Life of plastic: Kenya, South Africa announce ‘just transition’ initiative for waste-pickers

Life of plastic: Kenya, South Africa announce ‘just transition’ initiative for waste-pickers

Subject :Environment

The Just Transition initiative (JTI)-

• The Just Transition initiative “seeks to foster the element of a just transition within the letter and spirit of the proposed legally binding instrument.
• Launched by-
  • Kenya and South Africa, in the aftermath of negotiations on a global treaty to end plastic pollution.
• Aim-
  • To end plastic pollution in a way that is as fair and inclusive as possible to everyone concerned.
  • To create decent work opportunities for waste-pickers and other workers in the plastic value chain.

What is Just Transition?

• A just transition is based on making visible those already working at all stages of the plastic value chain, including workers under informal and cooperative settings and recognising their fundamental human dignity and historic contribution.
• It involves maximising the social and economic opportunities of ending plastic pollution while minimising and carefully managing any challenges.
• A plan for a just transition will guarantee better and decent work, social protection, training opportunities and greater job security for workers at all stages of the plastic value chain.

Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to phase out plastic-

• In February 2022, at the resumed fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), a historic resolution (5/14) was adopted to develop a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution with the ambition to complete the negotiations by end of 2024.
• The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) was established to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
• The first meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-1) took place in a hybrid format from 28 November to 2 December, in Punta del Este, Uruguay.

Demand being put at the meeting-

• Petrochemical companies should immediately phase toxic chemicals out of plastics production and recycling, eliminate non-recyclable plastics and ensure that all materials have value.
• Rejection of false solutions like incineration and pyrolysis.

What is Incineration?

• Incineration is the combustion of organic matter in the presence of oxygen.
• It is one of the major ways of destroying waste materials.
• It is a type of thermal treatment carried at very high temperatures.
• The incineration process converts waste into ash, gases (flue gas) and heat.
• The heat generated from this treatment can be used to generate electricity.

There are several methods of carrying out the incineration process:

• Burn pile – includes burning combustible material piles on the ground in an open area.
• Burn barrel – the combustible material is placed inside a metal barrel and is burnt. This method avoids the spread of burning materials and the ash produced at the end of the incineration settles down to the bottom of the barrel.
• Rotary kiln – A rotary kiln is a type of incinerator. These incinerators are used in industrial-scale applications. It has more equipment, and the incineration process is more advanced and complicated.
• Fluidized bed – this method includes passing heated air through a sand bed until a fluidized bed condition is created. Then the waste particles are introduced into this fluidized bed.
• Moving grate – this is the typical type of incinerator used in municipal waste management processes. The combustion is more efficient and is complete.

What is Pyrolysis?

• Pyrolysis is the combustion of organic matter in the absence of oxygen.
• This is a thermal decomposition carried out in an inert atmosphere such as in the presence of vacuum gas.
• The chemical composition of the material is changed by this process, and the process is irreversible.
• Generally, pyrolysis of organic materials causes the production of volatile components along with a carbon-containing solid residue and tar.
• This process gives end products in the solid phase, liquid phase and gas phase as well.
• The pyrolysis is done at temperatures above 430°C. 
• A carbonization is a form of pyrolysis which leaves a solid residue rich with carbon.

Uses of pyrolysis are as follows:

• Ethylene production
• Production of tar
• Production of biofuels from biomass.

What are the Similarities Between Incineration and Pyrolysis?

• Both incineration and pyrolysis include the burning of materials at very high temperatures.
• Both processes produce gaseous compounds as end products.

What is the Difference Between Incineration and Pyrolysis?