CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF IMPROPER HANDLING OF PLASTIC WASTE

V diplomski nalogi z naslovom Vzroki in posledice neustreznega ravnanja s plastičnimi odpadki je obravnavan problem onesnaževanja okolja s plastiko. V uvodu je predstavljen problem in namen diplomske naloge. Naslednje poglavje vsebuje značilnosti plastike ter njene prednosti in slabosti. Opisane so nekatere najbolj razširjene in uporabne vrste sintetičnih polimerov, dodatki v plastiki in mikroplastika. Predstavljena je tudi plastična embalaža in vrste bioplastike. Tretje poglavje opisuje posledice onesnaževanja okolja s plastiko. Predstavljene so posledice sežiganja odpadne plastike. Podrobno so opisane težave, ki jih povzročajo plastični odpadki v okolju in njihova škodljivost za organizme v morjih in oceanih. Posebno podpoglavje je namenjeno prisotnosti mikroplastike in nanoplastike v hrani, vodi in zraku, ki lahko vpliva na zdravje ljudi. Četrto poglavje vsebuje ukrepe in strategije za zmanjševanje količine plastičnih odpadkov, kot so recikliranje, ločevanje odpadkov, sežiganje in uporaba biološko razgradljive plastike. Posebej je predstavljena Evropska strategija za plastiko. Zadnje poglavje je namenjeno analizi in ugotovitvam raziskave o ozaveščenosti ljudi glede problema plastičnih odpadkov in škodljivosti plastike. Glede na preučeno literaturo so vzroki za dosedanje onesnaženje okolja v desetletjih nepremišljenega ravnanja s plastičnimi odpadki, neustreznem upravljanju na odlagališčih, povečani proizvodnji in raznolikosti plastičnih izdelkov, prenizkem recikliranju, neustreznem ločevanju in odlaganju plastičnih odpadkov. Posledice so vidne v globalnem onesnaženju okolja s plastičnimi odpadki in mikroplastiko, ki predstavljata tveganje za zdravje različnih živali in tudi ljudi. Ukrepi na ravni EU so usmerjeni v ponovno uporabo in recikliranje odpadne plastike, inovativne rešitve in učinkovitejše ozaveščanje javnosti. Rezultati opravljene raziskave kažejo, da je ozaveščenost ljudi o pomenu ločenega zbiranja odpadkov nizka. Osebe, vključene v raziskavo, neustrezno ločujejo plastične odpadke in embalažo. Zavedajo se škodljivosti plastike in menijo, da bi plastično embalažo morala zamenjati biorazgradljiva embalaža. Pripravljeni so se odpovedati izdelkom iz plastike tudi za ceno lastnega udobja.The diploma thesis entitled Causes and Consequences of Improper Management of Plastic Waste deals with the problem of environmental pollution with plastic. The introduction presents the problem and purpose of the diploma thesis. The next section contains the characteristics of plastic and its advantages and disadvantages. Some of the most common and useful types of synthetic polymers, plastic additives and microplastics are described. Plastic packaging and types of bioplastics are also presented. The third chapter describes the consequences of environmental pollution with plastic. The consequences of incineration of waste plastics are presented. The problems caused by plastic waste in the environment and their harmfulness to organisms in the seas and oceans are described in detail. A special subsection is devoted to the presence of microplastics and nanoplastics in food, water and air, which can affect human health. Chapter 4 contains measures and strategies to reduce the amount of plastic waste, such as recycling, waste separation, incineration and the use of biodegradable plastics. The European Plastics Strategy is presented in particular. The last chapter is devoted to the analysis and findings of a research on people\u27s awareness of the problem of plastic waste and the harmfulness of plastic. According to the studied literature, the causes of environmental pollution are decades of reckless plastic waste management, inadequate landfill management, increased production and diversity of plastic products, under-recycling, inadequate separation and disposal of plastic waste. The consequences are visible in the global pollution of the environment with plastic waste and microplastics, which pose a risk to the health of various animals as well as humans. Action at EU level is aimed at reusing and recycling plastic waste, innovative solutions and raising public awareness. The results of the research show that people\u27s awareness of the importance of separate waste collection is low. Persons involved in the survey do not adequately separate plastic waste and packaging. They are aware of the harmful effects of plastic and believe that plastic packaging should be replaced by biodegradable packaging. They are willing to give up plastic products, even at the cost of their own comfort