ON PLASTIC AND ITS

EFFECTS
A Course End Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Course of

SOCIAL INNOVATION
Department of Freshman Engineering

By

Roll Number Name of the Student

18881A05M6 MANTHENA KRISHNA VARMA

VARDHAMAN COLLEGE OF
ENGINEERING
(AUTONOMOUS)
Shamshabad - 501 218, Hyderabad

November 2018
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VARDHAMAN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

(AUTONOMOUS)
Shamshabad – 501 218, Hyderabad.
DEPARTMENT OF FRESHMAN ENGINEERING

CERTIFICATE

Certified that this is a bonafide record of the course end project work entitled,
" On plastic and it's effect ”, done by M.Krishna Varma(1881A05M6) of 1st Semester CSE-
D submitted to the department of Freshman Engineering, in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the course SOCIAL INNOVATION during the year 2018-2019 (I
Semester).

Course Instructor: Head of the Department

Ramesh Shabhadkar Prof. S. Rajendar
Designation:professor Head Freshman Engineering
Department: Vardhaman College of Engineering
Department of Computer science and Hyderabad.
engineering

Semester End Examination held on……………………………………………

SIGNATURE OF THE EXAMINER(S)

1.

2.

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Abstract

In just a few years of growth, world population has more than tripled, inevitably
leading to mass consumption and therefore to plastic packaging. This resulted in the
dumping of a huge amount of waste very difficult to degrade, which, for most of it,
reaches the oceans. Guided by marine currents, plastic items accumulate and gather in
each of the five oceans. In the Pacific Ocean, this garbage patch is said to spread on an
area which is 5 times larger than France, not without consequences on biodiversity as
well as humans and their activities.

The goal of this study is to describe the life cycle of an aquatic plactic item, from its
arrival into the ocean to its retrieval and reprocessing. North Atlantic Oceanic currents
will be described and modelled. Then, two possible solutions to plastic pollution will be
exposed:

1.The retrieval of water surface aquatic plastic waste and reprocessing into fuel or
incineration. We will try to figure out whether this reprocessing could be enough to
cover the extraction costs.

2.The increasing use of biodegradable bioplastics, such as PLA (polylactic acid). We will
discuss whether this solution is environment-friendly.

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List of Contents

Page No.

Abstract

Chapter – 1 Introduction

Chapter – 2 Problem Identification

Chapter – 3 Proposed Idea(s)

Chapter – 4 Literature Survey

Chapter – 5 Idea(s) Implementation

Chapter – 6 Advantages and Applications

Chapter – 7 Conclusions and Future Scope

References

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Chapter – 1

Introduction
What are plastics?

We talk about "plastic" as though it's a single material, but there are in fact
many different plastics. What they have in common is that they're plastic,
which means they are soft and easy to turn into many different forms during
manufacture. Plastics are (mostly) synthetic (human-made) materials, made
from polymers, which are long molecules built around chains of carbon
atoms, typically with hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen filling in the
spaces. You can think of a polymer as a big molecule made by repeating a
small bit called a monomer over and over again; "poly" means many, so
"polymer" is simply short for "many monomers." If you think of how a long
coal train is made from many trucks coupled together, that's what polymers
are like. The trucks are the monomers and the entire train, made from lots
of identical trucks, is the polymer. Where a coal train might have a couple of
dozen trucks, a polymer could be built from hundreds or even thousands of
monomers. In other words, polymers typically have very large and heavy
molecules.

There are many different plastics, so we need ways of making sense of them
all by grouping similar ones together. Here are a few ways we can do that
(and there are others I've not listed):

We can split them into natural (ones easily obtained from plants and
animals) and synthetic (ones artificially made by complex chemical
processes in a factory or lab). Cellulose is a natural polymer used for

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making sticky tape (among other things), whereas nylon is a synthetic

polymer made in a factory.

We can group them according to the structure of the monomers that their
polymers are made from. That's why we talk about polyesters, polyethenes,
polyurethanes and so on—because they're different polymers made by
repeating different monomers.

