CHAPTER 3: LIFE ON THE LINE
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Box 15: Simple ways to reuse big volume of plastics!
In India, engineers are adopting a method of taking waste plastics – crisp packets, chocolate bar wrappers, plastic bags, bottles, lids, etc. – shredding them and using the resulting material as a substitute for bitumen in road construction. This method takes a waste product and reinvents it as a useful construction material.
Fun to watch: Say goodbye to plastics.
http://web.unep.org/environmentassembly/beat-pollution/ A video link
E-rase the e-waste
Globally, 44.7 million tonnes of e-waste is generated each year and the Asia-Pacific region is one of the largest generators. E-waste contains heavy metals which are hazardous to the environment and therefore needs to be handled in properly. E-waste also contains rare metals of great economic value, but only a small fraction of all e-waste is being formally recycled. The vast majority of e-waste, a vast amount, is dumped in landfills or incinerated causing severe health and environmental problems (Zeng et al. 2016; Song et al. 2015;).
When electronic devices are burnt, toxic metals, such as lead, and chemicals are released into the air, soil and water (Sepúlveda et al. 2010). Women are disproportionately affected by the e-waste sector, as many are employed in extracting precious metals from it and are exposed to toxins (Figure 26; McAllister et al. 2014). The emitted toxic substances can cause severe health problems, including spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, premature births and DNA damage (Grant et al. 2013).
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