India to ban single-use plastics but experts say more must be done to
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At sector 27 on August 1, 2021, in Noida (India), a cyclist protects himself with a sheet of plastic.
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India will ban most single-use plastics by next year as part of its efforts to reduce pollution — but experts say the move is only a first step to mitigate the environmental impact.
India’s central Government The ban was announced in August following the 2019 resolution of the government to tackle plastic pollution. This ban on single-use plastics is effective as of July 1, 2022.
CNBC reported that environmental activists stressed the importance of enforcement for effective bans. New Delhi should also address critical structural issues, such as the need to create policies that regulate plastic alternatives, increase recycling, and better manage waste, said environmental activists.
Single-use plastics refer toDisposable items such as grocery bags and food packaging can be used once, then discarded or recycled.
Swati Singh Sambyal, an independent expert in waste management based out of New Delhi, told CNBC that they must strengthen their systems on the ground to enforce compliance.
Why use plastics?
Because plastic is lightweight, cheap and inexpensive to manufacture, there has been a boom in its production. This trend, according the United Nations, is likely to continue for the next few decades.
However, countries have to manage the plastic waste that they produce.
About 60% of plastic waste in India is collected — that means the remaining 40% or 10,376 tons remain uncollected, according to Anoop Srivastava, director of Foundation for Campaign Against Plastic Pollution, a non-profit organization advocating for policy changes to tackle plastic waste in India.
For a fee, independent waste pickers often collect household plastic from landfills or homes to be sold at plastic recycling centers and plastic manufacturing plants.
Sunel Pantdey, the director of environment and management at The Energy and Resources Institute in New Delhi, said that many of India’s plastics have low economic values and cannot be recycled.
According to CNBC, this makes them a source of water and air pollution.
It isn’t enough to ban plastics
India, among other countries, is taking measures to cut plastic consumption by encouraging biodegradable alternative materials that are much less hazardous to the environment.
Food vendors and restaurant chains have adopted biodegradable cutlery as well as cloth and paper bags.
Sambyal explained that currently there are no guidelines for alternative plastics.
It could prove to be an issue when the plastic ban goes into effect.
This machine is responsible for picking up trash from the Ghazipur Landfill site. It has taken over 35 years to dump the daily garbage. This machine seperates waste into three components: first, stone and concrete; second, plastic and polythene; and finally fertilizer and soils.
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Sambyal stated that clear guidelines are necessary to encourage alternative options. These alternatives are likely to be more common in the future.
There are no guidelines for recycling in the new regulations.
Though around 60% of India’s plastic waste is recycledExperts fear that it could be due to too much “downcycling.” That refers to a process where high-quality plastics are recycled into new plastics of lower quality — such as plastic bottles being turned to polyester for clothing.
Plastic’s life expectancy is decreased by downcycling. Plastic can normally be recycled 7 to 8 times before going to an incineration facility. However, if it is downcycled, then it may need to be disposed of after only one to two lives,” stated Pandey, Teri.
On June 24, 2018, in Pune, India, some people were seen using bags from other materials to carry their shopping and daily lives.
Rahul Raut | Hindustan Times | Getty Images
Also, it is crucial to tackle waste segregation.
Sambyal states that it is against the spirit of plastic alternatives if biodegradable and general waste are combined.
Srivastava from the Foundation for Campaign Against Plastic Pollution said, “It is time that source segregation domestic waste is implemented vigorously.” She was referring specifically to laws that have been in effect but that have not been followed.
Forward
The ban, according to environmentalists, is insufficient on its own. They need support from other initiatives and regulations.
It is necessary to increase the amount of plastic collected and recycled. Pandey said that regulation of manufacturers is necessary to ensure proper recycling.
On Monday, October 29, 2018, a woman ragpicker collected plastic bottles and other materials from a boat at the Guwahati River, Assam.
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Investment in research and development of alternative materials should be prioritized, along with improving recycling.
Pandey said that India was a large, price sensitive market and plastic alternatives are possible in bulk.
Although several Indian states have introduced restrictions in the past on plastic bags, most were not strictly enforced.
Still, the latest ban is a big step toward India’s fight against landfill, marine and air pollution — and is in line with its broader environmental agenda, according to the experts.
This March India said it was on track to meet its Paris agreement climate change targetsIt added that it had voluntarily taken a pledge to lower greenhouse gas emissions from its GDP by 33% to 35 % by 2030.
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