The document discusses the severe environmental and health impacts of plastic waste in India, highlighting key statistics such as the generation of 25,940 tons of plastic waste daily and the overwhelming majority being recyclable thermoplastics. It outlines the challenges posed by non-recyclable plastics, the greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production, and various harmful effects on wildlife and human settlements. Solutions are suggested, including improved waste management policies, stricter regulations, and the promotion of sustainable alternatives.

1. PLASTIC:
UNDERSTANDING THE
Dr. Donthi Narasimha Reddy
UNDERSTANDING THE
ISSUES

2. Swamped by plastic
approximately 707 million metric tons/year plastic
products are manufactured
majority of the plastics material goes to packagingmajority of the plastics material goes to packaging
applications (Annual Report: 2015-16, MoC&F).
25,940 T/day of plastic waste is generated in India
(CPCB, 2018) – 685.4 T/Day in TS urban
Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

3. Swamped by plastic
25,940 T/day of plastic waste is generated in India
(CPCB, 2018)
out of total plastic waste, around 94% waste comprises
of thermoplastic content, which is recyclable such as PET,
out of total plastic waste, around 94% waste comprises
of thermoplastic content, which is recyclable such as PET,
LDPE, HDPE, PVC etc.
remaining 6% belongs to the family of Thermoset and
other categories of plastics such as SMC, FRP, multi-
layered, thermocol etc., which is non-recyclable.
Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

4. Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

5. Life Cycle Analysis
Production
ProcessingReuse
Use
Disposal
Recycling
Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

6. Geographical Impacts
Local State National International Planet
Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

7. Plastic Impacts
Littered plastics give unaesthetic look in human
habitations, choke the drain and may cause flood during
monsoon.monsoon.
Garbage with plastics interferes in waste processing
facilities and also cause problems in landfill operations.
Recycling industries operating in non-conforming areas
are posing threat to environment to unsound recycling
practices.Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

8. In 2019, the production and incineration of plastic will produce more than 850 million metric tons
of greenhouse gases—equal to the emissions from 189 five-hundred-megawatt coal power
plants.
Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

9. Plastics in MSW
Polyethylene
(PE)
Polyethylene
Teraphthalate
(PET)
Polyvinyl
Chloride
(PVC)(PET) (PVC)
Polypropylene
(PP)
Polystyrene
(PS)
Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

10. Plastic Impacts
Impacts on wildlife and non-human life – birds, aquatic life
Indiscriminate dumping of plastic waste on land makes the land
infertile due to its barrier properties.infertile due to its barrier properties.
Fugitive emissions are released – polymerisation process.
Various types of gases are released - product manufacturing.
Burning of plastics generates toxic emissions such as Carbon
Monoxide, Chlorine, Hydrochloric Acid, Dioxin, Furans, Amines,
Nitrides, Styrene, Benzene, 1, 3- butadiene, CCl4, and
Acetaldehyde.Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

11. Plastic Impacts
Lead and Cadmium pigments, commonly used in LDPE,
HDPE and PP as additives are toxic and are known to
leach out.leach out.
Non-recyclable plastic wastes such as multilayer,
metalised pouches and other thermoset plastic poses
disposal problems.
Sub-standard plastic carry bags, packaging films etc.
pose problem in collection and recycling.Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

12. Plastic: Advantages & Disadvantages
Low cost
Durability
Ligh Weight
High strength
Manufacturing versatality
Environmental damage
Threat to life, not just wildlife
Suffocation
PollutionManufacturing versatality
Colour
Good thermal insulator
Low permeability to oxygen
Impermeability to water
Heat resistance
Electrical resistance
Corrosion resistance
Pollution
Non-renewable
Disposal
Burning
Chemical risk
??
Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

13. Impact Analysis: Factors
Form and form conversion
Size (micro…)
Material (type)Material (type)
Quality of material
Location (wrong place at wrong time)
Volumes
Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

14. Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

15. Critical view: Segregated
Zero-use
Single use
Multiple-useMultiple-use
Reuse
Recycled
Hazardous use
Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

16. Problems and Solutions
Disposal
• Land filling
Exports
• Outside city/
Imports
• Recycling• Land filling
• Burning
• Incinerators
• WTE plants
• Plasma Pyrolysis
• Outside city/
town/ village
• International trade
• Recycling
• Reuse
• Reprocessing
Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

17. Waste Imports !!!
2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20
Waste Parings and Scrap of Other Plastic HS391590 (in tonnes) (30 kinds of waste)Waste Parings and Scrap of Other Plastic HS391590 (in tonnes) (30 kinds of waste)
189,479.19 164,286.85 152,976.45 102,632.91
110,609.26
110,136.54 41,025.64
Municipal Waste HS382510 (Rs. In crores)
No data No data No data 31,487.04No data 0.01No data
No data No data No data 25,77,675.3730,01,033.4335,94,674.6117,25,210.56Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

18. Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

19. Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

20. Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

21. Plastic growth: Areas
Agriculture
• Industrial agriculture
• Distribution
• Storage
Packaging
• Food
• FMCG
• Packages and fast food
Infrastructure
• Building and construction
• Public utilities
• Highway projects
Transport
• Automotive appliances
Others
• Industrial
• Medical Appliances Fire Energy
Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

22. Policy and Regulation
Encouraging Economic Policies
National Fibre Policy
Incentives (to refineries, processing, WTE)Incentives (to refineries, processing, WTE)
Ease of Business
Waste Imports
Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016
Circular Economy is the need of the hour
Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

23. States – plastic ban
Partial ban
Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Tamilnadu, West Bengal
No ban – Manipur
Total Ban
Chattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Mizoram, Nagaland,
Odisha, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh
No data or information – all others
Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

24. Roles: Expected and Performed
• Oversight
• Monitoring
• Reduce
• Reuse
• Recycle
Individuals Regulatory
bodies
• Sustainable
policies
• SDG
compliant
• Responsible
• Legal
• Discipline
bodies
GovernmentBusiness and
industry
Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

25. Required
Comprehensive Plastic Regulation Act
Dedicated Institutional Architecture – jurisdictional issues are
clarifiedclarified
Declaration of Plastic product as hazardous (or a classification
based on its usage, quality)
Prevention policies – Review of National Fibre Policy
Review of GST on plastic products
Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

26. Required
Stricter norms on virgin plastic production
Traceability and sustainability mechanisms established
Research on eco-friendly fibres and materialsResearch on eco-friendly fibres and materials
Incentives for non-plastic products, which can replace them
Brand Audits
Recycling and reuse standards
Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

27. Zero Waste: Journey
Mind shift
Waste mgt to
sustainable
material practices
Community
responsiveness
Industrial
responsibilityLocal economySDGs
Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com

28. Thank You
Email: nreddy.donthi16@gmail.comEmail: nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com
Mobile: 90102-05742
Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi, nreddy.donthi16@gmail.com