India is ramping up its efforts to tackle the growing problem of plastic waste. With mountains of plastic waste piling up in landfills and polluting rivers and oceans, the country is taking significant steps to combat this environmental crisis. From banning single-use plastics to promoting recycling and encouraging the use of eco-friendly alternatives, India is determined to reduce its plastic footprint. This fight against plastic waste is not just about cleaning up the environment; it’s about ensuring a healthier, more sustainable future for all its citizens.
Tags: GS – 3, Ecology & Environment- Conservation– Environmental Pollution & Degradation– Government Policies & Interventions
Context:
- India produces about 4 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with only 25% being recycled.
- The government introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rules, making plastic users accountable for waste collection and recycling via an online platform where recyclers earn certificates for recycled plastic.
- These certificates can be bought by companies that fail to meet recycling targets. Despite generating 3.7 million tonnes of recycled plastic certificates in 2022-23, many were fraudulent.
Major Issues Arising from Mismanaged Plastic Waste in India
- Environmental Degradation
- Waterway Blockages: Plastic waste clogs drains and waterways, exacerbating flooding during monsoons. For example, the 2005 Mumbai floods were worsened by plastic-clogged drains.
- Marine Pollution:
- Approximately 0.6 million tonnes of plastic enter Indian oceans annually, causing issues like eutrophication and bioaccumulation.
- Plastic pollution negatively affects 88% of marine species studied, with up to 90% of seabirds and 52% of sea turtles ingesting plastic.
- Air Pollution: Burning plastic waste releases harmful dioxins and furans, contributing to air pollution.
- Public Health Risks
- Microplastics: Found in drinking water and food products, microplastics pose potential long-term health risks.
- Disease Vectors: Accumulated plastic waste can create breeding grounds for disease vectors like mosquitoes, increasing the spread of dengue and malaria.
- Toxic Emissions: Burning plastic releases carcinogens and other toxins, causing respiratory issues and other health problems in nearby communities.
- Economic Impact
- Material Value Loss: By 2030, India could lose over USD 133 billion in material value from plastic packaging, with USD 68 billion from uncollected waste.
- E-commerce and Packaging: The e-commerce boom, expected to reach USD 200 billion by 2026, has increased plastic packaging waste. Many packaging materials are difficult to recycle.
- Regulatory and Enforcement Issues
- Inconsistent Implementation: The Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016, amended in 2022, ban certain single-use plastics, but enforcement varies by state.
- EPR Challenges: The Extended Producer Responsibility system faces issues with fraudulent certificates and inadequate monitoring.
- Informal Sector: The informal recycling sector complicates regulation and improvement efforts. India is among the 12 countries responsible for 60% of the world’s mismanaged plastic waste.
- Technological and Infrastructure Deficiencies
- Recycling Facilities: Many municipalities lack modern waste segregation and processing facilities. Only 60% of collected plastic waste is recycled.
- Advanced Technologies: There is a shortage of advanced recycling technologies for multi-layered and difficult-to-recycle plastics.
- Waste Tracking: The absence of a comprehensive waste tracking system hinders monitoring from generation to disposal or recycling.
- Microplastic Pollution in Agriculture
- Soil Contamination: Plastic mulch and sewage sludge containing microplastics can accumulate in agricultural soils, affecting soil health, crop yields, and food safety. Global trends highlight inadequate wastewater treatment and plastic use in agriculture.
- Biodegradable Plastics Challenges
- Limited Breakdown Conditions: Many biodegradable plastics require specific conditions to decompose, which are often not met in natural environments or standard waste management systems.
- Recycling Complications: Mixing biodegradable plastics with conventional plastics complicates recycling processes. India lacks clear standards and certification for biodegradable plastics.
Current Framework Related to Plastic Waste Management in India:
- Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016
- Objective: Minimise plastic waste generation, prevent littering, and ensure proper waste segregation and management.
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Producers, importers, and brand owners are responsible for both pre-consumer and post-consumer plastic packaging waste.
- Minimum Thickness: Increases the minimum thickness of plastic carry bags and sheets to 50 microns.
