A Hidden Pandemic

Context: Need to take some urgent steps to deal with plastic pollution as the Covid-19 Pandemic had halted our progress made so far.

Some steps taken so far to deal with plastic pollution

• Complete phase out single-use plastics by 2022 by India: by creating better arrangements to collect, store, and recycle single-use plastic.
• International Multiyear Assessment: by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), with the support of Norway and Japan.
  • Projects like Counter MEASURE are used to find out the way plastic reaches rivers and oceans.
• “Sea to Source: Ganges” Expedition: by National Geography; brought together four countries, including India and Bangladesh, to holistically study plastic pollution within the Ganges river basin.

Challenges in tackling plastic pollution

• Impact of pandemic: Due to the rising demand for plastic for making masks, sanitiser bottles etc.
• Low levels of recycling at present: only 9 % of all plastic ever produced has been recycled, while 79 % are found in natural systems.

Steps to be taken to deal with plastic pollution

• Reduce the manufacture of new fossil fuel-based plastics.
• Ensure waste collection operates at the same pace as waste generation: To alleviate the problem of plastic waste being end up in rivers. (developing waste-to-value cycle)
  • Segregating waste and used plastic for suitable treatment and recycling.
• Encourage environmentally-friendly alternatives to single-use plastics: Business model should consider alternative product delivery systems, promote circularity, and encouraging use plastic waste.
• Better coordination for finding solutions: between government, businesses, and civil society.
• Strengthen the existing plastic waste management framework in India
• Develop a National Action Plan for Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution in Rivers.