Measuring India’s Plastic Problem

What is the News?

India has banned ​​certain single-use plastics(SUP) from July 1,2022 across India. These items include ice cream sticks, thermocol, plates, cups, glasses, forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays, wrapping or packaging films and cigarette packets. 

India’s Plastic Waste Problem

Plastic Waste Generation in India: India is generating about 3.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually and the per capita plastic waste generation has almost doubled over the last five years.

India’s Plastic Waste Share: According to the State of India’s Environment 2022 report, 35% of India’s plastic waste is in the form of multi-layered packaging which are non-recyclable. 

Poor recycling of Plastic Waste: India recycled 12% and burnt 20% of the 3.5 million tonnes of plastic waste it generated in 2019-20. There is no information on the remaining 68% of plastic waste, which most likely ends up in dumpsites and landfills.

Mismanaged waste: Mismanaged waste is material which is at high risk of entering the ocean via wind or tidal transport, or carried to coastlines from inland waterways. According to OurWorldinData in 2019, India produced an estimated 9.5 kg of mismanaged waste per person.

Source: The post is based on the article “Measuring India’s Plastic Problem” published in The Hindu on 4th July 2022.