11-September-2024-Editorial

INDIA’S CONTRIBUTION TO GLOBAL PLASTIC POLLUTION

A recent study published in Nature has revealed that India is the largest contributor to global plastic pollution, accounting for nearly 20% of the world’s total plastic waste.

This issue is fueled by factors such as rapid population growth, inadequate waste management, and the prevalence of open burning. The study sheds light on the alarming rates of plastic waste generation and offers a critique of existing waste management systems.

Findings of the Study

Plastic Waste Generation in India: India generates about 9.3 million tonnes of plastic waste annually. Of this:

• 8 million tonnes are incinerated.
• 5 million tonnes end up as environmental debris.
• This figure surpasses other countries such as Nigeria (3.5 million tonnes), Indonesia (3.4 million tonnes), and China (2.8 million tonnes).
• India’s per capita plastic waste generation is around 12 kilograms per day.

Global Disparities:

• Global South Countries (like India) tend to have higher levels of plastic pollution due to improper waste management, often resorting to open burning.
• Global North Countries rely on more controlled systems for waste disposal, contributing to lower rates of unmanaged waste.

High vs. Low Income Nations:

• The study found that 69% of global plastic waste emissions come from just 20 countries.
• While high-income nations generate more plastic waste overall, they are not among the top polluters due to effective collection and disposal systems.

Criticism of the Research:

• The study is seen as narrowly focused on waste management, neglecting the need to reduce plastic production.
• Some argue that it diverts attention from upstream solutions like banning single-use plastics.
• The study’s association with plastics industry groups raises concerns about its alignment with corporate interests, potentially undermining more comprehensive solutions.

Reasons for High Plastic Pollution in India

Rapid Population Growth & Urbanization:

• India’s growing population and increasing urbanization drive higher consumption of plastic products, particularly in packaging, contributing to rising waste generation.

Insufficient Waste Management:

• India’s waste management infrastructure struggles to keep up with the volume of waste produced. There are more uncontrolled dumping sites than sanitary landfills, highlighting the inefficiencies in the system.

Inaccurate Waste Collection Data:

• Official reports claim a 95% waste collection rate, but independent research suggests the actual figure is closer to 81%, indicating a significant discrepancy in collection efficiency.

Open Burning of Waste:

• India burns 8 million tonnes of plastic annually, releasing toxic pollutants into the atmosphere. This practice contributes to air pollution and poses severe health risks.

Informal Sector Involvement:

• The unregulated informal recycling sector handles a significant amount of plastic waste, but its efforts are not accounted for in official data, complicating the accurate assessment of India’s plastic pollution problem.

Issues

Environmental Impact:

• Mismanaged plastic waste clogs waterways, increasing the risk of flooding and contributing to marine pollution.
• Burning plastic releases toxic pollutants that degrade air quality and harm the environment.

Public Health Risks:

• Microplastics are found in food and water sources, raising concerns about long-term health impacts.
• Plastic waste creates breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes, exacerbating the spread of diseases like dengue and malaria.

Economic Challenges:

• A report by FICCI estimates that India could lose over USD 133 billion by 2030 due to the uncollected plastic packaging waste, leading to material losses.

E-commerce Growth:

• The rapid expansion of e-commerce has led to an increase in plastic packaging waste, much of which is difficult to recycle and ends up in landfills.

Regulatory and Enforcement Gaps:

• Inconsistent enforcement of plastic waste regulations, particularly the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, hampers effective waste management in India.

Agricultural Pollution:

• The use of plastic in agriculture, combined with inadequate wastewater treatment, leads to the accumulation of microplastics in soil, negatively impacting soil health and food safety.

Government Regulations:

Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016: Establishes guidelines for proper plastic disposal and recycling.

Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2018:

• Phases out non-recyclable multi-layered plastic (MLP).
• Introduces a central registration system under the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for producers and brand owners.

Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021:

• Bans certain single-use plastic items due to their littering potential.
• Strengthens the EPR framework to ensure better management of plastic waste.

Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022:

• Tightens regulations around plastic carry bags by increasing their thickness requirements.

Initiatives to Address Plastic Pollution

• Swachh Bharat Mission: Promotes cleanliness and sanitation, with a focus on waste management.
• India Plastics Pact: A collaboration aimed at improving plastic recycling and reducing pollution.
• Project REPLAN: Focuses on reducing plastic waste by incorporating it into road construction.
• Un-Plastic Collective: A joint effort to reduce plastic pollution through corporate and civil society initiatives.
• GoLitter Partnerships Project: Encourages international cooperation in tackling plastic waste.

Way Forward

• Promote Circular Economy: Encourage the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (RRR) approach, incentivize the use of recycled plastics, and mandate recycled content in product design.
• Smart Waste Management: Incorporate technologies like IoT-enabled bins and AI-based sorting systems to improve waste management efficiency.
• Strengthen Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Introduce graded fees for difficult-to-recycle plastics and include the informal sector to improve waste picker conditions.
• Awareness Campaigns: Conduct national campaigns on plastic waste reduction, integrate education into school curricula, and leverage influencers to promote plastic-free lifestyles.
• Invest in Waste-to-Energy Technologies: Develop advanced technologies like pyrolysis for non-recyclable plastics, with strict emission controls.
• Green Procurement Policies: Encourage government agencies to adopt plastic waste reduction measures in procurement practices.