1.2 Classification of plastics

 Although many different types of plastic are produced worldwide, the market is mostly dominated by 6 classes of plastics which include: Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polystyrene (PS), Poly-Urethane (PUR), and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) (Gesamp, 2015). Plastics originate from fossil fuels but biomass can also be used as feedback. Some of the known complete biodegradable plastics in the marine environment include aliphatic polyesters and biopolymers (Kershaw and Rochman, 2016) .  Table 2 shows their general properties and their common applications:  
  Table 2 Different types of plastics and their classification, Source: tropical commons
Plastic typeGeneral propertiesCommon household uses
Polyethylene terepthalate(pet)Tough, and High heat resistanceBeer bottles and Fibre for clothing and carpets
High density polyethylene (hdpe)Excellent chemical resistance and Permeable to gasToys and Compost containers
Polyvinyl chloride (v)Long-term permeability and Good chemical resistanceCredit cards and Pipes fittings
Low density polyethylene (ldpe)Waxy surface and Low melting pointFilms, fertilizer bags, refuse sacks.Some bottle tops