27-September-2024-Special-Article

PLASTIC WASTE CRISIS IN THE HIMALAYAN REGION

The Himalayan region, renowned for its pristine landscapes and ecological significance, is grappling with a rising plastic waste crisis. Since 2018, the “Himalayan Cleanup (THC)” initiative has united volunteers annually to not only clean waste from the area but also to track its sources through detailed audits.

This crisis highlights the need for better implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), a regulatory framework that places the onus on producers to manage the entire lifecycle of their products, particularly in reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainability in vulnerable regions like the Himalayas.

The Scale of Plastic Waste Crisis in the Himalayan Region

Waste Generation:

• The amount of solid waste generated in the Himalayan region is influenced by several factors including urban development, tourism, and income levels of local households.
• A significant amount of the waste is biodegradable, coming from households, markets, and hotels; however, plastic waste continues to be prevalent in tourist regions.
• The influx of tourists has dramatically increased the amount of plastic waste, overwhelming the already inadequate waste management systems in the region.

Plastic Waste:

• Plastic pollution has reached even remote areas of the Himalayas, with no effective systems to retrieve and recycle this waste.
• Only about 25% of the plastic collected consists of recyclable materials like PET, HDPE, and LDPE, while the remaining 75% is non-recyclable.
• Multi-layered plastics (MLP), which are non-recyclable, pose a major challenge for waste management in the area.
• Microplastics, resulting from the breakdown of larger plastic items, have been detected in Himalayan glaciers, rivers, and even within human tissues.
• Leading contributors to this plastic waste are the packaging materials from food brands, tobacco products, and personal care items.

India’s Contribution to Plastic Waste:

• India is one of the largest contributors to plastic pollution, generating approximately 9.3 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, accounting for nearly 20% of the global total.
• Rapid urbanisation, population growth, and economic development have significantly increased the use of single-use plastics and packaging materials.
• According to EA Earth Action’s report, India is one of the 12 countries responsible for 60% of the world’s mismanaged plastic waste, ranking 4th in the Mismanaged Waste Index (MWI).

Consequences of Poor Plastic Waste Management

Environmental Degradation:

• Improper disposal and open dumping of waste tarnish the natural beauty of the region and contribute to air and soil pollution, destabilising mountain ecosystems.

Impact on Water Sources:

• The Himalayas are the source of major rivers like the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra. The careless disposal of plastic waste is polluting these critical water supplies, threatening both biodiversity and human health.

Threats to Biodiversity:

• Wildlife in the region, such as the Greater Adjutant stork in Assam, is known to consume plastic waste, mistaking it for food, endangering their survival.

Public Health Hazards:

• Mixed waste in landfills produces toxins that pose serious health risks to local communities and disrupt natural ecosystems.

Challenges of Waste Management in the Himalayas

Geographical and Climatic Barriers:

• The rugged terrain and severe weather conditions make waste collection and disposal more difficult than in urban areas.
• The lack of source segregation, coupled with the challenges of transportation, exacerbates the waste management crisis.
• Much of the waste is collected and dumped in landfills or simply discarded down hillsides, further aggravating pollution.

Limited Infrastructure:

• There is a significant lack of land availability for proper waste treatment and disposal. Recycling facilities are scarce, and centralised dumping remains the norm.
• The infrastructure required for effective waste management is weak or nonexistent in many parts of the Himalayan region.

Regulatory and Data Gaps:

• Despite the presence of Solid Waste Management Rules (2016) and Plastic Waste Management Rules (2016), enforcement has been slow.
• There is insufficient data on the types and quantities of waste being produced, making it difficult to implement efficient management systems.

Awareness Deficit:

• Although local communities understand the link between environmental health and waste, they often lack knowledge about proper disposal practices.

Concerns with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

Minimal Implementation:

• Despite EPR being a promising framework for addressing plastic waste, it has seen limited application in Himalayan states, partly due to a lack of awareness among local bodies.

Failure to Recognise Local Needs:

• The EPR framework does not take into account the unique challenges of mountain communities, such as their environmental fragility and lower population densities.
• A one-size-fits-all approach to EPR does not suit the distinct needs of the Himalayan region.

Geographical Hurdles:

• The mountainous terrain makes traditional EPR models difficult to apply. Many areas are inaccessible, leading to waste accumulation.

Limited Accountability for Producers:

• While consumers and local waste managers are left to deal with the waste, producers are often not held sufficiently responsible for the lifecycle of their products, especially in remote regions.

Legal Framework for Waste Management

National Regulations:

• India’s waste management is governed by frameworks like the Solid Waste Management Rules (2016), Plastic Waste Management Rules (2016), and Extended Producer Responsibility (2022).
• Although the rules acknowledge the special requirements of hill areas, these are not adequately reflected in mandates for producers and local authorities.

State-Specific Initiatives:

• Himachal Pradesh: Introduced state-level bans on specific plastics and a buyback policy for single-use plastics in 2019, though littering persists.
• Sikkim: Banned packaged mineral water in 2022 and developed strong regulations, but infrastructure for waste management remains lacking.
• Tripura: Implemented by-laws and a task force to combat plastic waste, but with limited success.

Way Forward

Customised EPR Rules:

• The EPR framework should be tailored to address the specific challenges faced in mountainous regions, engaging local bodies and providing incentives for producers to adopt sustainable practices.

Zoning Regulations:

• The Himalayan region could adopt zoning measures similar to those implemented by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in Nainital, regulating development and protecting sensitive areas.

Empowering Local Communities:

• Encouraging local agriculture and community-supported farming initiatives can reduce reliance on plastic packaging, promoting both environmental sustainability and economic well-being.

Systematic Implementation:

• A phased approach involving policy reform, technological advancements, and stronger enforcement is essential to address waste management in the region.

Enhanced Data Collection:

• Collecting more accurate data on waste generation in mountainous areas will be critical for creating effective waste management solutions.

Learning from International Practices:

• India can draw inspiration from international examples like South Korea’s transformation of Nanjido Island from a dump into an eco-park, applying such strategies to rehabilitate the Himalayan environment.

Mains Question:

1. “Examine the growing plastic waste crisis in the Himalayan region and discuss the challenges of waste management in such ecologically fragile areas. (150 WORDS)