When it comes to recycling, we need to separate plastics into different kinds

that can be processed together without causing contamination. That depends
on their chemical properties, physical properties, and the polymer types
from which they're made, and gives us seven main kinds. (You've probably
noticed seven different recycling symbols numbered 1-6 and "null" on
plastic packaging, if you've looked carefully.)

We can group by what they're made from (say bioplastics—artificially made

from natural ingredients) or how they behave when they're buried in
landfills (biodegradable, photodegradable, and so on).

We can split them into two broad kinds according to how they behave when
they're heated: thermoplastics (which soften when they're heated) and
thermosets (thermosetting plastics, which never soften after they're initially
molded

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Chapter-2

Problem Identification

Causes of Plastic Pollution

While solving the problem of plastic pollution may seem as easy as just
implementing recycling or cleaning up empty bottles, the truth is that the
plastic causing the pollution can range in size from big to microscopic. The
major contributors to this problem today include

1.Plain Old Trash

Plastic is everywhere, even on those items you may not expect it to be. Milk
cartons are lined with plastic, water bottles are handed out everywhere, and
some products may even contain tiny plastic beads. Every time one of these
items gets thrown away washed down a sink, the toxic pollutants have more
of a chance to enter the environment and do harm.Trash dumps and landfills
are unfortunate major problems, as they allow pollutants to enter the ground
and affect wildlife and groundwater for years to come.

2.It is Overused

As plastic is less expensive, it is one of the most widely available and

overused item in the world today. When disposed, it does not decompose
easily and pollutes the land or air nearby when burned in the open air.

3.Fishing Nets

Commercial fishing is an economic necessity for many parts of the world,

and tons of people eat fish for their daily survival. However, this industry
has helped contribute to the problem of plastics pollution in the oceans in
several ways. The nets used for certain large-scale trolling operations are
usually made of plastic. First, these spend long times submerged in water,
leaking toxins at will, but they also often get broken up or lost, left to remain

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wherever they fall. This not only kills and harms local wildlife, but also
ensures that pollutants enter the water and fish of the area.

Disposing of Plastic and Garbage

This may sound a bit confusing, but because plastic is meant to last, it is
nearly impossible to break down. Burning plastic is incredibly toxic, and
can lead to harmful atmospheric conditions and deadly illness. Therefore, if
it is in a landfill, it will never stop releasing toxins in that area.

Even recycling doesn’t cut down on plastic, as it essentially uses the existing
plastic, albeit in a new form. The process of recycling plastic can also lead
to plastic irritants being released in a number of ways.

Chapter -3

Proposed Idea(s)

1. Carry in reusable bottle

In the UK we use over 35 million plastic bottles every day! Carrying a

reusable bottle is a great way to cut your plastic use and save money too!
There’s even an app that tells you where you can refill your bottle for free!

2. Say no to plastic straws

Plastic straws are bad news for our oceans. Next time you order a drink,
think about whether you need a straw – and if you don’t, just say no! You
can also ask your local pub to stop adding straws to drinks as standard and

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offer paper straws to those who want one – more info here.Plastic straws
and plastic debris beach pollution

3.Take a reusable coffee cup

2.5 billion coffee cups are thrown away every year in the UK – and less than
1 in 400 are recycled. Carry a reusable cup with you – some cafes even offer
a small discount if you use your own cup (and if they don’t ask them why
not!)

4. Avoid excessive food packaging

Whether it’s making different choices in the supermarket or choosing a

different place to shop, we can all try and cut down the plastic we buy. And
as an added bonus, loose fruit and veg is often cheaper than pre-packaged
alternatives!

5. Use refill stations for detergents

There are some products where it’s difficult to avoid a plastic container (for
example washing up liquid or laundry liquid) – the good news is that there
are an increasing amount of places where you can refill your old bottles.
Find your nearest refill station here.

6. Say no to disposable cutlery

We’ve all been there – caught out in a cafe or at a train station when we’ve
bought a salad or a yogurt but the only cutlery on offer is plastic! Whilst it’s
hard to plan for every opportunity, consider carrying a spoon or fork (or
spork!) in your bag or keeping cutlery in your desk at work.

