Renewed efforts: Indrajit Pal (left), Secretary, Chemicals and
Petrochemicals, Government of India, and S. K. Nayak, Director-General
of Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology, at the
technical seminar on Plastics Recycling and Waste Management in
Hyderabad on Monday . — P.V. Sivakumar.

Deployment of proper plastic waste management techniques is vital,
according to Indrajit Pal, Secretary, Department of Chemicals &
Petrochemicals, Government of India.

Speaking at the inaugural session of a seminar on plastic recycling and
waste management here on Monday, Pal said the quantum of plastic waste
is increasing and its disposal had become a serious problem.

Increase in population, urbanisation and life-style changes were leading to increase in plastic waste.

“As per industry estimates, the per capita consumption of plastic in
India was at about 8 kg during 2011-12 and is expected to increase to
around 12 kg by 2017,’’ he said.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board of India, around 15,342
tonnes of plastic waste is generated in the country every day.

Proper waste management techniques and recycling of plastics has many
advantages such as conservation of non-renewable fossil fuels and
reduced consumption of energy among others, he said.

B. Janardhan Reddy, Director, Municipal Administration, Government of
Andhra Pradesh, said 175 municipalities in the State apart from those in
Hyderabad had achieved 99 per cent collection and segregation of waste
on a regular basis.

Plastic had many good uses, he said adding: “If disposal is not good, it does not mean that the plastic is bad.’’

There should be renewed efforts in reduction, recycling and reuse of plastic, he added.

Anil Reddy, President, AP Plastic Manufacturers Association said waste
management should go beyond plastic carry bags and multi-layered bags.

The State Government should consider introduction of mixing of plastic waste in bitumen in roads, he said.

The one-day seminar was organised by the Central Institute of Plastics Engineering & Technology.