Single-Use Plastics in India
GS-3 Mains
Revision Notes
Question : Examine the challenges associated with the regulation and management of single-use plastics.
About Single-Use Plastics
- Widely used in daily lives (packaging, consumer goods)
- Discarded after single use
- Major environmental concern due to non-degradability
Global Plastic Problem
- Invented in 1907, became popular due to affordability, durability, and aesthetics
- Major applications: food & beverages, bottle caps, plastic bags, straws etc.
- Non-degradable nature leads to environmental challenges
Challenges Associated with Single-Use Plastics
- Enforcement and Compliance: Difficult to ensure people follow regulations
- Waste Management: Lack of organized system leads to littering
- Economic Impact: Alternatives are expensive, burdening retailers and consumers
- Health Risks: Microplastics, non-biodegradability, and carbon footprint pose health risks
India’s Efforts
- Regulatory Measures
- 2022 Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules banned 19 categories (cutlery, cups, earbuds etc.)
- Doesn’t include plastic bottles or multi-layered packaging
- Inconsistent enforcement, limited impact (addresses 11% of single-use plastic)
- International Commitments
- UNEA member: signed resolution for legally binding agreement on plastic life cycle
- Public Awareness and Participation
- Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) promotes waste management and plastic minimization
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
- Policies hold producers responsible for product disposal, incentivizing eco-friendly designs
The Road Ahead
- Upcoming U.N. meeting to discuss problematic and avoidable plastic products
- Aim: Implement measures to remove these products, reduce production, and redesign them
- India proposes ‘regulating’ instead of banning production and sale
- Agrees to ‘science-based criteria’ for identifying problematic plastics
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