Plastics are being extensively used all over the world. From drinking cups and disposable silverware to parts for automobiles and motorcycles, use of plastics is continuing to rise. Plastics are extremely important to the job market as well as packaging throughout the world. In India, the plastic industry is reported to be growing at 20% annually and expected to double to 20 million metric tonnes by 2015. But the enormous waste generated from plastics is a matter of grave concern. It is estimated that about 10,000 tonnes per day (TPD) of plastic waste is generated and that is equivalent to nine per cent of 1.2 lakhs TPD of municipal solid waste (MSW) in India. Thermoplastics, which contribute about 80 per cent of the total post-consumer plastic waste generated in India, are recyclable plastics, while thermoset plastics account for the remaining 20 per cent.

    A study said India has the highest rate of plastic recycling of 60 per cent, followed by....