Recycling Plastic To Revive Environment

Plastic poses one of the stiffest environmental challenges today.

- ​​​​​​​Aniket Panja

Every year, Europe generates 25 million tonnes of plastic waste. According to one report, plastics make up 85% of beach litter but less than 30% is collected for recycling. The average Indian uses approximately 25 pounds of plastics each year, about a tenth of what an average American uses.

Recycling plastics provides a sustainable source of raw materials to the manufacturing industry. Since plastics are non-biodegradable, they pose a high risk to people and to the environment. They can block sewer drainage channels and other waterways.

There are certain plastics that can be recycled including Polyethylene Terephthalate, which is tough and acts as a barrier to moisture and gas. High Density Polyethylene, when recycled, is used in the manufacture of water, juice and milk bottles. It is also used to make retail and trash bags. Polyvinyl Chloride is versatile and can be bent easily. It is tough and used in the manufacture of juice bottles, PVC piping and cling films. Low Density Polyethylene is usually used in making frozen food bags, flexible container lids and freezable bottles.