Plastic pollution is a significant global issue, and the efforts to curb it under the UN Environment Programme’s Global Plastics Treaty have been tough. The developed countries and island nations are demanding cuts in production to mitigate environmental and health risks. However, developing countries, including India, are worried about the economic blowback from such measures. India only recycles one-third of its annual plastic waste, showing the need for better waste management practices.
| GS Paper | GS Paper III |
| Topics for UPSC Prelims | Plastic pollution, UN Environment Programme’s Global Plastics Treaty, Electric vehicles, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, Dioxins and furans, Microplastics, Paris Agreement ,Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, Urban local bodies ,Environmental Compensation, Hyderabad’s Jawahar Nagar WTE plant |
| Topics for UPSC Mains | Major Sectors in India that are Relying Heavily on Plastic, Challenges Emerging from the Mismanagement of Plastic Waste in India |
This editorial is based on “A cut in time: On the plastic pollution problem” published in The Hindu on 05/11/2024. The article discusses the deadlock in the UN’s Global Plastics Treaty and India’s recycling challenges.
Understanding the topic on plastic waste management is necessary for UPSC aspirants. It directly relates to GS Paper 3 -Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Government Policies & Interventions. The issue would help in answering questions regarding environmental policies and sustainable development.
The UN’s Global Plastics Treaty is in a deadlock, pointing out the most critical global and national issue of plastic waste management. It is important for UPSC aspirants to understand this topic because it falls under GS Paper-3 related to Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Government Policies, and International Treaties, which reflects recent and previous questions in the exam related to waste management and environmental sustainability.
Plastic plays a vital role in many sectors in India, such as cost-effective packaging, healthcare, construction, and agriculture. It is indispensable due to its versatility and affordability, but the environmental impact calls for sustainable alternatives in these key industries.
The packaging industry in India consumes about 59% of all plastics, primarily driven by the growth of e-commerce and retail sectors. The demand for plastic packaging has surged during the Covid-19 pandemic to facilitate the distribution of essential goods. The industry relies on plastic because of its durability and cost-effectiveness, which is very essential in meeting the rapid needs of these sectors.
Plastics are also used in the building and construction sector, in pipes, insulation, and fittings. Its corrosion resistance and durability make it suitable for large-scale projects. The “Housing for All” initiative has increased the use of plastic materials further, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs in affordable housing projects, supporting the nation’s infrastructure goals.
A heavy user of plastics in a wide range of components of car dashboards, bumpers, and fuel tanks also helps in reducing weight for better fuel efficiency. Shift toward electric vehicles has further expanded demand for lightweight plastic materials. Improvement in battery life and their performance can be achieved, and companies like Tata Motors are incorporating advanced plastic composites into their electric vehicle designs.
Plastics are used in drip irrigation systems, greenhouse films, and mulching in agriculture to conserve water and enhance crop yields. Such programs as the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana encourage the use of plastic-based solutions to enhance agricultural productivity. These applications are critical in addressing water scarcity and improving the efficiency of agricultural practices.
Plastics are essential in the health sector, used in medical devices, disposables, and packaging to ensure hygiene and patient safety. The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of plastics in producing personal protective equipment (PPE) kits. And also syringes, and vaccine vials, facilitating mass immunization and maintaining healthcare standards across the country.
Mismanagement of plastic waste in India causes many environmental, health, and economic problems. Inadequate systems for recycling and disposal coupled with increasing plastic usage create pollution, which can lead to harm to ecosystems and human health, thereby resulting in long-term sustainability problems in the country.
India produces 9.3 million tons of plastic waste every year. And out of this, 40% remains uncollected, causing severe degradation to the environment. Rivers such as Ganga contribute significantly to plastic pollution worldwide, disrupting the ecosystems in them. Microplastics in water sources lead to long-term ecological threats, and plastics take centuries to degrade.
Plastic pollution threatens health highly and indirectly as it affects the breathing disorders through the open burning. Where carcinogens like dioxins and furans are released in the air. Microplastics in water and seafood and salt have raised public health threats with concerns related to potential long-term impacts on fertility and disruption of endocrine systems.
