The plastic pollution crisis demands urgent action. With rising waste and treaty deadlocks, India must strengthen management through enforcement, innovation, and inclusive policies. By balancing economy with sustainability, India can drive a circular economy, align with SDG 12, and mitigate impacts.
Copyright infringement not intended
Picture Courtesy: THEHINDU
The collapse of the 2025 Global Plastics Treaty talks stresses the immediate need for robust national and international action to combat the escalating plastic pollution crisis.
Plastic pollution refers to the accumulation of plastic materials in the environment, adversely affecting ecosystems, wildlife, and human health.
Plastics, derived from petrochemicals, are non-biodegradable, breaking down into smaller fragments (microplastics) that persist for centuries.
Sources include single-use plastics (e.g., packaging, straws), industrial waste, and mismanaged disposal, leading to contamination of land, water, and air.
Scale of Production and Waste: Global plastic production doubled from 2000 to 2019, reaching 500 million tonnes in 2024, with 400 million tonnes of waste generated. By 2060, waste could hit 1.2 billion tonnes (Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development).
Waste Breakdown: Only 9% is recycled, 19% incinerated, 50% landfilled, and 22% mismanaged (uncontrolled dumps, open burning, or environmental leakage).
Environmental Impact:
Climate Contribution: Plastics account for 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, potentially rising to 19% of the carbon budget by 2040. (Source: The Hindu)
Health Risks: Hazardous additives (carcinogens, endocrine disruptors) leach into ecosystems, linked to infertility, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases in humans; microplastics detected in blood, lungs, and placenta.
Non-Biodegradable Nature: Plastics fragment into micro- and nano-plastics, persisting for centuries and infiltrating ecosystems globally.
Ecosystem Damage: Marine species face entanglement and ingestion; soil and water systems are clogged, disrupting biodiversity.
Socio-Economic Costs: Mismanaged waste strains poorer nations; India risks losing $133 billion in material value from packaging waste by 2030 (Source: The Hindu).
Global Inequity: Developing countries, with weaker waste infrastructure, bear the brunt of mismanaged plastic waste.
Scale: In India, plastic waste generation is estimated at 9.4 million mt annually with only 50% of it being collected and processed, mostly via informal sectors. (Source: World Economic Forum)
Mismanagement: 77% of urban waste goes to open landfills; 5.8 million tonnes burned yearly, releasing 3.5 million tonnes as debris into land, air, and water. (Source: Times of India)
E-Commerce Boom: The sector generated 1.2 million tonnes of plastic waste in 2023, driven by single-use packaging (43% of India’s plastic use vs 35% global average).
Policy Framework
|
Inadequate Infrastructure: Only 60% of plastic waste is recycled, often inefficiently; 77% of urban waste is dumped in open landfills (e.g., Ghazipur, Delhi). Lack of Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) hinders progress.
Weak EPR Implementation: Poor compliance monitoring and fake recycling certificates undermine EPR.
Fragmented Governance: Inconsistent enforcement of Plastic Waste Management Rules; single-use plastics remain prevalent despite bans.
E-Commerce Packaging: Surge in single-use plastics strains waste systems due to mixed materials.
Limited Alternatives: Bioplastics are costlier, limiting adoption; consumer preference for cheap plastics persists.
Low Public Awareness: Only 17% of households practice full waste segregation (NITI Aayog).
UNEA Commitment (2022): All 193 UN member states agreed to develop a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution, aligning with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
Geneva Talks Collapse (2025):
Decentralized Waste Systems: Establish ward-level Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) with AI-powered sorting to enhance recycling efficiency (e.g., Indore Model).
Shift to a circular economy: Curb plastic use by limiting single-use items, regulating sustainable alternatives, and investing in advanced recycling technologies for a greener future.
Micro-Level Segregation: Incentivize household/business waste sorting via rewards (e.g., Kashmiri “Give Plastic-Take Gold” initiative); adopt Germany’s segregation model.
Strengthened EPR: Implement blockchain-based tracking and third-party audits to ensure compliance; integrate informal workers into formal systems (e.g., Pune’s SWaCH cooperative).
Regulated Alternatives Market: Subsidize biodegradable materials (e.g., bagasse, palm leaf); scale Vadodara’s cotton bag vending model; link agro-waste to packaging industries.
Formalize Informal Sector: Recognize waste pickers as environmental service providers, providing training, PPE, and micro-loans to boost incomes.
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Support: Offer subsidies and training for small businesses to adopt sustainable packaging, reducing reliance on single-use plastics.
Technology-Driven Enforcement: Use AI surveillance and mobile apps for real-time monitoring of plastic bans (e.g., China’s facial recognition bins).
Awareness Campaigns: Scale national campaigns, integrate waste education in schools, and replicate innovative models like Kashmir’s initiative.
India can address the plastic crisis by enforcing waste management, promoting innovation, and encouraging a circular economy, despite global treaty setbacks.
Source: THEHINDU
|
PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Plastic pollution is not just an environmental issue but also an economic and social concern. Critically discuss. Critically Analyze. 250 words |
Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic products in the environment, adversely affecting wildlife, ecosystems, and human health.
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles (less than 5mm) formed from the breakdown of larger plastics.
They enter the body through ingestion of contaminated food and water, as well as inhalation.
© 2025 iasgyan. All right reserved
