Dealing with Plastic Waste

By M. A. Siraj

Plastic is a modern curse. It is chiefly responsible for making our towns and cities look grumpy, clogging the storm water drains and causing flooding in human habitation, choking sewerage systems and polluting lakes, rivers and now even oceans. Its burning in the open poisons air.

In early 1970s, when plastic entered into our lives, it was seen as a blessing. No other material matched its virtues. Versatility was its greatest quality. Despite being a solid, it was flexible and moisture-resistant. Hence, it lent great portability to liquids. In doing so it did not soak any of the contents. Its durability was matchless. It was light and did not add much weight to the cargo. It safeguarded goods while being transported from rains and humidity. It was inexpensive and could be had in any form and shape i.e., tubes, plates, ingots, rods, granules, sheets, just any shape.

Unlike wood, it could be moulded from one to another shape. It was ideal insulation material so it went into the electricals in a big way. These qualities of plastic led to voracious appetite for it all around the world. But above all these, since it was cheap, it was easy to discard as waste. And that has led to the problem of plastic waste.

It is no less than Prime Minister who has drawn the nation’s attention to cleanse the face of India from discarded plastic way back in 2018. Mr. Modi had iterated his intention to put an end to the menace. The current drive is in fact propelled by his vision and pledge.

Recycling

Over 34 lakh tons of plastic waste was generated in 2019-20 and 30.59 lakh tons in 2018-19 in India, as per data by the environment ministry. Of the total plastic waste, 5.6 million tons is recycled while 3.8 million tons remains unpicked (uncollected) and litters around the towns and cities. Of the recycled plastic waste, 70% is recycled in the registered units, while 20% goes to unorganized sector and remaining 10% gets recycled at homes.

Says Chandra Bhushan, a scientist working in the private sector (quoting statistics from the Central Pollution Control Board), plastic production in the country had risen from 61,000 tons in 1996 to 1,78,00,000 tons in 2017. Per capita consumption of plastic in India is 11 kg per annum. It is much less in comparison to developed countries.

The figures for other nations are: USA 105 kg; Europe 65; China 38; and Brazil 32 kg. Industrially developed states in India generate more plastic waste. Top plastic producing states in India are: Maharashtra (469,098 tons); Gujarat (269,294); Tamil Nadu 150,323); Uttar Pradesh (130,77); and, Karnataka (129,600).

Once plastic is discarded after its utility is over, it is known as plastic waste. It is a fact that plastic waste never degrades and remains on the landscape for several years. Most of the plastic waste is recyclable but products made of plastic recycled for more than twice, are very harmful to the environment as this contains additives and colours. Hence, recycling is not a viable proposition for its disposal.

Toxic threat

Since plastic waste is non-biodegradable, it can lie in landfills for decades. These harmful toxic chemicals from plastic drain out and seep into groundwater flowing downstream into lakes and rivers. But more of plastic waste is now reaching oceans.

Since most of the plastic debris that land up in seas remain floating for years, it leads to the dropping of oxygen level in the water, severely affecting the marine life. There have been cases of tons of plastic being recovered from the bellies of dead whales and sharks.

According to one estimate, 8 million tons of plastic waste is entering into the oceans every year and currently the plastic waste in oceans amount to 150 million tons. In 2014, there was one kg. of plastic waste in the ocean for every 5 kgs of fish.

By 2050, it is likely that there would be more plastic in the oceans than fish. The Government of India notified Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016 (PWM-2016) on March 18, 2016, superseding Plastic Waste Handling Rules 2011.

The PWM-2016 rules were further amended in 2018. These rules apply to every waste generator, manufacturer, importer, producer and brand owner. Local bodies have been encouraged to use plastic waste for road construction or energy recovery or waste to oil or co-processing in cement kilns. Altogether 18 states and UTs have taken initiatives and imposed some kind of ban on plastic manufacture, stock, sale, or use of plastic carry bags, namely AP; Arunachal Pradesh, Assam Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.

Any Alternative?

Now in the wake of Prime Minister’s new initiative to