Disposal and recycling of fisheries plastic wastes:Fishing net and expanded polystyrene

Abstract

Fishing net wastes generating from fisheries amounts to about 2,000 tons/year. Most fishing net wastes are made with only a single type of plastic and they are suited to recycling. As for disposal of fishing net wastes, “material recycling” and “chemical recycling” are now positioned as a rational and efficient method. Of the wasted netting materials, polyethylene and nylon are mostly conductive to material and chemical recycling. At present, the recycling of fishing net wastes is still limited in quantity, but has been increasing inch by inch in these years. Expanded polystyrene is largely utilized for containers and packaging materials in fishery, agriculture and electrical appliances, and its output amounts to 209,000 tons in 2000. Of this, 183,000 tons are discharged after use and disposed. About 45% of total wastes were disposed by incineration and landfill. The remaining 55% (100,000 tons) are being used to recover resources from wastes. Of the remaining portion, 33% (60,400 tons) is used in material recycling and 23% (39,600 tons) in thermal recycling. Recycled products have frequently been used again as packaging material for household and electrical appliances, and gardening pots, etc. A part of the recycled products is exported to Asian countries as raw materials to manufacturing other products.