Knowing the fact of recycling, the most prominent procedure, we tried to reconvert waste materials into useable forms. The theme of our project is to take some preventive measures on the public basis, to make them aware of plastic-based pollution, and preventing the plastic accumulation in the environment. Under this project, we firstly understood the process of recycling and its necessity to prevent increasing pollution whether in the form of air, water, or others. Plastic is the most common pollutant which directly affects greenhouse gas emission, create landfilling (to influences water pollution) and create incineration creating the air pollution). Further, the purpose of the project was to develop or follow an innovative plan to prevent the ecosystem, global warming, natural resources, and excessive pollution (BaleForce 2021).
Under this plan, we followed London Environment Strategy innovation which focused to reduce the consumption of excessive plastics and conserve energy, which is getting expend to naturally degraded plastics. We incorporated a few strategies under this plan on the school and local community level. On the community basis, we followed several steps. We counselled people to buy the recycled products, anticipating the recycling price on their previously brought products, avoiding the garbage beds by incorporating the bins in return. Moreover, we suggested people to shred their old wastes, such as papers, and store obsolete electronics to introduce recycling options for them too (ReLondon et al. n.d.).
Feelings
We started following up the project completion from our college, where we kept three different types of dustbins outside the classes and in the playgrounds. Although, according to us, plastic recycling was not much tricky innovation, but people were not following the precautions. For example, yellow coloured was used for dry wastes, green bins for biodegradable wastes and yellow bins were kept for dry wastes other than plastics. However, the dustbins that we identified were with a mix of garbage categories. We realised that some of the plastic pollution sources were not under control of us. Amazon packaging system was one of them. So, we needed to bring such innovations, that can increase awareness among these organisations to prevent plastic wastage and bring some of the techniques, to use the alternatives for one-time usable plastics (Lucien n.d.).
We identified several sources/factors of pollution creating substances, because of which plastic minimising innovation plan was not proved as much effective, as it should be. People consider the reusable process, very expensive, time taking, and have no awareness about the environmentally accessible sources to recycle plastics. So, in order to develop recycling plastic products innovation, we needed to search the accessible and convenient resources, where recycling can be possible and at a lesser cost.
Evaluation
We identified the success rates of London Environment Strategy innovation. The innovation is settled to target approximately 65% of plastics by 2030. The target is set for household as well as for non-household plastics. Following this innovation, we focused on buying already recyclable plastic products, which are easy to use and reuse (Seay and Ternes 2022). We kept the different coloured and separate bins to put the different types of waste materials; dry waste, wet wastes, for plastic materials only, and for easily degradable products (other than plastics or metals). Nutella water glass was exchanged from general plastics because of its health benefits and durability (Mohammed et al. 2020). The investment for a dual bin was considered to be 50l-£18. Under this innovation, we identified that 50% of household recycling is targeted to be recycled till year 2030 whereas for non-household recycling, 75% recycling is targeted. Further, under this innovation, we paid our main focus on reducing plastics by using the best alternatives for storage. Biodegradable plastic is incorporated into the environment, on a market basis. Biodegradable plastics are generally made up of starch, cellulose, protein extracts and chitosan. These products are easy to degrade with approximately 65% less energy than the plastic products. Further, such the products are being used that are long-lasting to use and reuse, which prevent plastic needs (Mosaddad et al. 2022).
Analysis
Under the analysis, we identified the preventing of tons of plastics from being wasting. People followed the rules set by us and helped us to make plastic degraded. We tried to utilise several plastic products to convert into the other new products based on the natural resources. The strategies incorporated into the innovation were also simpler to follow. We also made teachers to follow the rules to prevent plastic degradation. Moreover, we requested teachers to teach the students and residents to learn about the plastic useable and reusable benefits. We identified the recycling facilities at our location. There we initiated the counselling to make people aware of plastic recycling. Moreover, we collected the plastics products from public places and incorporated them with the waste collection companies to help them to fasten the recycling (Brewster Bros 2020). People not only separated the plastic and non-plastic wastes in the public places but also separated the products in their homes (HuffPost UK. 2022).
