The High Cost Of Plastic Disposal And Its Impact

Plastic waste is a growing problem. The world generated 1.3 billion tons of municipal solid waste per year in 2012, and this number is expected to reach 3.4 billion tons by 2050. While landfills are the cheapest way to manage waste, they are not sustainable as mixed waste has severe ecological effects. The negative impacts of mismanaged waste cost the world around $3,300-33,000 per ton per year. In India, landfills are the cheapest option for managing solid waste, which usually contains about 6% plastic.

Landfills are the cheapest way to dispose of plastic waste, but they are not sustainable

Recycling is a more sustainable option for plastic waste disposal. Recycling one ton of plastic is estimated to save 13.8 barrels of oil, 5744 kWh of energy, and 810 cubic feet of landfill space. In India, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) plastic waste management guidelines state that all plastic waste must be segregated, with non-recyclable plastics to be used in road laying, waste-to-energy projects, or conversion into refuse-derived fuels. A small fraction of non-recyclables should be disposed of in sanitary landfills.

The waste industry is growing, with the world generating 1.3 billion tons of municipal solid waste per year in 2012. This number is set to hit 3.4 billion tons by 2050, according to a 2018 World Bank report. As India's population and development continue to grow, its waste management industry is estimated at $1.3 billion (Rs. 9656 crore). In January 2020, estimates indicated that the country handled approximately 0.15 million (150,000) tons of solid waste, with 3.3 million tons of plastic waste out of the 54 million tons of solid waste produced in 2019.

While landfills may be the cheapest option for plastic waste disposal in the short term, they are not a sustainable solution due to their negative ecological impacts. Recycling and other waste-to-energy projects offer more sustainable alternatives, but they may be more costly or constrained by specific technological needs.

Recycling one ton of plastic saves 13.8 barrels of oil, 5744 kWh of energy, and 810 cubic feet of landfill space

While landfills are the cheapest way to manage plastic waste, they are not sustainable as mixed waste has severe ecological effects. Recycling plastic is a better option, as it saves energy and resources. For example, recycling one ton of plastic saves 13.8 barrels of oil, 5744 kWh of energy, and 810 cubic feet of landfill space.

The cost of plastic waste is a growing concern, especially in countries like India, which has a rapidly growing population and development. In 2020, India handled approximately 150,000 tons of solid waste, of which 3.3 million tons were plastic. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) plastic waste management guidelines stipulate that all plastic waste must be segregated, with non-recyclable plastics used in road laying, waste-to-energy projects, or conversion into refuse-derived fuels. However, only a small fraction of non-recyclables should be disposed of in sanitary landfills.

The negative impacts of mismanaged waste are significant, costing the world around $3,300-33,000 per ton per year in reduced natural capital in affected ecosystems. This is especially true when plastic waste enters waterbodies, as the cost of removal is 10 to several hundred times higher than when treated as part of a solid waste management plan.

To address the cost and environmental impact of plastic waste, recycling is a preferred option to incineration. By recycling one ton of plastic, we can save valuable resources and reduce the need for landfill space, making it a more sustainable and cost-effective solution in the long run.

The negative impacts of mismanaged waste cost the world $3,300-33,000 per ton per year

Landfills are the cheapest way to manage waste, but they are not sustainable as mixed waste has severe ecological effects. In India, for example, only 20% of collected waste is sorted and processed, while 80% is dumped as mixed waste into the 1,684 landfills that India currently has. On average, most urban local bodies spend Rs. 500-1,500 per ton of waste in 'tipping fees' for collecting, transporting, treating, and disposing of waste in dump sites.

Recycling one ton of plastic is estimated to save 13.8 barrels of oil, 5744 kWh of energy, and 810 cubic feet of landfill space. However, recycling options are not always available, and the elimination of plastics once they have entered waterbodies is very expensive. Trash racks and sea bins are among the most affordable treatment solutions.

The waste industry is growing, and the world is generating more and more municipal solid waste per year. In 2012, the world generated 1.3 billion tons of municipal solid waste per year, and this number is set to hit 3.4 billion tons by 2050.

In India, 80% of collected waste is dumped as mixed waste into 1,684 landfills

The cheapest way to dispose of plastic waste is to dump it in landfills. However, this is not sustainable as mixed waste has severe ecological effects. The negative impacts of mismanaged waste cost the world around $3,300-33,000 per ton per year in terms of reduced natural capital in affected ecosystems.

In India, landfills are also the cheapest option for managing solid waste, which usually contains about 6% plastic. However, only 20% of collected waste is sorted and processed, while 80% is dumped as mixed waste into the 1,684 landfills that India currently has. On average, most urban local bodies spend Rs. 500-1,500 per ton of waste in 'tipping fees' for collecting, transporting, treating, and disposing of waste in dump sites.

The waste management industry in India is estimated at $1.3 billion (Rs. 9656 crore). As of January 2020, the country handled approximately 0.15 million (150,000) tons of solid waste. Of the 54 million tons of solid waste produced in 2019, 3.3 million tons were plastic.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), plastic waste management guidelines state that all plastic waste must be segregated, with non-recyclable plastics to be used in road laying, waste-to-energy projects, or conversion into refuse-derived fuels. Only a small fraction of non-recyclables should be disposed of in sanitary landfills. However, in many Indian cities, source segregation is not enforced, and the segregation of recyclables from mixed waste is done by middlemen and rag-pickers at the dump yards. This reduces the quality and quantity of recyclables that can be retrieved from the waste.

The improper treatment of waste and dumping in India is a significant concern. By 2030, waste generation is expected to increase to 165 million tonnes, and the country will require 1,400 sqkm of landfill area by 2047. Leachate from rotten garbage contains heavy metals and toxic liquids, which can contaminate water sources and affect the entire food chain.

The cost of removing plastic from waterbodies is 10 to several hundred times higher than when the treatment is done as part of a solid waste management plan

In India, landfills are the cheapest, short-term option for managing solid waste, which usually contains about 6% plastic. Today, only 20% of collected waste is sorted and processed, while 80% is dumped as mixed waste into the 1,684 landfills that India currently has. On average, most urban local bodies spend Rs. 500-1,500 per ton of waste in 'tipping fees' for collecting, transporting, treating, and disposing of waste in dump sites. A 2021 study from IIT-Bombay, which assessed different waste management scenarios for the 9000 tons of solid waste produced daily by Mumbai, confirms that landfills are the most monetarily economical option.

India, with its growing population and rapid development, has a waste management industry estimated at $1.3 billion (Rs. 9656 crore). As of January 2020, estimates indicated that the country handled approximately 0.15 million (150,000) tons of solid waste. Of the 54 million tons of solid waste produced in 2019, 3.3 million tons were plastic. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) plastic waste management guidelines, all plastic waste must be segregated, with non-recyclable plastics to be used in road laying, waste-to-energy projects, or conversion into refuse-derived fuels; and only a small fraction of non-recyclables should be disposed of in sanitary landfills.

Trash racks and sea bins are among the most affordable treatment solutions for removing plastic from waterbodies.

Frequently asked questions