Source: The Hindu Date : 06.07.2009

Safe disposal of plastic waste still a challenge city pulse

City Bureau

— Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

Major issue: In the absence of proper disposal, plastics end up chocking waterways.

CHENNAI: Plastic is perhaps the most widely used material. Though it amounts to only 3.7 per cent of the total 3,700 tonnes of solid waste generated in the city, safe disposal of plastic waste remains a challenge to civic bodies in and around Chennai.

It is against this backdrop that the Chennai Corporation has decided to prohibit the use of plastic carry bags, disposable cups, plates and spoons on the Marina beach from August 15. However, whether such a ban can be replicated across the city remains a moot point. Environmental activists are concerned about the consequences of plastic waste leaching into the soil, affecting fertility and release of dioxins into the atmosphere when such waste is burnt.

Plastic waste dumped into the sewerage network clogs drains. Chennai Metrowater officials said disposable plastic articles contributed to nearly 30 per cent of the solid waste that blocked drains. Such blocks led to an overflow of sewage, mostly in shopping areas.

A. Narayanan, convenor of People against Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Merchandise, who filed a public interest litigation in the Madras High Court for a ban on manufacture and use of polythene carry bags and disposable plastic items, said: “Carry bags with leftover food dumped in the bins attract stray cattle that could swallow the bags. Plastic items littered near water-bodies affect marine life.”

Paediatricians caution parents about buying cheap plastic toys as children have the habit of putting toy parts in their mouth. Two types of chemicals — Bisphenol A (BPA) and Phthalate — are commonly added to make plastic flexible. Studies had shown that BPA affected hormone secretion and could cause cancer, said paediatrician V. Poovazhagi.

Emphasising the need for creating awareness about safe products, she said: “Consumers must look for the number imprinted under the product, which rate its safety in terms of toxicity. Items marked ‘7’ must be avoided. They must ask for non-PVC plastics, which use agents to prevent release of toxins.”

While some municipalities, such as Alandur and Pammal, have already taken steps to make their area plastic-free, Chennai Corporation’s initiative of banning plastic on the Marina could well be the first step towards a total ban in the city.

A senior Corporation official said: “We need a mechanism to separate plastic from waste and recycle it. We are awaiting clearance from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to segregate plastics at Perungudi and Kodungaiyur garbage dumping yards and send it to recycling units.”

One such unit which was set up six months ago at Madhuranthakam purchases plastic waste from Pammal area at Rs.3 a kg. S. Sampath, proprietor of Samki Teck Resources, said the unit extracted fuel through a proven Pyrolysis technology. “We get carbon black and combustible gas as by-products, which are also used,” he said. The TNPCB has granted clearance to another company to set up a similar facility.

Plastic manufacturers say that of the two lakh tonnes of plastic materials put to various uses in automobile and packaging industries and by domestic consumers, only those made of thermostat plastics are non-recyclable.

G. Sankaran, president of Tamil Nadu Pondy Plastics Manufacturers and Merchants Association, said the Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage (Amendment) Rules, 2003 had prohibited the manufacture of carry bags of less than 20 micron thickness. Waste product dealers and hawkers do not bring such plastics for recycling as there is not much by way of returns to them, resulting in problems with regard to management of plastic waste.

The practice of recycling plastics that have a value as a waste, however, has been a part of domestic chores in many households. This includes collection and disposing empty milk pouches and plastic bottles.

Eco-conscious households are pitching in by reducing the use of plastics. Chandra Mohanasundaram, a resident of Vadapalani, said her children carried stainless steel lunch boxes. “I plan to substitute PET water bottles with stainless steel ones as I am wary of filling hot water in plastic bottles.” Software professional Aparna Priya said she carried a cloth bag for shopping and used newspapers for packing.

The only solution is to create awareness about recycling and reduction in use. A. Mohammed Iqbal Sharief, who runs a plastic reprocessing unit, said nearly 80 per cent of used plastic was being recycled. However, continuous recycling would lead to manufacture of low-quality products, he cautioned.

The Chennai Corporation plans to encourage textile shops and retail chains to use cloth carry bags. It is also planning to create awareness among grocery, vegetable, flower vendors to use plastic minimally. This will improve awareness among users also.

(With inputs from K. Lakshmi, S. Aishwarya, R. Sujatha and Deepa H. Ramakrishnan)