Conclusion
Under the innovation, we identified several pros and cons. The innovation plan was based on the cheaper cost, reliability and safe for health. Hence, public followed the instruction o separate the different types of garbage onto different dustbins. Further, we made people to plant more trees on the roads and plant trees across the city. The main reason of planting more trees is to produce more plastic degrading bacteria under the microplastic regulating strategies to reduce plastic litter from environment (Mitrano and Wohlleben. 2020). People incorporated the good habits of using cloth (shopping) bags in markets instead of buying the foods in plastic polyethene. However, we also identified some of the cons that people were observed throwing the waste on the roads. Many of people could not identify the importance of recycling, because of lack of literacy. Other people have the excuses that they do not have the time to recycle.
Action Plan
A specific action plan is required to minimise plastic use in private organisations also. Considering the importance of the innovating strategy, we need to aware and take the major steps to prevent plastic wastage. For example, Amazon is creating tons of plastic wastage each year. We identified that in year 2019, approximately 465 million pounds of plastic were created by amazon only. Under this innovation plan, we need to incorporate several other plastic recycling and similar platforms, which are creating reduction in plastic wastage through their unique techniques (Patmayothin n.d.).
Hence, we need to focus other innovations such as European Plastics Strategy. The Strategy will be focusing on reducing plastic degradation among all the private and public sectors and most specially to reduce the marine plastic litter (Penca, 2018). These companies and organisations can be educated to tackle with the climate crisis along with the production. To improve the plastic wastage, they should be settled up on the contracts with the waste collecting or management companies. Such waste management companies, will provide some of the plastic use reducing techniques into the organisations and educate the plastic recycling techniques employees and employer
References
BaleForce 2021. 11 ideas To Improve Your Recycling. BaleForce recycling. https://baleforce.com/11-ideas-to-improve-your-recycling/
Brewster Bros. 2020. 10 Ways You Can Improve Your Recycling At Home. Waste Management. https://www.brewsterbros.com/10-ways-you-can-improve-your-recycling-at-home/
HuffPost UK. 2022. The Psychology Behind Why People Don't Recycle. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/psychology-of-why-people-dont-recycle_n_57697a7be4b087b70be605b3
Lucien, J.A. n.d. Innovative Management of Plastic Waste and Utilisation of Green Practices: Towards Preservation of Environment and Social Welfare. https://ijisrt.com/assets/upload/files/IJISRT22FEB285.pdf
Mitrano, D.M. and Wohlleben, W. 2020. Microplastic regulation should be more precise to incentivize both innovation and environmental safety. Nature Communications, vol. 11, no. 1, pp.1-12. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-19069-1
Mohammed, H.N., Altegani, M.Y. and Abdallah, N.B. 2020. Utilization of Peanut in Production of Nutella (Doctoral dissertation, Sudan University of Science & Technology). http://repository.sustech.edu/handle/123456789/27186
Mosaddad, H., Sadeghi Naeini, H., Jafarnejad Shahri, M. and Karuppiah, K. 2022. Product design process on the context of sustainable development: An Approach to waste reduction. Iran University of Science & Technology. http://ijaup.iust.ac.ir/article-1-638-en.pdf
Patmayothin, M.N. n.d. Alternative design for cushion packaging by applying alginate material. http://ethesisarchive.library.tu.ac.th/thesis/2021/TU_2021_6322040780_15005_17413.pdf
Penca, J. 2018. European Plastics Strategy: What promise for global marine litter?. Marine Policy, vol. 97, pp.197-201. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X18301519
ReLondon n.d. Reinvigorating London’s recycling. ReLondon gov.uk https://relondon.gov.uk/increase-recycling
Seay, J. and Ternes, M.E. 2022. A review of current challenges and legal advances in the global management of plastic waste. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, pp.1-8. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10098-022-02289-y