7. Get your milk delivered

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Although the early morning sound of a milk float is not as common as it

used to be, there are still lots of places in the UK where you can get milk
delivered in glass bottles – which are then collected and reused. You can
find your nearest milkround here.

8. Avoid microbeads

The good news is that the UK government have announced a ban on

microbeads! However until the ban comes into force in 2018, there will still
be products on the shelves, so keep checking those labels before you buy and
avoid products containing polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP),
polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA),
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and nylon.

9. Carry a shopping bag

Since the plastic bag charge was introduced in England, there’s been a
massive 85% drop in their use. Many of us are used to carrying an extra bag
with us – if you still find it hard to remember, try a foldaway one that you
can carry in your normal day bag.

Making just a few small changes can have a big impact on the amount of
plastic we use on a day-to-day basis.

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Chapter – 4

Literature Survey

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Top 5 countries on the list; China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and
Sri Lanka together account for almost 60% of the ocean's plastic pollution.

Chapter – 5

Ideas and Implementation

1.Give up buying beverages that come in plastic bottles. About 2.4 million
tons of this plastic — known as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) — is
discarded annually, with 75 percent going straight to the landfill. Invest in a
stainless- steel bottle or opt for soda or other beverages that come in glass
bottles or paper cartons.

2. Stop using disposable cups. From Styrofoam to Solo cups to plastic-lined

paper cups, these beverage holders have a lifespan of about half an hour.
This is why you should make it a habit of bringing your thermos or tumbler
every time you hit the coffee shop or a fast food restaurant.

3. And since you’re now going to use your own beverage container, you can
also ditch those single-use straws, stirrers and lids.

4. If the coffee shop uses plastic cups or cutlery but doesn’t have a recycling
bin, take these items home with you and recycle them yourself.

5. Repurpose the plastic that you already have. Cups and yogurt tubs make
great planters, and bags can be woven into baskets or mats. The tops of
water bottles can be sliced off to make awesome seals for bags of food.

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Chapter – 6

Advantages and Applications

Plastics are used to manufacture an incredible number of products we
use every day, such as beverage and food containers, trash bags and
grocery bags, cups and utensils, children's toys and diapers, and bottles for
everything from mouthwash and shampoo to glass cleaner and dishwashing
liquid. And that's not even counting all the plastic that goes into furniture,
appliances, computers, and automobiles.

ADVANTAGES

1.The Need Is Growing

As the use of plastics has increased over the years, they have become a

larger part of our nation's municipal solid waste (MSW)—growing from less

than 1 percent in 1960 to more than 13 percent in 2013, according to a

report by the Environmental Protection Agency.

As an example of how and why plastic waste is increasing, the International

Bottled Water Association reports that the U.S. consumed 9.67 billion

gallons of bottled water in 2012, compared to 9.1 billion gallons the year

before. The United States is the world's leading consumer of bottled water. A

good first step in reducing waste is switching to a reusable water bottle.

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2.Natural Resources and Energy Conservation

Recycling plastics reduces the amount of energy and resources (such as

water, petroleum, natural gas, and coal) needed to create plastic. According

to a 2009 study by researchers Peter Gleick and Heather Cooley from the

Pacific Institute of California, a pint-sized bottle of water requires about

2,000 times as much energy to produce as the same amount of tap water.

3.Recycling Plastics Saves Landfill Space

Recycling plastic products also keeps them out of landfills and allows the

plastics to be reused in manufacturing new products. Recycling 1 ton of

plastic saves 7.4 cubic yards of landfill space. And let's face it, a lot of

plastic ends up directly in the environment, breaking down into tiny pieces,

polluting our soil and water, and contributing to the ocean's Great Garbage

Patches.

4.It's Relatively Easy

Recycling plastics has never been easier. Today, 80 percent of Americans

have easy access to a plastics recycling program, whether they participate

in a municipal curbside program or live near a drop-off site. A universal

numbering system for plastic types makes it even easier.