- Jurisdiction Expansion: Extends from municipal to rural areas, with Gram Panchayats responsible for implementation.
- Waste Segregation: Introduces source segregation for both individual and bulk waste generators.
- Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2018
- Multi-layered Plastics (MLP): Phases out non-recyclable, non-energy recoverable, or non-alternate use MLPs.
- Central Registration System: Establishes registration for producers, importers, and brand owners under the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
- Omission: Removes explicit pricing rules for carry bags.
- Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021
- Single-Use Plastics Ban: Prohibits certain single-use plastic items and polystyrene from July 2022.
- Thickness Increase: Raises plastic carry bag thickness from 50 microns to 75 microns by September 2021 and to 120 microns by December 2022.
- EPR Enforcement: Strengthens collection and environmental management of plastic packaging waste.
- Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022
- EPR Guidelines: Sets mandatory targets for recycling, reuse of rigid plastic packaging, and use of recycled content.
- Environmental Compensation: Imposes penalties for failing to meet EPR targets, following the polluter pays principle.
- Circular Economy: Enhances the framework to support a circular economy for plastic packaging waste.
- Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2024
- Registration and Certification: Defines procedures for registration, reporting, and certification related to plastic waste management and EPR obligations.
- Expanded Definitions:
- Importer: Includes imports of plastic-related materials for commercial use.
- Producer: Covers production of intermediate materials and contract manufacturing for brand owners.
- Certification Requirements: Manufacturers of compostable or biodegradable plastics must obtain CPCB certification, adhere to mandatory labelling, and comply with FSSAI regulations for food contact applications.
- Reporting: Requires processing and reporting of pre-consumer plastic waste to the State Pollution Control Board or Pollution Control Committee.
- Labelling: Compostable plastics must indicate they are compostable only under industrial conditions; biodegradable plastics must specify biodegradation time and environment.
- Mandatory Jute Packaging Act, 2010
- Objective: Ensure mandatory use of jute packaging to prevent environmental pollution from artificial packaging materials like plastics in the supply and distribution of certain products.
Measures for Better Management of Plastic Waste in India:
- “Trash to Treasure” – Circular Economy Approach
- Design for Recyclability: Encourage product design that facilitates recycling.
- Material Recovery Facilities: Establish facilities in major cities to sort and process plastic waste efficiently, promoting the 4R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover.
- Incentivize Recycled Plastics: Provide tax breaks or subsidies for using recycled plastics in manufacturing.
- Market for Recycled Plastics: Mandate minimum recycled content in products to create demand and close the recycling loop.
- “Smart Waste, Smart Cities” – Technological Integration
- IoT-enabled Smart Bins: Implement bins that alert authorities when full, optimising collection routes.
- AI and Machine Learning: Use technology for improved waste sorting and recycling.
- Mobile Apps: Develop apps for reporting illegal dumping and locating recycling centres.
- “Greening the Supply Chain” – Strengthening EPR
- Graded Fee Structure: Implement higher fees for harder-to-recycle plastics under EPR.
- Plastic Credit Trading: Introduce a trading system to incentivize exceeding recycling targets.
- Formalising Informal Sector: Extend EPR to the informal sector to provide better working conditions and formalise waste pickers’ roles.
- Nationwide Awareness and Education Campaign
- Multilingual Campaign: Launch a comprehensive national campaign on plastic waste.
- Educational Integration: Include plastic waste management in school curricula.
- Community Workshops: Conduct regular workshops on waste segregation and recycling.
- Influencer Engagement: Use social media influencers and celebrities to promote plastic-free lifestyles.
- Innovation Challenge: Establish a national challenge to involve youth in solving plastic pollution issues.
- “Waste-to-Energy 2.0” – Advanced Technologies
- Invest in Technologies: Develop pyrolysis and gasification plants to convert non-recyclable plastics into fuel or energy.
- Emissions Control: Ensure strict monitoring to prevent air pollution from waste-to-energy plants.
- Self-Sustaining Systems: Use generated energy to power waste management facilities and research new technologies for difficult-to-recycle plastics.
- Plastic Footprint
- Annual Audits: Require large and medium-sized companies to conduct annual plastic footprint audits.
