POLLUTION, RELEVANT APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS, STANDARDS AND MEANS OF POLLUTION CONTROL FOR
PVC INDUSTRY

GAYATHRI S. ABHAYARATHNE

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) - often referred to simply as 'vinyl' - is one of the most versatile of the plastic materials which now pervade modern society. It is also the most dangerous. PVC is used in a broad range of applications, so startlingly diverse that it becomes difficult to speak of it as being single material. It is used in packaging, consumer articles, in construction, office items as well as hospital products.
The chlorine produced by the chlor-alkali process is very reactive than those which produced by other caustic soda production. Because it is highly reactive so, it tends to react with organic materials and forms highly toxic organochlorines. Not only in the production, through out its whole life cycle it creates environmental problems. Especially the additives and plasticizers which are using to give a soft and pliable structure to PVC are highly toxic in nature. Many pollution control measures as dry process, wet process. Semi-wet processes etc. are used all around the world. Which the wet process is more common in most Asian countries. With the technological development the toxic by products which are formed through the PVC manufacturing process have been halted by better management practices. Many European countries have restricted the use of some PVC products due to the danger of PVC industry.
According to the Sri Lanka National Environmental Act (NEA) No.47 of 1980, section 23A and which had then been amended by Acts no. 56 of 1988 and 53 of 2000, industries involved in the manufacture of polymers or polymer based products including PVC, an Environmental Protection Licence (EPL) has to be taken from the CEA for those industries where toxic chemicals are formulated in a capacity less than 50 tons per day or industries where toxic chemicals are manufactured in a capacity less than 25 tons per day, otherwise an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) must be done for its functioning.
Most of Sri Lankan PVC industries are using PVC resin as the raw material. Hence the production of most toxic by products through PVC manufacturing process has been halted in the country. But a considerable pollution takes place when PVC powder is transported to the industrial premises. Waste water is not generated in industries those who use PVC resins and machine cooling water is completely recycled and is reused. Solid wastes and rejected items are crushed and recycled. Recycled PVC is used to produce hose pipes. Solid waste re not burnt at any instance and the domestic effluent is directed to a properly designed soakage pit. The prescribed noise levels had been able to achieve through installation of modernized machines by some PVC industries.
Only very minute fraction of post consumer PVC products can be recycled. Hence most of the countries are implementing PVC phasing out programmes with the association of private sectors and public community. The most appropriate measure to be taken is to use environmentally friendly substitutes for PVC which in tern help to phase out PVC products. the PVC industry, The market saturation has been achieved in Western Europe and North America, is now planning to expand PVC products to the new and less industrialized countries. It is now paramount that this toxic industry should not expand and PVC bans and phase-outs must therefore become an urgent priority for the betterment of future.