Plastic waste recycling: existing Indian scenario and future opportunities

Abstract

This review article aims to suggest recycling technological options in India and illustrates plastic recycling clusters and reprocessing infrastructure for plastic waste (PW) recycling in India. The study shows that a majority of states in India are engaged in recycling, road construction, and co-processing in cement kilns while reprocessing capabilities among the reprocessors are highest for polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) polymer materials. This review suggests that there are key opportunities for mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, waste-to-energy approaches, and bio-based polymers as an alternative to deliver impact to India’s PW problem. On the other hand, overall, polyurethane, nylon, and polyethylene terephthalate appear most competitive for chemical recycling. Compared to conventional fossil fuel energy sources, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene are the three main polymers with higher calorific values suitable for energy production. Also, multi-sensor-based artificial intelligence and blockchain technology and digitization for PW recycling can prove to be the future for India in the waste flow chain and its management. Overall, for a circular plastic economy in India, there is a necessity for a technology-enabled accountable quality-assured collaborative supply chain of virgin and recycled material. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13762-022-04079-x.

Efficient Plastic Waste Recycling Using Polymer

“…This analysis reveals promising prospects for addressing India's PW issue through the use of mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, waste-to-energy techniques, and biobased polymers. [33] This article provides an overview of recent advances in polymer technology that aim to increase the efficiency of plastic recycling (as also mentioned in Figure 1) and upcycling. Strategies for increasing the efficiency of recycling/upcycling plastic waste have not yet been reviewed, even though there are many excellent reviews summarizing trends in catalytic chemical and biological recycling/upcycling methods and the production of value-added products through the conversion of plastic waste.…”

“…This analysis reveals promising prospects for addressing India's PW issue through the use of mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, waste‐to‐energy techniques, and bio‐based polymers. [ 33 ]…”

Analysis of the Plastic Waste Value Chain in India: A Scoping Study

“…In India, the plastic waste management value chain is a mixture of formal and informal, with the informal sector contributing enormously to the collection and segregation parts of the value chain. For example, the informal sector contributed 70% of PET bottles recycled in India (Shanker et al, 2022). Additionally, the number and type of stakeholders involved vary from location to location and depend largely on the level of urban development and planning.…”

Transforming Medical Plastic Waste into High-Performance Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Sustainable Energy, Health Monitoring, and Sensing Applications

“…Medical plastic waste can be converted into energy through various processes such as pyrolysis, , gasification, and incineration . However, these processes involve the heating, burning, and oxidation of plastic, which are not environmentally friendly options. − Therefore, the direct reuse of medical plastic waste can effectively reduce the amount of waste generated and minimize the environmental impact. In addition, recycling and reusing medical plastic waste should always be the top priority, as it reduces the amount of waste requiring treatment and helps to conserve natural resources.…”