The Issue of Plastic Waste Utilization

Abstract

Waste or garbage is a mix of substances, objects and their parts that have lost their customer properties due to being used and so they are refused. The paper is aimed at characterizing main topical concepts of the problem of plastic waste spread and its utilization and suggesting its future solutions. In Russia the amount of solid municipal waste reaches 63 mln tons per year (i. e. about 450 kg per person), up to 25 % of it being plastics. Plastics are organic materials made of synthesized or natural polymers consisting of monomer units that are joined together to form long macromolecules. The most widespread types of plastic are polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polystyrene, low and high density polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE), etc. A system of identification codes and labeling was developed to facilitate utilization of disposable items. The majority of types of plastic can be easily reprocessed and recycled. In European countries, up to 50 % of waste is recycled while in Russia this number does not exceed 4 %. The life cycle of plastic is much longer than its useful life. One way or another, all plastic items get into landfills where plastic goes on affecting the environment and moves along the food chains up to humans. Up to 10 % of plastic waste ends up in the World Ocean. This durable and often toxic material results in diseases and death of many terrestrial and aquatic animals. The classic waste management hierarchy is limited to three major directions: disposal (including energy recovery), recycling and reuse, all of which being not optimal particularly in respect of the environment. It should be recognized that, among other issues, plastic life cycle assessment and raising public awareness of a need to minimize use of plastic are relevant ways out.