This document discusses various topics related to waste management, with a focus on organic wastes and plastics. It defines different types of wastes, explains how wastes can be classified, and identifies key sources of wastes. The document also examines the properties and design of plastics, their biodegradability, and options for managing various waste streams, including recycling, degradation, and use of landfills. Microplastics and their impacts on wildlife and human health are also summarized.

1. SARATH K NAIR
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2. OVERVIEW
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WHAT ARE WASTES
KINDS OF WASTES
DEFINITION CLASSIFICATION OF WASTES ACCORDING TO TEIR
PROPERTIES
SOURCES OF WASTES
DESIGN AND DISADVANTAGES OF PLASTICS
BIODEGRADABILITY OF PLASTICS
ORGANIC WASTES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT
RECYCLING,DEGRADATION,LANDFILLS AND REGENERATION
PROCESSES
ARE U A SCIENTIST?
FUTURE
THANKS
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Waste Management:
ORANIC AND PLASTICS

4. PLASTIC
The word plastics is from
the Greek word Plastikos,
meaning “able to be
shaped and molded”
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What are Wastes?
Basel Convention Definition of Wastes
“substances or objects which are disposed of
or are intended to be disposed of or are
required to be disposed of by the provisions
of the law”
Disposal means
“any operation which may lead to resource
recovery, recycling, reclamation, direct re-
use or alternative uses (Annex IVB of the
Basel convention)”

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Kinds of Wastes
Solid wastes: domestic, commercial and industrial
wastes especially common as co-disposal of
wastes
Examples: plastics, styrofoam containers, bottles,
cans, papers, scrap iron, and
other trash
Liquid Wastes: wastes in liquid form
Examples: domestic washings, chemicals, oils,
waste water from ponds, manufacturing
industries and other sources

7. DEFINITIONS
Biodegradable
waste
Biodegradable
industrial waste
Biodegradable
municipal waste
Waste from agriculture
Waste from forestry
Manure
Sewage sludge
Paper and cardboard
Bio-waste
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Classification of Wastes according to their
Properties
Bio-degradable
can be degraded (paper, wood, fruits and others)
Non-biodegradable
cannot be degraded (plastics, bottles, old machines,
cans, styrofoam containers and others)

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Sources of Wastes
Households
Commerce and
Industry

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Sources of Wastes
Agriculture
Fisheries

11. Why Design with Plastics?
Corrosion resistance
Low electrical and thermal conductivity, insulator
Easily formed into complex shapes, can be formed,
casted and joined.
Wide choice of appearance, colors and
transparencies
Light weight, high weight to strength ratio,
particularly when reinforced
Relatively low cost compared to metals and
composites
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12. Disadvantages of using Plastics
Low strength
Low useful temperature range (up to 600
o
F)
Less dimensional stability over period of time (creep
effect)
Aging effect, hardens and become brittle over time
Sensitive to environment, moisture and chemicals
Poor machinability
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13. IS IT BIODEGRADABLE?
Plastics are non biodegradable
because of the ingredients used to
manufacture them.
Polymer is the major part of the
plastics.
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14. Poly Lactic Acid (PLA)

15. ORGANIC WASTES
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17. Organic wastes originate from plant or animal sources.
Food scraps, garden waste, sewage, paper and wood are
examples of organic waste .
Organic waste can be recycled. Compost, biochar, soil
conditioners and biogas are some of the products that can
be produced from recovered organic waste.
Biochar is a type of charcoal which is produced when
natural organic materials, such as crop waste, wood chips or
manure, are heated in an oxygen-limited environment. This
process is referred to as pyrolysis.
Biogas is the gas produced when organic matter
decomposes in the absence of oxygen.
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18. MUST AWARE THESE…..
the expansion of energy production from
Organic wastes
taking action to address greenhouse gas
emissions from organic wastes, and
standards and guidance for organic waste
products such as mulch, compost and soil
conditioners to increase their uptake in
consumermarkets.
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23. Recycling
Reprocessing and refabrication of a material that has
been used and discarded by a consumer
Postcunsumer recycle (PCR)
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24. Recycling
Collection
Handling/Sorting
Reclamation/Cleaning
End uses
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25. Degradation
Plastics that can break down into smaller molecules by
natural means are degradable
Degraded byproducts are sometimes more dangerous
than original product
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26. Landfills
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27. Regeneration
Breaking down the polymer molecules in the plastic in
the basic chemicals
The chemicals are then used to create new polymers
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28. ARE U A SCIENTIST?
Take two beaker A and B.
Put moist soil in the both.
Put organic waste in the beaker A and Plastic in
beaker B.
After a week or two you will find that the organic
waste are decomposed while the plastics are not.
This proves that organic waste is biodegredabe and
plastic is not.
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29. [Jeanne Gallagher] photographer, Cynthia Vanderlip
[Jeanne Gallagher] unknown--Courtesy of Algalita Marine Research Foundation
The detrimental effects of macro-plastics
on wildlife are well documented,
particularly in aquatic environments.
Seal entangled in plastic Photographer unknown
Snapping turtle deformed by plastic
Albatross chick ingesting plastic
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30. “Plastic debris is accumulating in terrestrial and aquatic habitats
worldwide. This debris is progressively fragmenting into smaller
pieces…The abundance in the water column has increased considerably
over the last 40 years, and this trend mirrors the global rise in plastic
production.” (Browne, Galloway & Thompson, 2009)
[Jeanne Gallagher] Courtesy of Algalita Marine Research Foundation
Microscopic plastic particles
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31. “…filter-feeding animals, such as mucous web
feeding jellies and salps, were…heavily
impacted by plastic fragments... Filter feeders
are at the lower end of the food chain, …fifty
species of fish and many turtles are known to
eat them… accumulating plastic in their
stomachs.” (Tamanaha & Moore, 2007)
[Jeanne Gallagher] Courtesy of Algalita Marine Research Foundation
Microplastic in the
digestive tract of an
amphipod
Salp ingestion of plastic
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32. Micro-plastics translocated from the gut to the hemolymph of a
species of mussel (Mytilus edulis) persisted for over 48 days
Predators of mussels:
• birds
• crabs
• starfish
• predatory whelks
• humans
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33. “…medical studies on both rodents and humans have also
shown that particles of polyvinylchloride and polystyrene less than
150 µm can translocate from the gut cavity to their lymph and
circulatory systems.” (Browne et. al., 2008)
Micro-particles of plastic
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37. Future
Rational analysis of each product type and its own
particular use
Be open to suggestions from environmental lobbyists
Put aside emotional issues in favor of reasoned
positions based on scientific principles
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38. FRIENDS ..EARTH IS NOW IN YOUR
HANDS…MAKE IT A HEAVEN....
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