Why in News

• Global plastic pollution is rising at dangerous levels

  • According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, plastic waste is expected to triple by 2060 to reach 1.2 billion tonnes

  • This creates a major ecological and health threat

Scale of the Crisis

• Rapid Growth

  • Global plastic production doubled between 2000–2019

  • Reached 460 million tonnes, mainly due to packaging and fast-consumption products

• Poor Recycling

  • Only 9% of plastics are recycled

  • Most end up in landfills, rivers, and open dumps

• Marine Pollution

  • About 11 million tonnes of plastic enter oceans every year

  • Harms marine life and contaminates the food chain

• Microplastics

  • Plastics break down into micro and nano particles

  • Found in soil, air, water, and even in human blood and lungs

• Future Projection

  • If no urgent reforms are made, plastic waste will almost triple by 2060

  • This will overwhelm global waste systems

Major Problems of Plastic Pollution

• Persistence

  • Plastics take hundreds of years to decompose

  • Causes permanent accumulation in ecosystems

• Climate Impact

  • Plastic production and burning contribute 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions

  • Worsens climate change

• Biodiversity Loss

  • Animals like turtles, seabirds, and fish swallow plastics

  • Leads to starvation, poisoning, and reproductive harm

• Human Health Risks

  • Toxic chemicals such as carcinogens and endocrine disruptors mix with food and water

  • Affects fertility, immunity, and overall health

• Economic Losses

  • Marine plastic pollution causes around 13 billion dollars in yearly losses

  • Affects fisheries, shipping, and tourism industries

Initiatives to Fight Plastic Pollution

• Global Efforts

• • United Nations Environment Assembly Treaty (2022): 193 nations agreed to work on a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution by 2024

  • Sustainable Development Goals: Reducing plastic supports SDG 12 (responsible consumption), SDG 13 (climate action), and SDG 14 (life below water)

  • Circular Economy: Campaigns worldwide pushing reuse, recycling, and redesign to reduce dependence on new plastic

• Indian Efforts

• • Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016 and 2022: Ban on certain single-use plastic items and enforcement of producer responsibility

  • Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0: Focus on complete waste collection, segregation, and proper processing

  • Plastic Roads: More than 1.2 lakh kilometres of Indian roads built using waste plastic, saving bitumen and improving road durability

Role in Tackling the Crisis

• Individuals

• • Refuse single-use plastics like straws, bottles, and bags

  • Segregate waste at home into wet and dry categories for easier recycling

  • Support eco-friendly brands and packaging

• Communities and Society

• • Organise collective clean-up drives in beaches, rivers, and parks

  • Create plastic banks where people can exchange waste plastic for rewards

  • Work with private recyclers and NGOs to improve local waste management

• Governments

• • Make and strictly enforce laws against banned plastics

  • Ensure companies take back used packaging and meet recycling targets (Extended Producer Responsibility)

  • Impose taxes on landfilling and incineration while giving subsidies for eco-friendly packaging and research

Way Forward

• Follow 6Rs: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover, Redesign

• Shift to a circular economy with products designed for reuse and recycling without losing value

• Invest in research for bio-based and compostable plastics and advanced recycling technologies

• Strengthen local governments like panchayats and urban bodies with funds and authority for waste management

• Encourage behavioural shift by making zero-plastic lifestyles popular through media campaigns and influencers

Conclusion

• Plastic pollution is a man-made disaster threatening climate, biodiversity, and human health

• It can only be tackled through combined efforts of governments, industries, communities, and individuals

• A plastic-free future is essential for environmental justice and sustainable development