FINANCIAL EVALUATION OF CIRCULAR PLASTIC ECONOMY WITHIN INFORMAL SECTOR, FOR DOMESTIC WASTE, RAWALPINDI

Abstract

In under developing countries like Pakistan where there is irregular infrastructure along with the problem of rapid urbanization, it boosts the waste generation rates, almost 1/3 population of our country is urbanized. Diversity in income level provokes behaviors toward a consumer-oriented lifestyle. Consumer-oriented lifestyle blooms up the plastic waste generation, especially at a domestic level. The informal sector encourages the plastic circular economy and generated financial resources out of it. In this study, specific areas of Rawalpindi city were selected through a random sampling technique. On the domestic level waste samples were collected from 30 households for 8 days. After collection and segregation, the preferable plastic recyclables such as; PET (1.5 litters plastic bottles), HDPE (shampoo bottles 150-200ml), LDPE (plastic bags 26*42 cm), and PS (1 dozen plastic food containers) were under study. Investigated the rates of specific recyclables of plastic waste at household and informal sector. The life cycle assessment of plastic waste from cradle to grave highlights its market value. Thus it is concluded as, plastic waste per kg generated in the waste stream is 3.47kg for low-income,3.04 kg for middle-income, and 2.54 kg for higher-income. The average plastic waste per week generated is 3.02 kg. The potential cost difference generated by the informal sector at the household level for the plastic type PET, HDPE, LDPE, and PS. This indicated the concept of financial recovery from plastic waste at the domestic stage is neglected and the lay man does not have any information about recyclable plastics. But the informal sector optimally uses plastic waste as a resource. HDPE plastic waste rates are Rs 100 to Rs 125 per kg and have generated huge financial revenue due to its overutilization by users. For sustainable development, time demands that there should be properly formal documentation of recyclable plastic waste generated in this area along with the potential cost rates set up by the informal sector. Policymakers should make solid waste management effective, efficient, and legally documented, thus achieving a bottom-line approach.