PLASTIC POLLUTION IN THE WORLD-AN ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT.

 

In the year 2022 based on the data of the Central Pollution Control Board  from 23 states and UTs CSE has concluded that only 12% of plastic waste in India is recycled, 20% of it is burnt and the remaining 68% is unaccounted for which means it is left in the soil.

Little wonder that India emerged as the largest plastic polluter in the world as per a study published in the Sep 24 issue of "Nature" magazine.

Of the 52 million tons of waste plastic produced annually in the world, India accounts for 20% or 9.3 million tons. This is the quantity of waste that is thrust onto the environment.

Burning of plastic generates poisonous gases and every year about 5.8 million tons of plastic is openly burnt in India. 3.5 million tons escapes as loose plastic into the environment which gets into the oceans.

India is actually producing less plastic waste than China but India mismanages that waste and becomes the number 1 plastic polluter in the world.

The 2nd worst polluter in the world is Nigeria with 3.5 million tons....third Indonesia 3.4 million tons and fourth China with 2.8 million tons.....

1. Tamilnadu.     0.8

2. Telangana.     0.5

3. Delhi.               0.4

4. Maharashtra. 0.4

5. Karnataka.     0.35

Plastics take 500 to 1000 years to decompose causing long term accumulation.

They contribute 80% of marine pollution forming huge garbage patches in the oceans. After some time plastics decompose into microplastics causing contamination everywhere. They are eaten by animals along with food.

Plastics contain toxic chemicals including pesticides and flame retardants linked to cancer, heart disease, reproductive and other severe health conditions

Plastic production accounts for 5% of Earth's greenhouse gas emissions.

Global plastic pollution is projected to triple by the year 2040 and it would outweigh all the fish on the earth by the year 2050.

If the type of plastics we use higher numbers are not recyclable.

Only PET and HDPE are freely  recyclable and are often recycled.

PVC, PP, LDPE and PS ( Polystyrene) are not recyclable.

Clearly there is a case for reducing the usage of the latter 4 plastics.

We use LDPE bags freely as though it is our right. Some few places have enforced their ban. But in many other places they are in high use.