MOUNTAINS OF PLASTIC ARE CHOKING THE HIMALAYAN STATES
THE CONTEXT: From the top of the highest mountain to the deepest of trenches in the ocean, plastic is present everywhere. It is found even inside the human lungs and placenta. Recently, the National Green Tribunal issued notices to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on waste dumping in eco-sensitive areas by tourists and commercial establishments.
ISSUES:
- Accumulation of microplastics: Microplastics are formed by the degradation and the fragmentation of large plastic pieces that are improperly disposed of. Microplastic deposition and accumulation has been found in the Himalayan mountains, rivers, lakes and streams. These microplastics can be trapped in glaciers for a long time and released into rivers during snow melting.
- Issue specific to Himalayan region: Unscientific plastic disposal is causing soil and water pollution in the Indian Himalayan Region and impacting its biodiversity, which is having an adverse impact on the fresh water sources that communities downstream depend on. Rapid and unplanned urbanisation and changing production and consumption patterns are responsible for the plastic waste crisis in the Indian Himalayan Region. A quantum jump in number of tourists is another reason for exacerbation of the problem.
Examples of plastic pollution in Himalayan region:
- A recent report by the Social Development for Communities (SDC) Foundation Dehradun highlights the towns in Uttarakhand are drowning in plastic waste.
- In Assam, at the Ramsar site of Deepor Beel, Greater adjutant storks have been feasting on the plastic waste in the landfill instead of fish from the wetland.
- In Manipur, growing pollution in rivers, that include the Nambul, has been widely reported.
- The Himalayan Clean up (2018-21) that was conducted by the Integrated Mountain Initiative with Zero Waste Himalayas) show increasing plastic waste, especially non-recyclables, in the Indian Himalayan Region.
- The Himalayan Clean up (2022) waste audit results showed that 92.7% of trash was plastic, with 72% of waste being non-recyclable plastic.
- Plastic waste versus management capacities: Environment Action, a Swiss-based organisation has termed Plastic Overshoot Day as the day when the amount of plastic waste surpasses the capability of waste management systems to manage this in respective year. In 2023, India reached its plastic overshoot day on January 6. India has one of the highest mismanaged waste index (MWI), at 98.55%, in the world (after Kenya, Nigeria and Mozambique) which is the gap in waste management capacity and plastic consumption. In statistical analysis done by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) using CPCB data, India is merely recycling (through mechanical recycling) 12% of its plastic waste.
- Inadequate regulations according to the need of hills: Solid Waste Management Rules (SWM) 2016, Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules 2016 and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) 2022 constitute the regulatory framework for plastic waste management for India at the country level. Special needs of hill areas are recognised by the SWM but are not factored in while creating a mandate for both local bodies and producers, importers and brand owners (PIBOs), while PWM and EPR have not even recognised the special needs of the hills.
- Issue of segregation at source: The collective mandate of SWM/PWM/EPR requires waste segregation at source. Segregation of not only plastic from other waste but also different types of plastics is a prerequisite for any strategy to dispose of plastic waste in a scientific and sustainable manner. However, the waste segregation exists only on paper and landfills are overflowing with mixed waste. The leakage from the mixed waste causes soil and groundwater pollution while fumes from such mixed waste cause air pollution.
STEPS TAKEN:
- Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 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.
- Project REPLAN: Project REPLAN which stands for REducing PLastic in Nature has been launched by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) aims to reduce consumption of plastic bags by providing a more sustainable alternative.
- Ban on single-use plastics: India has banned the production, use, and sale of single-use plastics such as bags, cups, plates, cutlery, and straws in many states.
- 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.
STATE’S INITIATIVES:
- States across the Indian Himalayan Region have also been taking various initiatives including enacting laws to curb this menace.
- Himachal Pradesh has a buy back policy for non-recyclable and single-use plastic waste since 2019, but there is still widespread littering of plastic waste.
- Sikkim banned packaged mineral water use from January 2022 and has a fairly robust regulatory system, but in the absence of proper infrastructure to handle plastic waste, the State is still grappling with the issue.
- Mizoram has been proactive on the regulatory front the Aizawl Municipal Corporation made by-laws under the PWM in 2019.
- Tripura has made policy changes, enacted municipal by-laws and has a State-level task force to eliminate Single Use Plastic though the results are not visible.
THE WAY FORWARD:
- Behavioural changes: It is imperative to formulate interventions that promote behavioural changes to curb plastic pollution by encouraging citizens to conduct themselves responsibly by reusing, recycling, reorienting, and diversifying as promoted by the This can be achieved through awareness campaigns by educating people about the effects of plastic pollution and incentivising responsible plastic-waste disposal.
- Promote Alternatives and recycling: There is a need to promote alternatives by providing economic incentives to encourage the use of eco-friendly alternatives that do not cause more harm to environment. The support can be done by providing tax rebates, research and development funds, technology incubation, public-private partnerships to increase recycle single-use items and turn waste into a resource that can be used again.
- Steps according to the needs of eco sensitive regions: There is a need for appropriate resource allocation and support that is considerate of and reflective of the rich biodiversity, ecological sensitivity and fragility of the Indian Himalayan Region. It can be done by taking into account the specific geographical challenges of mountain waste management. The Swachh Bharat Kosh Trust set up to facilitate the channelisation of philanthropic contributions and corporate social responsibility funds towards this cause could also be used to augment resources. The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Smart Cities Scheme under which many cities in the Indian Himalayan Region are selected, could also work in convergence on the issue of scientific waste management and making cities in the Indian Himalayan Region free of plastic.
- Plugging data gaps: Data gaps in terms of the quantum and quality of waste being generated in the Indian Himalayan Region States should be plugged. Convergence in existing schemes such as SBM, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and the Finance Commission’s grants could be used to create the infrastructure, maintain and run operations. Empowering local bodies and creating the necessary infrastructure for waste management in the Indian Himalayan Region need immediate attention.
- Incentivising companies: Companies could be incentivised to adhere to the EPR norms by tagging Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) ratings with compliance scores. ESG reporting has grown to become one of the crucial indicators for businesses to prove their commitment towards sustainabilityby providing intuitional measures to manage environmental and social impacts. Therefore, mandating companies on their compliance with EPR during ESG reporting might lead them to take more proactive actions towards reducing their plastic footprints.
THE CONCLUSION:
Plastic pollution has far-reaching social and economic implications around the world. There is a need to prevent plastic waste which could be accomplished with improved waste management systems and recycling, better product design and reduction in manufacturing of unnecessary single-use plastics.
UPSC PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS
Q. Plastic pollution is the most widespread problem affecting the marine environment. Discuss. (2021)
MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION
Q. Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues that can alter habitats and natural processes. Comment.