Plastic Waste Disposal in Australia

This assignment analyzes the current situation of plastic waste generation and disposal in Australia. It explores various methods used for managing plastic waste, including recycling and landfill, while highlighting the environmental consequences, particularly on marine life. The research delves into initiatives aimed at mitigating the impacts of plastic waste through reduced consumption, reusable alternatives, and policy restrictions.

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Environment and Sustainable Studies

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Generation of Plastic Waste Products........................................................................................3
Plastic Waste Disposal Techniques............................................................................................4
Impact of Plastic Waste Products on Environment....................................................................5
Reduction of Impacts of Plastic Waste on Environment...........................................................7
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................9
References................................................................................................................................10

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Introduction
The report focuses on conducting a research associated with the generation of plastic wastes
especially in the context of Australia. It aims in conducting research associated with the
different techniques and processes associated with the management and disposal of plastic
waste products while also in understanding the impacts generated by plastic wastes on the
natural environment. Empirical research is focused on being conducted through study of
journals and other online sources concerning the topic.
Generation of Plastic Waste Products
During 2014-15, it was estimated that the per capita generation of plastic waste products in
Australia amounted to 2.5 metric tonnes. It was further reported that the level of generation of
plastic wastes gained a reduction of 14 percent during the stated period (Blue Environment
Pty. Ltd. , 2016). The same is reflected in the following illustration.

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(Blue Environment Pty. Ltd. , 2016)
A statistics generated during 2016 reveals that the Australians on an average tend to use
around 6.9 million of plastic bags on an annual basis. Moreover, around 36,700 tonnes of
plastic bags are estimated to be dumped as landfills on an annual basis by Australians out of
which only 10 percent are observed to be recyclable in nature. Further, in terms of use of
bottled water it is estimated that around 373 million of plastic bottles used for storing water is
taken to end up as waste products in the region (Ocean Crusaders , 2016).
Plastic Waste Disposal Techniques
Four different techniques are identified that contribute in effective disposal of plastic waste
products along Australia and other offshore regions. In the first place, an easy way of
disposing plastic waste products is by dumping the same in landfills. However, the process of
dumping plastic wastes in landfills is considered to be unhygienic owing to grave
mismanagement and also the decomposition of plastic into toxic constituents polluting the
atmosphere. The second technique of disposal of plastic wastes is associated with
incinerating the plastic wastes. Incineration of plastic wastes actively contributes to the
generation of energy such that the plastics are plastics are derived as a by-product during
generation of petroleum and natural gas. However again, the incineration of plastic wastes
cause the release of toxic waste products into the natural environment thereby causing air and
water pollution and similarly other types of health hazards (Wu et al., 2013).
Recycling in the third place is considered one of the most effective ways concerning the
disposal of plastic waste products. However, recycling to be effective requires the proper
collection and also sorting of waste products made of plastics. The collection and sorting
activities concerning plastics are needed to be carried out through the generation of recycled
bins and other infrastructural facilities like allocation of waste collection trucks. Finally, the
use of biodegradable plastics or such plastic products that tend to be decomposed based on
the action of living organisms need to be effectively promoted along different regions. The
same contributes in solving different issues concerning waste management of plastic wastes
like disposable packaging wherein the same can be effectively segregated from other organic
waste products. It is however argued that the technique associated with oxy-biodegradable
plastic may tend to release different toxic metals and materials into the environment (Hadi et
al., 2015).

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An effective waste disposal technique is being hypothesized that focuses on converting
plastic waste products containing both of household and other commercial plastic wastes to
fuel. The implementation of the waste disposal technique is taken to help in reducing the
amount of plastic wastes by around 80 percent. It thus serves as an active and effective
technique for the generation of fuel products and thereby helping in addressing the shortage
of fuel resources in the region (Yong et al., 2015).
Impact of Plastic Waste Products on Environment
The generation of plastic waste products and its accumulation in oceans is recognised to be a
serious environmental issue in Australia. Different types of plastic waste products like road
markings, plastic tyres, paint products, fibres used in clothes, microbeads used in cosmetic
products along with other types of non-biodegradable plastics tend to increasingly pollute the
water resources thereby affecting the marine life (Blue Environment Pty. Ltd. , 2016). The
growth in the level of microplastic sedimentation along the ocean bed of Australia has
shocked a number of marine scientists in the region. The ocean bed of the south-east coastline
of Australia reflects increased level of microplastic pollution. The Bicheno Beach based in
Tasmania with also other regions like southern coast of Adelaide, Jervis and Port Philip Bay
and also the Sydney Harbour reflected potential pollution on account of microplastic
sedimentation (Pigram, 2017). A sample of microplastic sedimentation along the ocean floor
of Australia is reflected as follows.

