India has become  the top plastic polluter, releasing 9.3 million tonnes (Mt) of plastic annually.

This is nearly one-fifth of the world’s total plastic emissions.

Other Top Polluters

• Nigeria ranks second with 3.5 Mt of emissions.
• Indonesia is third with 3.4 Mt.
• China, previously ranked first, is now fourth.
  • It is due to better waste management through incineration and controlled landfills.

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About Plastic Emissions

• Plastic emissions refer to plastic moving from managed or controlled systems to unmanaged or uncontrolled environments.
  • These emissions occur throughout the lifecycle of plastic, from production to disposal

• Causes of Plastic Emission
• • Improper Waste Management: Poor waste management systems result in plastic waste being dumped in landfills, oceans, and other places.
  • Industrial and Urban Runoff: Plastic waste from factories and cities often flows into rivers and oceans due to water runoff.
  • Open Burning: Burning of plastic waste in open areas, especially in rural regions, which contributes to emissions.

Status of Waste Generation in India

• Low Waste Generation Estimates
  • India’s official waste generation is reported as 0.12 kilograms per person per day.
  • The reported waste collection rates in India are likely higher than the actual figures.
• Excluded Factors in Official Data
  • Official reports do not include waste from rural areas.
  • Waste recycled by informal sectors is not accounted for.
  • Open burning of uncollected waste is also missing from the official statistics.

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Global Trends in Plastic Pollution

• Main Sources of Plastic Pollution

• • In the Global North, littering is the biggest cause of plastic emissions.
  • In the Global South, uncollected waste is the main source of plastic pollution.
• Top Polluting Countries
  • 69% of the world’s plastic waste emissions come from 20 countries.
  • Most of these countries are low- and middle-income nations.
• High-Income Countries
  • High-income countries produce more plastic waste.
  • However, they are not in the top 90 polluters because they have better systems for waste collection and disposal.

Initiatives taken to Curb Plastic Waste in India

• UNDP India’s Plastic Waste Management Program (2018-2024):  This program aims to reduce the impact of plastic waste on the environment. 
  • It was focused on improving  plastic waste management practices in India.
• Ban on Single-Use Plastics (SUP): The Ministry of Environment banned hard-to-collect and recycle Single-Use Plastic (SUP) items.
  • Manufacturing, importing, selling, and using plastic bags thinner than 120 microns is prohibited.
• Plastic Waste Management Rules: The Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022 introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging.
• These rules set targets for:
  • Recycling plastic packaging waste.
  • Reusing rigid plastic packaging.
  • Using recycled plastic in packaging.
• Swachh Bharat Mission: started in 2014, aims to remove open  defecation and improve waste management. 
• India Plastics Pact: This initiative aims at transforming the life cycle of plastic. 
• Project REPLAN: Replan stands REducing PLastic in Nature.
  • It aimed to make carry bags by mixing plastic waste with cotton fibers. 
• Un-Plastic Collective: ‘un-plastic means moving all plastic in a circular economy and eliminating unnecessary plastic. 
  • This initiative aims to reduce negative environmental impact on the planet’s well -being.  
• GoLitter Partnerships Project: This initiative was taken to reduce marine plastic litter from fisheries and shipping. 

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