Challenge of Plastic in the Himalayas: Urgent Calls for Sustainable Solutions

Context: 

This editorial is based on the news “Mountains of plastic are choking the Himalayan States” which was published in The Hindu. The report of Social Development for Communities (SDC) Foundation Dehradun highlights the challenge of Plastic waste across most mountainous states of India.

Microplastics Menace in the Himalayas: A Threat to Ecosystems and Freshwater Sources

• Ubiquitous Presence: Microplastics are formed by the degradation and the fragmentation of large plastic pieces that are improperly disposed of. 
  • They have been found in the Himalayan mountains, rivers, lakes and streams.
• Soil and Water Pollution: 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.
  • Microplastics can be trapped in glaciers in the Indian Himalayan Region  for a long time and released into rivers during snow melting. 

Cause and Challenge of Plastic Waste Crisis in Himalayan Region

• Rapid and unplanned urbanisation: and changing production and consumption patterns are responsible for the plastic waste crisis in the Indian Himalayan Region. 
• Unsustainable Tourism: waste dumping and recycling issues.
• Food Chain affected: 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. 
• Plastic Overshoot Day: It is a day in a year when the amount of plastic waste surpasses the capability of waste management systems to manage this.
  • In 2023, India reached its plastic overshoot day on January 6.
• Special needs of hill areas not factored in: They 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.
• Waste Segregation at Source: There is a presence of mixed waste in the landfills.
  • The leachate from the mixed waste causes soil and groundwater pollution while fumes from such mixed waste cause air pollution. 
• Low recycling rate: India is merely recycling (through mechanical recycling) 12% of its plastic waste.
• Weak Local bodies: Local bodies are the pivot of the waste management system in the country. However, devolution of power to them is inadequate.
  • There is a need to include traditional institutions within the definition of local bodies when it comes to the Indian Himalayan Region (prevalent in many States in the northeast). 

Way Forward: 

• Resource allocation: 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.
• Closing 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: 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.

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