- Public Disclosure: Mandate the reporting of plastic usage, waste generation, and recycling rates in company reports.
- Standardised Methodology: Develop a consistent method for calculating and reporting plastic footprints.
- Company Ratings: Implement a rating system based on plastic footprint management.
- Green Procurement
- Government Policies: Enforce plastic waste reduction criteria in government procurement policies.
- Recycled Content: Mandate recycled plastic use in government-purchased products.
- Vendor Prioritization: Prefer vendors with strong recycling practices.
- Model Buildings: Use government buildings as examples for plastic-free construction.
- Waste-preneurs – Support for Recycling Startups
- National Incubator Program: Provide seed funding, mentorship, and networking for recycling startups.
- Special Economic Zones: Create zones with tax benefits for recycling and upcycling industries.
- Towards Plastic-Free Farming
- Biodegradable Alternatives: Develop and subsidise alternatives to plastic mulch and greenhouse covers.
- Take-Back Programs: Implement programs for the return of agricultural plastics.
- Sustainable Farming Practices: Promote organic mulch and other eco-friendly methods.
- Certification: Create a “Plastic-Free Farms” certification to add value to produce.
- Plastic in Road Construction – Paving the Way
- Expanded Use: Increase the use of plastic waste in road construction.
- Standardised Guidelines: Develop guidelines for optimal plastic waste mix in road materials.
- Regional Centers: Set up centres to process waste into road-ready materials.
- Training: Train construction workers in plastic road-building techniques, creating green jobs.
- Model Example: Utilise methods from institutions like Thiagarajar College of Engineering for durable plastic-based construction materials.
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Prelims
Q.1 In India, ‘extend producer responsibility’ was introduced as an important feature in which of the following? (2019)
- The Bio-medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998
- The Recycled Plastic (Manufacturing and Usage) Rules, 1999
- The e-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011
- The Food Safety and Standard Regulations, 2011
Ans: (c)
Q: 2. How is the National Green Tribunal (NGT) different from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)? (2018)
- The NGT has been established by an Act whereas the CPCB has been created by an executive order of the Government.
- The NGT provides environmental justice and helps reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts whereas the CPCB promotes cleanliness of streams and wells, and aims to improve the quality of air in the country.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: (b)
Q: 3. Why is there a great concern about the ‘microbeads’ that are released into the environment? (2019)
- They are considered harmful to marine ecosystems.
- They are considered to cause skin cancer in children.
- They are small enough to be absorbed by crop plants in irrigated fields.
- They are often found to be used as food adulterants.
Ans: (a)
Mains
Q: What are the impediments in disposing of the huge quantities of discarded solid waste which are continuously being generated? How do we safely remove the toxic wastes that have been accumulating in our habitable environment? (2018)
Source: TH
FAQs
Q: Why is plastic waste a problem in India?
Answer: Plastic waste is a major problem in India because it pollutes the environment, harms wildlife, and clogs waterways. Plastic takes hundreds of years to decompose, leading to long-term environmental damage and health issues for both humans and animals.
Q: What steps is India taking to fight plastic waste?
Answer: India is taking several steps to combat plastic waste, including banning single-use plastics, promoting recycling, and encouraging the use of eco-friendly alternatives. The government has also launched initiatives like Swachh Bharat (Clean India) to reduce littering and improve waste management systems.
Q: How can everyday people help in reducing plastic waste?
Answer: Everyday people can help by using reusable bags, bottles, and containers instead of single-use plastics. They can also participate in community clean-up drives, segregate their waste for recycling, and support products made from recycled materials.
Q: What are the benefits of reducing plastic waste?
Answer: Reducing plastic waste helps to keep the environment clean, protect wildlife, and improve public health. It also conserves resources and reduces the burden on waste management systems. Cleaner environments lead to healthier communities and can boost tourism and local economies.
Q: What challenges does India face in fighting plastic waste?
Answer: Challenges include a lack of awareness and education about the impacts of plastic waste, inadequate waste management infrastructure, and resistance from industries that rely heavily on plastic. Overcoming these challenges requires a combined effort from the government, businesses, and citizens.
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