- Union Minister for Science and Technology has inaugurated a waste plastic to diesel plant in Dehradun.
- The plant has been set up in CSIR- Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) whose scientists will process waste plastics into fuel.The technology has been developed under the GAIL’s sponsorship.
- Using this plant,polyolefinic wastes which accounts for approximately 70% of total plastics consumed can be converted to automotive grade diesel through environmentally friendly process.
- The plant has the capacity to produce 800-litre diesel from one tonne of plastic.The fuel meets the specifications for use in vehicles.The diesel will be made available to government,police and army vehicles for regular use.
- According to Central Pollution Control Board(CPCB) report,India generates 25,940 tonnes of plastic waste everyday but 40% of it remains uncollected.
- The uncollected waste causes choking of drainage and river systems, ingestion by stray animals, soil and water pollution and open air burning leading to adverse impacts on human health and environment.
