ABSTRACT
Plastics are light-weight, durable, and versatile, allowing their incorporation into a diverse range of applications. In recent years, the environmental, social and economic impact of plastics has been the topic of the political agenda, with a focus on sustainable production and the decoupling of adverse environmental effects from waste generation. The disposal of waste plastics has become a major worldwide environmental problem. The USA, Europe and Japan generate about 55 million tons of post consumer plastic waste [1]. These waste products were previously dumped in landfill sites, a non-sustainable and environmentally questionable option. The number of landfill sites and their capacity are moreover decreasing rapidly and in most countries the legislation on landfills is becoming increasingly stringent.
