First Essay

Utilization of plastic waste to reduce the accumulation of trash

The use of plastic and goods plastic-based is increasing as the technology, industry and population is growing fast. In Indonesia, plastic needs continue rising to an average increase of 200 tons per year. As the result of this increase also cause the increase of the plastic waste. Base on BLH (2016) statement “Every day the population of Indonesia produces 0.8 kg of waste for every person or in total as much as 189 thousand tons of waste per day”. Of this amount, Fahlevi (2012) concludes 15% is plastic waste or 28.4 thousand tons of plastic waste per day,. Therefore, societies should utilize plastic waste to reduce the midden in the earth.

Firstly, societies could minimize plastic waste by making them into fuel oil, as stated by Budi Surono (2016), one of plastic material is Polymer complex. Polymer complex consists of carbon and hydrogen. As those materials are also the material to produce fuel oil. In addition, there are some kind of plastic, which has different oil production results in quantity and quality. Those are polyethylena (PE), polypropylene (PP), polistirena (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). From those kind of plastic, the one that produce most fuel oil is polypropylene  plastic.

The following way is Plastic waste can be made into handicraft items. The creativity of utilizing plastic waste into handicrafts is a good solution for converting plastic waste into useful items again. There are some areas that have been producing handicraft from this material, for example, as stated by Riswan (2016) in his article is the utilization of plastic waste as a “plastic bonsai craft” with high economic value in Tunggul Wulung village, Malang, East Java. In addition, John Dioffa (2008) stated another experiment that “Chandelier” which is made by Michelle Brand at the 2007 Haute Green event, in New York City. At the event, he won the Inhabitant Editors (194, 146) Choice Award for Chandelier's design is made from plastic bottles waste. Peni Widi Hastuti (2012) state to make handicraft from plastic waste, there are some important thing that should be noticed such as waste should be in certain form as needed, waste should be homogeny, plastic waste is not contaminated and attempting to not oxidize. In the other hand, making handicraft societies do not only reduce plastic waste, but they also increase their productivity.

The last way is Plastic waste can be made into new recycled plastic. In this way, people do not only reduce amount of plastic waste, but they can also reduce the production of new plastic. As stated by Sahwan L et al (2005) is one of the techniques to recycle the plastic is using Grinder. Grinder is a recycler, especially for used-plastic, which has function of processing used-plastic into secondary plastic material for the plastic factory. Milling (Grinder) has ability to sort out the various plastic scrap materials into several plastics. Usually the kind of plastic that is selected is Low Destiny Poly Ethylene (LDPE), High Destiny Ethylene (HDPE), Poly Ethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), and Polystyrene (PS). In addition, Silvia N and Reni (215) stated that in plastic waste recycle processing should be very hygienic; one of the ways is using Biodegradable plastic system,

In conclusion, there are some ways to utilize the increase of plastic waste accumulation. Those are by making it into fuel oil, handicraft and recycle plastic (secondary plastic). Plastics waste will be dangerous for society’s future, if they do not do anything to save the earth from it.  Nurhenu Karuniastuti conclude that one of its bad impact is Plastic waste will disturb human health. Therefore, people need to utilize Plastic waste for this earth better future, or do one of some ways above.  None to keep this nature of earth only the humans who are inside. One step is done  by one person is better than nobody.