25,000 tonnes of plastic waste generated everyday in India; 40% littered on streets
India generates more than 25,000 tonnes of plastic waste everyday, 40 per cent of which remains uncollected and littered in the environment. In a written response to a question in the Lok Sabha, Union Environment Minister said the demand of plastic has increased significantly due its increased use in the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, which has indirectly resulted into the challenge of plastic waste management. Except for 2018-19, the production of plastic increased in India in the last five years.
Quoting a study, conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 60 major cities of India, minister said the dumpsites where the waste that does not reach recycling units, were adversely affecting the environment in multiple ways. It has been estimated that around 4,059 tonnes per day of plastic waste is generated from these cities.
Also Read: Kerala Bans Single-Use Plastic From January 2020
As many as 22 states and union territories have orders imposing a complete ban on plastic carry bags and single-use plastics. Another seven have imposed partial restrictions or prohibition of plastic carry bags or other single-use plastic products.
An expert group has been constituted by Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology (CIPET) with respect to research and development for compostable or biodegradable technology on plastic.
The waste generated in the cement industry also remains a concern. The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs conceded in the Lok Sabha that of the 238 registered cement-producing facilities, only 46 had the facility to use Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) of plastic and other waste as fuel in their plants.
The government aims to rid the country of single use plastic by 2022 as part of the Clean India (Swachh Bharat) part two campaign. The government has notified Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, as per which the generators of waste have been mandated to take steps to minimize generation of plastic waste, not to litter plastic waste, ensure segregated storage of waste at source and handover segregated waste to local bodies or agencies authorised by the local bodies. The Rules prohibit the use of plastic bags with thickness less than 50 microns.
