bag use less desirable.

25. Single-serving yogurts, travel-size toiletries,
tiny packages of nuts—consider the product-
to-packaging ratio of items you tend to buy
often and select the bigger container instead
of buying several smaller ones over time.

26. Invest in a zippered fabric bag and request that
your cleaned items be returned in it instead
of sheathed in plastic. (And while you’re at it,
make sure you’re frequenting a dry cleaner
that skips the perch, a toxic chemical found
in some cleaning solvents.)

27. Though we can make a difference through our
own habits, corporations obviously have a
much bigger footprint. If you believe a
company could be smarter about its
packaging, make your voice heard. Write a
letter, send a tweet, or hit them where it
really hurts: Give your money to a more
sustainable competitor.

28. Even though plastic recycling and
it’s management has gained
momentum nowadays , the best
possible way of protecting our
environment is to alter the root
cause of the problem by
reducing the usage of plastics .