Introduction, Past and Present Scenarios of Plastic Degradation

The fascinating properties of plastic make its use widely possible in every field for the ease of human life. On the other hand, these properties make plastic non-biodegradable in nature. Hence the increasing accumulation of plastic in the environment is the arising concern for environmentalists and human society. This growing concern has motivated researchers and technologist to promote research activity for finding new degradation methods for plastics, synthesis of new plastic with biodegradable nature or find alternatives to plastics. Considering these facts, this book chapter briefly discusses the management of post-consumer plastic products and all the possible methods for plastic degradation such as photo and thermo-oxidative, catalytic, mechano-chemical and chemical along with the factors affecting these degradation methods.