Editorial: Making India plastic-free
Lack of a cohesive policy on segregation, collection and recycling plastics is a major stumbling block
The success of any environmental campaign depends on the extent of involvement of all stakeholders and the consistency of the awareness drive. The goal to make the country plastic-free is quite ambitious and calls for sustained efforts at all levels with active public participation. Effective implementation is key to the success of the new rules, issued by the Centre recently, on banning the manufacture, sale and use of single-use plastics by July 1 next year and increasing, in a phased manner, the thickness of the plastic carry bags to facilitate higher recyclability. Compared with 50 microns at present, the thickness of the carry bags must be at least 75 microns from September 30, 2021, and 120 microns from December 31 next year. These decisions follow recommendations made by an expert group constituted by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals two years ago. Coinciding with World Environment Day in 2018, India had declared that it would eliminate all single-use plastic by 2022. Several States are already implementing a ban on plastic carry bags, with varying degrees of success. In this regard, the initiatives taken by the Telangana government deserve special praise as they focus on people’s involvement in promoting awareness about environmental protection. Plastic pollution is a serious public hazard as it is non-biodegradable. The chemicals released by waste plastic bags enter the soil and make it infertile. Microplastic is already found in the food chain. This must sound alarm bells in the government corridors. Despite its severe environmental consequences, single-use or disposable plastic has become a global addiction.
Nearly 26,000 tonnes of plastic waste is generated across India every day and 10,000 tonnes remain uncollected. The rest accumulates in landfills or in the natural environment; much of the plastic waste eventually reaches the oceans. It is feared that by 2050 there could be more plastic in the oceans than fish. At 11 kg per capita plastic consumption per year, India is still among the lowest in the world against a global average of 28 kg per year. A big chunk of plastic waste cannot be recycled because of a lack of segregation. Poor regulation has led to prohibited plastic moving freely across the State borders. A recent study revealed that out of the top 100 global producers of polymers that culminate in plastic waste, six are based in India. Lack of a cohesive policy on segregation, collection and recycling plastics is a major stumbling block in the path to rid the country of single-use plastic. Trade bodies like the All India Plastic Manufacturers Association want the government to extend the deadline for phasing out single-use plastic products by one more year keeping in view the difficulties caused by the pandemic.
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