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Polymer Recycling: Ways to bring polymer waste to the level of virgin polymers

Follow: bio-degradable, plastics waste, Pluss Polymers, Polymer Recycling, polymer waste, recycling, virgin polymers,
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Compatibilizers such as OPTIM and OPTIPET help bring the properties of the mixed polymer waste to virgin levels.

On April 4, 2013 the Supreme Court of India said We are sitting on a plastics time bomb. According to Central Pollution Control Board, India generates approximately 56 lakh tonne of of continuing pollution as plastic is not bio-degradable. plastics waste annually and only 60% of this waste is recycled. As 40% of plastics waste is not recycled, this waste is a source

This 40% lies uncollected and scattered all over our towns and cities, polluting the surrounding land and water resources. This also leads to proliferation of rodents and vectors spreading diseases; not to mention the air pollution from dust and smoke when burnt in the open. Plastics account for nearly 16% of chlorine in the environment and have over 54 carcinogens.Polythene bags for disposal if burnt irresponsibly releases highly toxic gases like phosgene, carbon monoxide, chlorine, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, besides deadly dioxin. For achieving substantial diversion of waste from landfills, there is an urgent need for efficient and practical method for collection of waste. Although collection is labour intensive but segregated collection leading to greater resource recovery can render this activity not only cost-effective but environmentally and economically sustainable. So the solution is a proper collection method followed by RECYCLING. Major Sources of Plastics Waste More than 60% of the plastics waste generated which is capable of undergoing recycling are from packaging, automobile and white goods industry. The most common plastics are Polyesters (the common plastic for mineral water and cold drinks), Polypropylene (mostly used in automobiles), Polyethylene (the infamous carry bags) and Nylon (automobile under the hood parts). Another major source of plastics waste is mixed plastics film waste. Packaged food industry has seen unprecedented growth over the past decade. Almost all the food packaging is polymer based and this waste has become one of the largest contributors to polymer waste in India. Such plastics waste can be seen around us in the form of chips packs, snacks packs, drink packs such as tetra packs, betel nut and areca nut packs etc. Challenges in Polymer recycling and Ways to Improve properties of Polymer Waste Though, there are a number of challenges faced by recycling industry ranging from changing life style patterns to increase in population along with lack of awareness and acceptance for the recycled products. The major challenges which are hamper the comprehensive utilization of polymer scrap/waste include:

Low competitiveness of individual enterprises. Lack of industry concentration. Lack of leading players Lack of social acceptance and recognition for the recycler Besides, recycling of plastics has several technological challenges. The presence of other materials like aluminum and metals in the plastic waste makes it difficult to recycle compatibilization is difficult because of the presence of these and a combination of different polymers in the waste. The properties of plastics deteriorate after recycling and therefore cannot be used to replace virgin polymers. The focus has to be on innovation to create additives that can help rework polymer waste to be reused in the production of quality products.Compatibilizers such as OPTIM and OPTIPEThelp bring the properties of the mixed polymer waste to virgin levels. OPTIMhas been designed to improve the impact properties of scrap Nylons (tyres, fishing nets, under the hood automobile components), PET/PBT (CFL holders, pet bottles, straps) and PC (electric meter boxes, switches etc) and also help compatibilise the mixed waste. They not only Compatibilize immiscible polymers well but also enhances filler dispersion into the polymer matrix thereby giving enhanced properties. Recycling of packaging waste is another area of major concern for the society as a whole. While recycling of mixed plastics films is not easily done as it contains mixture of polar and non-polar plastics materials. These contain metal coatings (like Aluminum), incompatible laminates such as PET, PE, Nylons, inks and adhesives. OPTIPET is another range of speciality polymers which help in overcoming the above stated problems associated with plastic film recycling. In automotive industry, there is a growing move towards reuse and reprocessing of plastics for economic, as well as environmental reasons, with many praiseworthy examples of companies developing technologies and strategies for recycling of plastics. Since economics of the polymer scrap is an important concern, these speciality additivesgive an edge in the competitive manufacturing world to recyclers of engineering polymer scrap. It enables the recycler to bring materials to virgin levels. Conclusion The society needs to accept polymers as a given, given our way of life today. The focus has to shift from not using polymers to using them intelligently and responsibly. It also needs to shift to developing proper methods for collection and disposal of waste and developing technological solutions to handle the waste. Only few companies in Indiahave been actively engaged in finding solutions to environmental problems posed by Polymers and the special additives required to get the desired properties. Sustainable polymer waste management needs to be based on the waste management hierarchy of, firstly, avoiding generation of waste, followed by reducing, reusing, recycling, recovering, treating and responsibly disposing waste.Waste Management envisages an integrated approach, encompassing technological, policy, administrative and legal actions to address the challenge of waste management in India. Strategic planning based on local needs and long-term goals should inform any policy addressing community involvement and public
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Article by Samit Jain, Director, Pluss Polymers

Samit Jain has about two decades of experience in successfully designing and managing energy

storage, community empowerment, specialty products and software development. He has brought this prowess into his work as Director of Pluss Polymers since 2003. After completing his M.Sc. in Physics from BITS, Pilani, Samit went on to pursue an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Hawaii in Honolulu, USA. At Pluss Polymers, Samit has been instrumental in the designing and development of Thermal Energy Storage projects, particularly storage of excess solar energy, waste energy and cold energy. He has also extensively worked with the Government of India and IIT, Delhi on projects for development and deployment of micro-encapsulated phase change materials.
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