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(Pigram, 2017)
The sample collection made by marine researchers reflected that every millilitre of plastic
and waste sedimentation contained about 3.4 microplastics. The increased level of
microplastic segmentation was mainly accounted to be generated by the fragmentation of
plastic products and also micro beads and fibres used in production of cosmetics and clothing
respectively. The microplastic sedimentation is researched to be mainly generated by washing
machines used in households which are then discharged or littered in to the oceans. The east
coast of Bicheno based in Tasmania recorded presence of around 12 microplastic filaments
along each millilitre of waste sediments. It is inferred by the researchers that the presence of
such microplastic filaments along the ocean bed were harmful to marine life such that they
can tend to ingest such products or get entangled in them (Pigram, 2017).
It is further estimated that around 100,000 aquatic creatures die owing to getting entangled in
plastic products like plastic bags and other microplastic fragments. More specifically, it is
estimated that around 1 million sea birds suffer fatality owing to the plastic pollution in the
oceans. Animals tend to die owing to plastic sedimentation in the ocean bed in that the plastic
bags and other products take a longer time to disintegrate. It is estimated that plastics take a
longer time of around 20 to 1000 years to completely disintegrate or decompose into other

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toxic chemicals and polymers that account for further toxicity and pollution of sea water
(Ocean Crusaders , 2016).
Reduction of Impacts of Plastic Waste on Environment
Two companies, Replas and also the RED Group operating in Australia have taken
significant steps for helping in the reduction of plastic waste products. These companies are
identified to be key institutions that are involved in collecting and also processing of soft
plastic packages. An estimate generated by the Plastics and Chemical Industries Association
of Australia reflected that around 300,000 tonnes of plastic wastes are collected for recycling
purposes on an annual basis. 50 percent of the total plastic wasted collected are sent to
overseas for being recycled while 20 percent of the plastic wastes are indigenously processed
to be made into pellets that are thereby outsourced to foreign markets (Waste Management
Review , 2017). Different types of plastic products like co-mingled containers consisting of
bottles and other juice containers, soft plastics like bubble wrappers, shopping bags, shrink
wrappers and other hard plastic products like PET packaging and containers and other plastic
creates are focused on being recycled by the recycling companies based in Australia. The soft
plastic products and plastic bottles are focused on being baled while the harder plastic
products are firstly processed and thereby converted into granules and pellets. These pellets
are thereby transported for commercial uses to different manufacturing and production
companies. The recycling of plastic products actively contributes in the development of pipes
for irrigation purposes and also mobile bins for dumping of garbage (Suez, 2017). The same
is reflected in the following illustration.

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(Suez, 2017)
Reduction of use of plastic straws contributes in reducing the level of plastic wastage.
Similarly, the retail companies are encouraged to reduce the level of consumption of nylon
and polyester bags through the introduction of cloth bags made of cotton and the like.
Further, use of reusable plastic bottles and cups also help in reduction of plastic wastage in
the region. Similarly, the use of different types of plastic wares like that forks, spoons, knives
and even chopsticks are increasingly restricted along different types of restaurants while
customers are encouraged to both bring and use steel wares to the restaurants. Again, reusable
containers are also largely being promoted to be used on a wider scale by the Australian
consumers. Reusable bags like cotton bags are also promoted to be used as bins rather than
the use of plastic bags and bins for dumping of wastes. Chewing gums are being increasingly
restricted on being consumed by the Australian consumers such that the same contain larger
amount of plastics and other toxic products (Moss, 2015). The above initiatives are being
continuously undertaken for helping in reducing the generation of plastic and plastic wastes.

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Conclusion
The research conducted regarding plastic waste disposal ideally reflects on the present
situation associated with the generation of plastic waste products in Australia. It also focuses
on identifying the different techniques or processes concerning disposal of plastic wastes in
the region with also documenting the impacts of generation and dumping of plastic wastes on
the natural environment and the aquatic life. It is observed that the incidence of generation of
plastic wastes affects both the quality and quantity of marine life amounting to large number
of deaths of birds and animals. Further, research is also conducted on the process of reducing
the impacts of plastic wastes on the natural environment and aquatic life.

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References
Blue Environment Pty. Ltd. , 2016. Australian National Waste Report 2016. Ausstralia:
Randell Environment Conulting.
Hadi, P. et al., 2015. Waste printed circuit board recycling techniques and product utilisation.
Journal of Hazardous Materials, 283, pp.234-43.
Moss, L., 2015. 16 simple ways to reduce plastic waste. [Online] Available at:
https://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/responsible-living/stories/16-simple-ways-reduce-plastic-
waste [Accessed 22 September 2017].
Ocean Crusaders , 2016. Plastic Statistics. [Online] Available at:
http://oceancrusaders.org/plastic-crusades/plastic-statistics/ [Accessed 22 September 2017].
Pigram, S., 2017. Microplastic pollution of seafloor widespread along Australia's south-east
coast, study finds. [Online] Available at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-14/plastic-
waste-on-east-coast-seafloor-mapped/8706302 [Accessed 22 September 2017].
Suez, 2017. Plastic Recycling. [Online] Available at: http://www.sita.com.au/commercial-
solutions/resource-recovery-recycling/plastic-polystyrene/ [Accessed 22 September 2017].
Waste Management Review , 2017. Two companies working to tackle plastic waste in
Australia. [Online] Available at: http://wastemanagementreview.com.au/three-companies-
working-tackle-plastic-waste-australia/ [Accessed 22 September 2017].
Wu, G., Li, J. & Xu, Z., 2013. Triboelectrostatic separation for granular plastic waste
recycling: A review. Waste Management , 33, pp.585-97.
Yong, S.L., Ngadi, N., Abdullah, T.A.T. & Inuwa, I.M., 2015. Current state and future
prospects of plastic waste as source of fuel: A Review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Reviews, 50, pp.1167-80.