ABSTRACT
There has been an increase in both the quantity of waste generated and public concern over its effect on the environment. Plastic packaging waste is a particularly visible problem and represents 20-30% of the waste stream by volume (although only -7 % by weight). It is generally recognized that there is no single, simple solution to waste management. A range of waste management options exist which either reduce the amount of material entering the waste stream or deal with its
disposal. A hierarchy of waste management options appears to be arising which consists of reduce, reuse, recycle (including composting), incineration, and landfill, in decreasing order of desirability. These options are applicable to plastic waste.
