Source: The Hindu

Introduction

Plastic is ubiquitous everywhere, from the top of the highest mountain to the deepest of trenches in the ocean. Unscientific plastic disposal is choking the Himalayan States and impacting its biodiversity. India is generating about 3.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually.

What is Plastic Waste?

• Plastic waste is non-biodegradable in nature and persists in the environment for hundreds or even thousands) of years.
• Plastic pollution is caused by the accumulation of plastic waste in the environment.
• It can be categorized as primary plastics, such as cigarette butts and bottle caps, or secondary plastics, resulting from the degradation of the primary ones.

What are the Impacts of Plastic Waste?

• Plastic waste leads to economic losses as it has a negative impact on various activities generating revenue such as tourism.
• Plastic wastes have profoundly affected animals in aquatic, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems.
• It interferes with the food chain.
• It has a severe impact on human health leading to various hormonal and genetic disorders.
• It results in various forms of pollution such as water, air, land and groundwater.

What are the Legal Provisions for Plastic Waste Management?

• Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2022 and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) constitute the regulatory framework for plastic waste management for India.
• Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016:
  • These rules replaced the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000 and focus on segregation of waste at source, responsibility on the manufacturer to dispose of sanitary and packaging wastes, user fees for collection, disposal and processing from the bulk generator.
• Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016:
  • It mandates the generators of plastic waste to take steps to minimize generation of plastic waste, prevent littering of plastic waste and ensure segregated storage of waste at source among other measures.
• Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2022:
  • These rules were notified in February 2022.
  • It prohibits the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of several single-use plastic items as of July 1, 2022.
  • It has also mandated Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) that incorporates circularity by making manufacturers of products responsible for collecting and processing their products upon the end of the products’ lifetime.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR):
  • The E-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 introduced the concept of EPR for the first time in India.
  • EPR aims to promote better waste management and reduce the burden on municipalities.
  • It integrates environmental costs into product prices and encourages the design of environmentally sound products.
  • EPR is applicable to various types of waste, including plastic waste, e-waste, and battery waste.
  • It makes producers responsible for the environmental impacts of their products throughout their life cycle.

What are the Other Initiatives for Plastic Waste Management?

• National Dashboard on Elimination of Single Use Plastic and Plastic Waste Management:
  • India launched a nationwide awareness campaign on Single Use Plastics on World Environment Day in June 2022.
  • A mobile app for Single Use Plastics Grievance Redressal was also launched to empower citizens to check sale/usage/manufacturing of SUP in their area and tackle the plastic menace.
• India Plastics Pact:
  • It is the first of its kind in Asia.
  • The Plastics Pact is an ambitious and collaborative initiative to bring stakeholders together to reduce, reuse and recycle plastics within the material’s value chain.
• Project REPLAN:
  • Project REPLAN (stands for Reducing Plastic in Nature) launched by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).
  • It aims to reduce consumption of plastic bags by providing a more sustainable alternative.

Way Forward

• Raising awareness amongst the public of the harm caused by plastic pollution through education and outreach programs to modify behavior.
• Promote Alternatives, before the ban or levy comes into force, the availability of alternatives has to be assessed.
• Provide economic incentives to encourage the uptake of eco-friendly and fit-for-purpose alternatives that do not cause more harm.
• Support can include tax rebates, research and development funds, technology incubation, public-private partnerships and support to projects that recycle single-use items and turn waste into a resource that can be used again.
• Reduce or abolish taxes on the import of materials used to make alternatives.
• Expanding the use of biodegradable plastics or even edible plastics made from various materials such as bagasse.
• Use of microbeads in personal care products and cosmetics must be prohibited.
• Target the most problematic single-use plastics by conducting a baseline assessment to identify the most problematic single-use plastics, as well as the current causes, extent and impacts of their mismanagement.
• Identify and engage key stakeholder groups like retailers, consumers, industry representatives, local government, manufacturers, civil society, environmental groups, and tourism associations in order to ensure broad buy-in.
• Enforce the plastic waste management measure effectively, by making sure that there is clear allocation of roles and responsibilities.
• Monitor and adjust the plastic waste management measures if necessary and update the public on progress.