Page 77 - Plastics News June 2024

IN THE NEWS

Tackling plastic pollution: A call to action for India

ticles over time, it creates long-lasting
environmental damage. Mismanage-
ment of plastic waste leads to severe
ecological degradation, with plastic
waste infiltrating our rivers and oceans
and putting marine life and ecosys-
tems in danger.

Government initiatives:
To address this pressing issue, the
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
issued a Comprehensive Action Plan in
February 2022, directing State Pollu-
tion Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pol-
lution Control Committees (PCCs) to
phase out single-use plastics. The plan
encompasses supply-side interven-
tions, and demand-side interventions,
creating an enabling environment for
phasing out single-use plastics and
n the wake of World envi- guard the planet for future generations. managing legacy waste. The CPCB has
ronment Day, it is crucial to Education and awareness emerge as also implemented online platforms for
tackle the menace of single- powerful tools in combating the plastic compliance monitoring and grievance
use plastics. The expansion plague, enabling individuals to make redressal, emphasising the importance
of plastic waste poses a grave threat informed decisions and adopt sustain- of effective regulation and enforce-
to our planet, imperilling ecosystems able practices. ment.
both on land and at sea. Let's take the India stands as a significant contribu-
initiative to cultivate healthy habits to- tor to global single-use plastic waste. The human impact:
wards nature from our homes. While The Plastic Waste Makers Index 2019 Plastic has become deeply ingrained
moving mountains may seem daunt- report reveals that India ranks third in our daily lives, with approximately
ing, starting with self-care can pave the globally, contributing a staggering 5.5 60% of clothing materials composed
way for a more effective and manage- million tonnes of single-use plastic of plastic. The fishing industry contrib-
able journey to combat the disasters waste annually. However, the misman- utes around 45,000 tonnes of plastic
caused by plastics. Collective action is agement of plastic waste remains a waste to our oceans yearly. Moreover,
crucial for environmental sustainabil- critical issue, with the United Nations plastic plays a crucial role in agricul-
ity, with education and awareness as Environment Programme (UNEP) ture, from seed coatings to irrigation
the key factors. systems. However, the OECD's Global
highlighting that India fails to manage
The scale of the problem: 85% of its plastic waste effectively. Plastics Outlook report underscores
This type of waste is mainly single-use the alarming scale of plastic pollution,
Plastic pollution has reached alarm- with millions of tonnes of plastic waste
ing levels, causing devastating con- and is often disposed of improperly by infiltrating aquatic environments each
sequences for the environment. From being dumped or burned on roadsides. year, posing a grave threat to marine
clogging waterways to threatening This results in clogged drains and wa- ecosystems.
marine life, the pervasive presence of terways, eventually finding its way into
plastic waste demands immediate ac- the ocean, where marine life is harmed Regional disparities:
tion. Earth Day serves as a poignant directly or indirectly. As plastic de- The below data shows the amount of
reminder of our responsibility to safe- grades into micro and nano-sized par-

76 PLASTICS NEWS June 2024 June 2024 PL 77 79
PLASTICS NEWSASTICS NEWS
June 2024