Page 55 - CIJ March 2024 - Digital Edition

Waste ManageMent

here are myriad this hampers
challenges in plastic the collection
waste management of low-value
which primarily stem plastic waste.
Tfrom the high durability Therefore,
and slow degradation rate of infrastructure
plastics, causing them to persist and
in the environment for hundreds technology
of years. Additionally, multiple need to
types and grades of plastic that improve along
are incompatible with each other with research
complicate the recycling process. and there is still
There is an evident mismatch in a considerable
the economic models of production way to go for India,
and consumption of plastic, which explains Bhagyashree Garima Kaushik
discourages the maintenance and Jain.
development of a circular economy Construction of roads using
as the cost of virgin plastic is plastic, bricks using plastic waste,
often more economical compared recycled plastic boards, benches, Extended Producer
to recycled plastic. However, cloth-like nylon from plastic. A lot Responsibility (EPR) is a
solutions to mitigate plastic waste of technologies work well on the strategy where all the estimated
crisis are gathering steam as pilot scale but when scaled up it environmental costs associated
innovations pour in from multiple falters as there is a mismatch in the with a specific product for the
sectors. category, quality, and quantity of entire product life cycle are added
Improved recycling technologies plastic. to the market price of that product,
are being tested to increase Municipalities, corporations, and this is predominantly applied in
efficiency and accommodate and other businesses are coming the field of waste management.
different types of plastic. together to tap into the plastic EPR is a good model but
Worldwide, governments and waste sector. Businesses need to currently caters to
other affiliated and non-affiliated audit their waste generation to companies
organizations are using a multi- understand the kind and quantity
pronged approach by implementing of plastic and how best to develop
policies and initiatives to strategies to use them
reduce plastic production and effectively.
consumption, promote recycling,
and encourage the shift towards a
circular economy. Public awareness
campaigns are useful in changing
consumer behaviour and reducing
plastic use, says Garima Kaushik.
A holistic and collaborative effort
is needed to tackle the plastic
waste menace and ensure a more
sustainable future for our planet.
Segregating plastic at the
source provides for better
quality, pricing, and value for
the specific type of plastic.
Infrastructure development
to handle plastic waste
management has to
rapidly improve. A plastic
recycler looks at the
economic viability of
recycled plastic and

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