In recent decades, as the amount of plastic used in products, packaging and construction has increased, so the amount of plastic in waste streams has also risen. Unfortunately, while plastics have many useful properties, they are very difficult to recycle as they come in many different types and they need to be separated into polymer types to ensure real recycling – upcycling. Most Member States of European Union collect either mixed plastic packaging or plastic bottles only, or they collect rigid and flexible plastic packaging separately. Either way, the plastic will still need to undergo some kind of sorting process if it is to be recycled into new, high-value products. In the project location of Greater Copenhagen (Denmark) it is estimated that plastic waste constitutes some 15% of the residual waste destined for incineration. Meanwhile, in Hamburg (Germany) and Malmö (Sweden) this figure is around 8%; and in Riga (Latvia) roughly 20% of the mixed/land filled waste is plastic waste.
OBJECTIVES
The overall objective of the Plastic Zero project was to reduce wasteful use of plastic made from fossil-based oil, save non-renewable resources and enable carbon neutral energy production from waste. Involving the partner European cities of Copenhagen, Hamburg, Malmö and Riga, three waste management companies and a university, this project would investigate how to prevent waste plastics and increase recycling rates. Information would be gathered from interviews with stakeholders and site visits, plus a review of literature in the field.
Specific objectives included:
> The establishment of a road map for reducing plastic in waste streams with a view to providing inspiration on possible measures to tackle the issue;
> The demonstration and documentation of selected measures for the prevention of plastic waste;
> The demonstration and documentation of selected technologies and methods for sorting and recycling plastic waste;
> The development of initiatives to create new green businesses and growth within the recycling sector; and
> The dissemination of knowledge, good practices, technologies and systems to other European cities.
Regarding policy, the Plastic Zero project is highly relevant for the European Commission’s Circular Economy Package adopted in 2014, which proposes a ban on the land filling of recyclable plastics by 2025.
Sameer Joshi holds a degree in Polymer engineering, along with holding a Ph.D. in Waste Management. He has been working in plastics waste management and has been supporting young entrepreneurs who are dedicated to reducing plastic pollution. He has his own plastic moulding unit in Pune.
He is a Fellow of the Indian Plastics Institute and of Indian Institute of Valuers, Member Institution of Engineers India, and Senior Member Society of Plastic Engineers USA.
He holds expertise in Circular Economy, Recycling, EPR & Plastics.
He is Head of Plastics Committee MRAI, Hon. Secretary Governing Council of Indian Plastics Institute and also an approved Valuer for Plant and Machinery.
Along with multiple feats, he also holds a Guinness World Book Record Holder for the world's largest T-shirt from plastic waste in 2018.
Other associations-
- Member Advisory Committee CIPET- Dept. of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Government of India
- Member CSR Committee Assocham India
- Member Industry academia Committee Amity University
- Mentor International Council on Circular Economy
- Signatory to Global Commitment to End plastic waste(Ellen Mac Arthur Foundation)
- Member Global Partnership Marine Litter(UN Environment Program)
- Member Prevent Waste Alliance (Germany)
- Global Advisor MSMECCII (India)
- Member PCD 12 BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS.
He has been a guide to students for their Master's and Ph.D. degrees.He has been on several committees of national and state level for plastic waste management.
He has several publications and has a patent, has been a speaker/ moderator at national and international conferences, besides being the recipient of awards at state and national level.
THEY SAID SO...
Sameer is a good friend and a great companion always is human in heart and rich in knowledge of plastics. He is always ready to do anything good for the betterment of society.
In Short - Sameer: a lovable man for all.
-PADMA SHRI R VASUDEVANPLASTIC MAN OF INDIA
Dr. Joshi is a Hero of RECESS (Recycling, Environment, Circular Economy, Sustainability System (RECESS)
- GINU JOSEPH, FOUNDER OF MODERN PLASTICS INDIA
