Context:

• India has among the lowest per capita consumption of plastic in the world, “much lower” than that of many developed countries, said Prime Minister of India at the World Environment Day celebrations in India.
• India was committed to reducing the use of plastic and would join the Clean Seas programme — a Sweden-led initiative to reduce littering of marine ecosystems.

Beat plastic pollution:

• The theme for this year’s Environment Day, organised in partnership with the United Nations Environmental Programme, is “Beat plastic pollution”. India is the global host nation for the 43rd edition of this event.

Plastic and India:

• Plastic threatens to be a menace to humanity … it is already having a deadly impact on our marine ecosystem. Scientists as well as fishermen speak of declining fish catches, warming oceans, vanishing habitats and the major trans-boundary problem of micro-plastics.
• Noting that India was the fastest growing economy in the world today.
• As part of Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), India was committed to reducing 33-35% of emission intensity of its GDP during 2005-2030.

Central Pollution Control Board

• According to the Central Pollution Control Board, India generates about 15,000 tonnes of plastic waste every day, of which about 40% remains uncollected.
• About 70% of the plastic packaging products become “waste” in a short span of time.
• While plastics have a wide variety of applications, the global rally is against the so-called “single use” or disposable plastic — used in bottles, cups, wrapping paper and bags. Together, they account for over half the plastic produced.

The Environment Ministry, two years ago, notified plastic waste management rules that sought to control the manufacture of the particular kind of plastics. However, several States and city corporations have been unable to effectively enforce the rules — particularly the provision that bans the use of bags less than 50 microns thick.

Source:TH