Dr. Arvind Kumar
From the vehicle you ride to the television you watch; plastics are everywhere around us… quite literally! Most plastic items never fully disappear; they just get smaller and smaller (Microplastics). According to a recent report, plastic fragments have been found in the digestive tracts of animals in Mariana trench, the deepest part of the oceans. It is not just the accumulation of plastics that harms the environment – it is also the fragments and toxins released during decomposition that pollute our soil and water. Many of these tiny plastic particles are swallowed by farm animals or fish who mistake them for food. Surprisingly, plastic have also found their way onto our dinner plates. They’ve also been found in a majority of the world’s tap water and most recently Microplastic pollution has been detected in human blood for the first time, with scientists finding the tiny particles in almost 80% of the people tested. A recent study found that microplastics can latch on to the outer membranes of red blood cells and may limit their ability to transport oxygen. The particles have also been found in the placentas of pregnant women, and in pregnant rats they pass rapidly through the lungs into the hearts, brains and other organs of the fetuses. The findings illustrate how incredibly wide humanity’s impact on the planet has become. We are almost trapped in plastics.
The actions taken and their efficaciousness
Considering these drastic consequences countries along with United Nations have taken several actions to address this menace. The Global Partnership on Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter (GPML) was launched at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in June 2012 in response to a request set out in the Manila Declaration on Furthering the Implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities. The GPML is a multi-stakeholder partnership that brings together all actors working to prevent marine litter and plastic pollution. By providing unique global platform to share knowledge and experience, partners are able to work together to create and advance solutions to this pressing global issue. The GPML provides a platform for: cooperation and coordination; sharing ideas, knowledge and experiences; identifying gaps and emerging issues; and harnessing the expertise, resources and enthusiasm of all stakeholders (including private sector, civil society, non-governmental organizations and regional bodies) working to reduce and prevent marine litter and plastic pollution from land and sea based sources with specific objectives to reducing the leakage of plastics into the ocean through improved design; the application of the ‘3Rs’ principle (reduce, re-use, recycle); encouraging ‘closed-loop’ systems and more circular production cycles; and maximization of resource efficiency and minimization of waste generation.
In February 2022, at the resumed fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), a historic resolution (5/14) was adopted to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment with the ambition to complete the negotiations by end of 2024. The instrument is to be based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full life cycle of plastic. The rapidly increasing levels of plastic pollution represent a serious global environmental issue that negatively impacts the environmental, social, economic and health dimensions of sustainable development. Under a business-as-usual scenario and in the absence of necessary interventions, the amount of plastic waste entering aquatic ecosystems could nearly triple from some 9–14 million tonnes per year in 2016 to a projected 23–37 million tons per year by 2040.
The first session of the INC to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, took place at Punta del Este Convention and Exhibition Centre from 28 November to 2 December 2022. In the discussions on CIRCULARITY IN PRACTICE, participants underlined the need to strengthen the policy framework to support circularity and expressed different views on the types of plastic polymers and substances to be regulated. The group asked for the global instrument to include trade regulations, building on the work of the Basel Convention, to avoid international trade of plastic waste particularly towards countries where there is no recycling capability; as well as for fit for purpose infrastructures. In terms of scope, participants considered how to accommodate actors in different socio-economic contexts in the process. On WASTE MINIMIZATION AND REMEDIATION, participants converged around issues such as harmonized design standards, exchange of best practices, harmonization of legislation and strengthening the enforcement ability of governments. The need to eliminate non-essential products was seen as vital for waste minimization. Stakeholders asked Members to consider the banning of illegal dumping of hazardous waste in the context of developing the treaty. Additional issues raised during the discussions include: the role and responsibility of the private sector on plastic legacy issues; and the need of infrastructure for sound plastic waste management.
Interventions in India
From July 1, 2022, the Union government banned the manufacturing, selling, use and storage of 19 identified single-use plastic items. Still, the ban is not effective as prohibited items have been found in use in almost every Indian city. The central and state governments have already allocated a budget to Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) and disbursed more than Rs 3,000 crore on public awareness campaigns and coastal area cleaning drives. But the result is not up to mark as consumers still use banned plastic items as waste can still be seen in municipal garbage, beaches and marine debris. When it comes to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), producers, importers and brand owners (PIBO), as well as producer responsibility organisations (PRO), are only focusing only on polyethylene terephthalate, hydrocarbon polymer and low-density polyethylene-based plastic items. The remaining plastic items are out of their focus and are left to get burnt or become a part of marine debris. That’s why we need effective enforcement of EPR policy with PIBO and PRO-led waste plastic collection centres being set up in the country at a large scale. Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar, a 75-day citizen-led campaign for improving ocean health through collective action, was launched on July 5, 2022.
It has three strategic underlying goals that target transformation and environmental protection through behaviour change. The three underlying goals of the campaign are: Consume responsibly, segregate waste at home and dispose of it responsibly. The National Centre for Coastal Research, a body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, led a coastal cleaning programme covering 7,500 kilometres. But short-term solutions like coastal cleaning are not enough as abandoned plastic, glasses, thermophones, cigarette butts, fishing gears, multi-layered plastic items, etc can still be seen.
Way forward
The government needs to enlist multi-layered plastic packaging items in the list of banned items; only 19 plastic items have been considered as of now. Effective enforcement and penalty against defaulters is required as the government has already spent a lot on public awareness campaigns in the last six year. There should be strict implementation and monitoring of Coastal Regulation Zone and Special Area Planning guidelines in order to curb haphazard constructions along the coastlines. A National Marine Litter Policy needs to be formulated as early as possible. The second session of the intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC-2) to develop an International legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment shall take place at UNESCO headquarters in Paris France 29 May to 2 June 2023. Are the discussions going to impact the common man or it will be another missed opportunity? We need to raise awareness in communities about poor waste disposal activities. Other actions that can be taken to limit the impact of plastic bags on the environment include taking part in neighbourhood clean-up efforts, voluntarily recycling household waste, avoiding littering and illegal dumping of plastic shopping bags, using eco-friendly materials as an alternative and adopting legislation which would make the use of plastic bags less attractive. Plastic can also alter global carbon cycling through its effect on plankton and primary production in marine, freshwater and terrestrial systems. Marine ecosystems — especially mangroves, seagrasses, corals and salt marshes — play a major role in sequestering carbon. The more damage we do to oceans and coastal areas, the harder it is for these ecosystems to both offset and remains resilient to climate change.
*President, India Water Foundation