Since India recycles 60 percent of its plastic waste, the informal sector fuels this process, with 1.5 million waste pickers working in hazardous conditions. This sector is generally subjected to socio-economic marginalization, not accessing proper health care or paying wages. Plastic pollution also imposes economic costs on fisheries, tourism revenue, and urban infrastructure. Ideally, formalized waste management systems are in order.
Despite the rules banning single-use plastics and introducing Extended Producer Responsibility, compliance is still weak. This is because monitoring and enforcing are not as strong, and small-scale manufacturers, which dominate the plastics industry, face high compliance costs, resisting and continuing to produce banned items, thus undermining regulatory efforts.
Plastics are petroleum-based and its production and incineration are a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. An increase in the usage of plastics in packaging, agriculture, and e-commerce aggravates India’s carbon footprint. Energy-intensive recycling processes further undermine the country’s climate goals under the Paris Agreement, necessitating sustainable waste management practices.
Behavioral issues in plastic use reduction are tremendous. Single-use plastics have entered deep into people’s daily life. Public awareness for alternative options and segregation is limited, thus hampering government efforts. Festival-related practices result in seasonable peak generation of plastics which outsmash municipal system to call for improved strategies for waste management.
The plastic waste management infrastructure in India is inadequate to handle the increasing plastic burden. Only 12-15% of plastic waste is scientifically processed, and the rest finds its way into landfills or waterways. High costs and lack of public-private partnerships hinder the adoption of innovative technologies such as pyrolysis and bioplastics, which is why the infrastructure needs to be improved and invested in.
Induction of solid waste management framework focuses on segregation, collection, recycling, and disposal but challenges are faced due to inadequate infrastructure, lack of awareness, and inconsistent enforcement. Despite such efforts, the system remains underdeveloped which means inefficient recycling and plastic pollution in current days.
The 2016 rules aim at minimizing waste generation, preventing littering, and ensuring segregation and proper disposal. The rules introduce EPR for producers, importers, and brand owners and mandate a minimum thickness of 50 microns for plastic carry bags and extend the regulations to rural areas for comprehensive implementation.
The 2018 amendments mainly focus on phasing out non-recyclable, non-energy recoverable, or non-reusable multi-layered plastic (MLP). Registration of producers under the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) enhances the regulatory oversight and pushes the producers to use recyclable materials during the production process.
These rules ban specific single-use plastics by 2022, and EPR has been implemented for packaging waste. Plastic carry bags must be of a minimum thickness of 120 microns by the end of December 2022 to discourage plastic and encourage the use of better alternatives that are more reusable and durable.
The 2022 amendments mandate recycling and reuse targets, impose environmental compensation for non-compliance, and promote a circular economy. All these measures are aimed at holding individuals accountable and promoting sustainable waste management practices to minimize the impact of plastic waste on the environment.
The 2024 rules require registration, reporting, and certification by manufacturers and importers. The definitions of “importer” and “producer” are expanded to include certification for biodegradable and compostable plastics. Pre-consumer plastic waste reporting is required, enhancing transparency and regulatory compliance.
The steps to be considered by India for effectively managing plastic waste include better recycling infrastructure, biodegradable alternatives to plastics. And alo stronger regulations against the use of plastics, educating the public, and extended responsibility of producers. All these steps together can reduce plastic pollution for a better future.
Effective segregation of plastic waste at the household and institutional level is the most important step toward recycling and disposal. Compliance will be ensured by community-based models with strong incentives and penalties. Urban local bodies must be provided with digital monitoring tools to ensure waste segregation, as was done in Indore, where 100% source segregation was achieved.
Expanding mechanized recycling units and adopting technologies like pyrolysis may increase plastic waste processing rates. Partnerships with startups as well as the informal sector can drive innovation. A model for others is that of Reliance, which, through its initiative to chemically recycle plastic waste into certified circular polymers, has set an example for everyone.
Investment in research and development in biodegradable plastics and other alternatives such as jute, hemp, and bamboo-based packaging reduces the dependence on conventional plastics. Industry adoption can be encouraged through government subsidies and tax benefits. Consumer and business education is key to the widespread acceptance of these alternatives.
Mandatory EPR compliance will ensure that the producers, importers, and brand owners fund the collection and recycling of plastic waste. Digital tracking tools and regular audits can be enhanced to increase accountability. Financial penalties for failure to comply and incentives for exceeding targets should be instituted to make the EPR framework more effective.
