The single-use plastic bag continues to wreak environmental havoc. According to a United Nations paper, more than 70 countries have adopted a full or partial ban on single-use plastic items. Several countries have imposed a charge or tax on it.
As per Environment, Forest and Climate Change, unmanaged and littered plastic waste including plastic packaging waste has adverse impacts on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Referring to Annual Report of CPCB for the year 2019-20, the Ministry informed parliament earlier this year that the plastic waste generation in the country has been 34.69 lakh tonnes per annum (TPA) during the year 2019-20 of which approximately 15.8 Lakh TPA of plastic waste was recycled and 1.67 Lakh TPA was co-processed in cement kilns.
Plastic pollutes the soil and contaminates water with harmful chemicals. It also contributes to about 4.5 per cent of the total global greenhouse gas emissions, according to credible estimates.
There are several rules and regulations dealing with the subject. The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, provides the statutory framework for plastic waste management in an environmentally sound manner throughout the country, the government says. Considering the adverse effect of littered single use plastic items on terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems, the Ministry of environment, forest and climate change notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, prohibiting identified single use plastic items, which have low utility and high littering potential. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has also notified the guidelines on the Extended Producer Responsibility for plastic packaging vide Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2022.
Under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the states and UTs are required to set up institutional mechanisms for enforcement of provisions of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 through State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees.
Experts stress the need for understanding where and why plastic is not getting recycled. Also alternatives have to be real, sustainable solutions. For a start, people need to reuse whatever bags they have, as many times as they can.
While the sale of polythene and single use plastic has been completely banned in Jammu and Kashmir, the plastic pollution cannot be overcome only by government orders as has been rightly pointed out by the Lieutenant Governor. The resolve to make J&K Polythene-free requires the active participation of every citizen.