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According to the American Plastics Council, more than 1,800 U.S.

businesses handle or reclaim postconsumer plastics. In addition, many

grocery stores now serve as recycling collection sites for plastic bags and

plastic wrap.

5.Room for Improvement

Overall, the level of plastics recycling is still relatively low. In 2012, only

6.7 percent of plastics in the municipal solid waste stream were recycled,

according to the EPA.

Plastics Applications

Plastics Applications can be found in almost all areas of everyday living due

to their versatility Below are links to some of the key application areas for

plastics...

1.Construction

Plastics are used in a growing range of applications in the construction

industry. They have great versatility and combine excellent strength to

weight ratio, durability, cost effectiveness, low maintenance and corrosion

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resistance which make plastics an economically attractive choice throughout

the construction sector.

2. Electronic Applications

personal computer

Electricity powers almost every aspect of our lives, at home and in our jobs,

at work and at play. And everywhere that we find electricity, we also find

plastics.

3. Plastics Packaging

Plastics is the perfect material for use in packaging goods. Plastics is

versatile, hygenic, lightweight, flexible and highly durable. It accounts for

the largest usage of plastics world wide and is used in numerous packaging

applications including containers, bottles, drums, trays, boxes, cups and

vending packaging, baby products and protection packaging.

4.Transport

The cost-effective and safe transportation of people and goods is vital to our

economy, cutting the weight of cars, aeroplanes, boats and trains can cut

fuel consumption dramatically. The lightness of plastics therefore makes

them invaluable to the transport industry.

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Chapter – 7

Conclusions and Future Scope

Conclusion

While plastic pollution is very serious problem, there are solutions. One

solution to prevent to the negative health effects is to provide clean water. In

rural areas, instead of using a municipal watershed, residents use their own

private wells. These wells are encased and protected from anypotential bio-

hazardous runoff (Wilcox, 2010). Another solution is plastic alternatives.

One of these alternatives is ceramic fibers made from inorganic substances.

Many of these fibers are heat resistant and can withstand great thermal

temperatures (Ishikawa, 2005). Another, and more cost effective, example of

a plastic alternative is Polyhydroxybutyrate(PHB). PHB is a biodegradable

plastic alternative. PHB can be created using abundant and cost effective

organic materials such as bacteria and other carbon based substances.

(Getachew & Woldesenbet, 2016). According to Oregon State University’s

Sustainable Technologies Laboratory, it would cost roughly $363,340 for

15,000,000 kilograms of the raw materials necessary to produce PHB. A

potential source of funding would be an EPA grant. The EPA has awarded

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over $4 billion worth of grants every year. By reducing the health risks

caused by micro plastics, and by reducing the amount of overall plastic

through mechanical recycling (manually separating, cleaning, and reusing

plastic of any form) and biodegradable alternatives, plastic pollution can

become a thing of the past.

References

1.Andrady, A. L. (2015). Persistence of Plastic Litter in the Oceans. In M.

Bergmann, L. Gutow & M.

Klages (Eds.), Marine Anthropogenic Litter (pp. 57–72). Cham: Springer

International Publishing.

2.Barnes, D. K. A., Galgani, F., Thompson, R. C., & Barlaz, M. (2009).

Accumulation and

fragmentation of plastic debris in global environments. Philosophical

Transactions of the

3.Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences, 364(1526), 1985–1998.

Brandon, J., Goldstein, M., & Ohman, M. D. (2016). Long-term aging and
degradation of microplastic particles: Comparing in situ oceanic and
experimental weathering patterns.

4.Marine Pollution Bulletin, 110(1), 299–308. Brydson, J. A. (1999).

Plastics materials: Butterworth-Heinemann.

5.Cooper, D. A., & Corcoran, P. L. (2010). Effects of mechanical and

chemical processes on the

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degradation of plastic beach debris on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. Marine

Pollution

6.Bulletin, 60(5), 650–654.Eriksen, M., Lebreton, L. C. M.

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