Formalizing the informal sector will significantly increase the plastic waste recycling capacity by ensuring that it becomes more efficient and equitable socially. Ensuring their work environment improves can be achieved by giving them training, providing personal protective equipment, and being integrated into local body urban contracts, similar to that proposed by waste cooperatives in the context of micro-financing initiatives.
AI-driven sorting machines, GPS-enabled waste collection systems, and blockchain for tracking EPR compliance can ease waste management. Real-time data on collection and processing could improve decision-making and resource allocation. Mobile apps could enhance citizen engagement through improving transparency in waste management activities.
WTE plants can convert non-recyclable plastic waste into energy, relieving the pressure on landfills and helping to meet renewable energy targets. Public-private partnerships are well suited to finance and operate such plants with stringent environmental controls preventing toxic emissions, as illustrated by the Hyderabad Jawahar Nagar WTE plant.
Grassroot Models of community-led waste management improve the self-accountability and action levels. School programs, high-profile campaigns, and incentive-driven awareness measures can make citizens develop a conscious attitude towards waste management. Awareness campaigns as well as organizing collection drives can be promoted by local self-help groups.
Sector-specific regulations need to maximize plastic use but minimize the leakage. A tax break and a recycling quota can compel industries to switch towards reusable and degradable forms of packaging, thereby lessening waste. The key to ensure compliance and a safe environmental space would be monitoring and enforcement by the states.
International partnerships in sharing knowledge and the acquisition of international green funds support innovation and infrastructure development in waste management. Engagements in the Global Plastic Action Partnership will also offer technical and financial support. The engagement of India in the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for Plastics Treaty has taken an active step in addressing the world’s plastic pollution problem.
| Political: India’s government faces pressure to balance economic development and environmental protection. Regulations like the Plastic Waste Management Rules and amendments aim to curb plastic use, but enforcement is challenging. Political will is needed to ensure compliance with bans and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations. Economic: The plastic industry is integral to India’s growth, with sectors like packaging, construction, and agriculture heavily relying on plastic. However, plastic waste management requires significant investment in recycling infrastructure, waste segregation systems, and sustainable alternatives. The informal waste sector, while large, needs formal integration to ensure fair economic participation. Social: Plastic use is deeply ingrained in India’s daily life, and awareness of its environmental impact is still low. Public education on waste segregation, recycling, and alternatives is essential to change behavior. Community-based models can foster participation in sustainable waste management practices, promoting collective action against plastic waste. Technological: Advancements in recycling technologies, such as pyrolysis and bioplastics, offer potential solutions. However, high costs limit their widespread adoption. Innovations like AI, GPS for sorting, and blockchain for tracking compliance can improve waste collection and recycling efficiency. Research into biodegradable materials is critical for reducing plastic waste. Environmental: Plastic waste severely impacts ecosystems, with significant harm to rivers, oceans, and wildlife. Plastics take centuries to degrade, contributing to long-term ecological damage. The production and burning of plastic also release greenhouse gases, exacerbating climate change. Effective waste management can help mitigate these environmental risks. Legal: India’s legal framework, including the Plastic Waste Management Rules and EPR mandates, requires better enforcement. Regulatory gaps, especially in monitoring compliance, weaken the effectiveness of policies. Stronger legislation, combined with global collaboration, is necessary to address plastic pollution comprehensively, aligning India with international environmental agreements. |
The critical juncture for India lies in the need to balance economic imperatives with the pursuit of environmental sustainability in addressing plastic waste. Collaborative efforts between government, industry, and civil society will be required in the pursuit of the circular economy solution and its promotion in practical terms.
| UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs) Mains Q. Plastic pollution has emerged as a critical environmental issue globally, affecting both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Discuss the key challenges and solutions to managing plastic waste in India, with a focus on the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 and the role of urban local bodies. (UPSC Mains 2020, GS Paper II) Q. Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues in India. Analyze the major sectors in India that are heavily reliant on plastic and discuss the challenges emerging from the mismanagement of plastic waste. How can India balance the economic reliance on plastics with the need for sustainable waste management practices? |
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