Plastic pollution hotspots: India ranks top due to high levels of 'uncollected' waste, says research

By Costas Velis, Ed Cook, Josh Cottom*
We have used machine learning to identify the biggest plastic pollution hotspots across more than 50,000 towns, cities and rural areas worldwide. Our new global model reveals the most detailed picture of plastic pollution ever created with the highest environmental concentrations in India, predominantly because so much of its waste isn’t collected.
Plastic has been found everywhere – from deep ocean trenches to the highest mountain tops, but these observations only reveal isolated snapshots of the overall plastic pollution picture. A bigger challenge is to find out where and how this plastic reaches the environment in the first place, so pollution can be prevented at source.
This is no easy task. The most challenging aspects to measure are the “emissions” – the macroplastic (anything bigger than 5mm in size) that escapes or is released from material systems and activities. This includes waste blowing from rubbish bins or falling off collection trucks plus litter being dropped by people, either accidentally or intentionally.
We found that littering is the largest emission source in the developed world where waste management systems are highly controlled. Conversely, in developing countries uncollected waste is the dominant source.
Using artificial intelligence, our new computer model shows how plastic moves from a controlled system into the environment where it becomes very challenging to recapture and contain. We had to work out how plastic escapes from the controlled system and found that, of the 52 million tonnes of waste (equivalent to the weight of 8.7 million African grey elephants) which enters the environment each year, uncollected waste is the biggest source. That’s about 68% by weight of all pollution or 36 million tonnes each year.
So it’s a misconception that plastic pollution is caused by people’s irresponsible behaviour. The main reason is that 1.2 billion people do not have their solid waste collected at all. Instead, they have to burn, bury or scatter it on land or in the water.
Open burning of waste is prolific, accounting for 57% of all plastic pollution worldwide by weight. This involves burning waste on open fires without any controls to prevent hazardous emissions from reaching the environment or harming our health. This practice is popular, possibly because it seems to make the waste disappear, reducing the burden on waste management authorities and reducing the unsightliness of waste dumped on land.
India has emerged as the place where most macroplastic emissions take place, emitting 9.3 million tonnes of plastic into the environment each year – one fifth of the total. That’s 2.7 times more than the next two largest polluters, Nigeria and Indonesia.

Emissions in India are highest because only 81% of its waste is collected. But the country also generates a lot more waste than some previous models have assumed. Official government sources estimate 0.12kg per person per day, but these estimates exclude many rural areas, so the real number is closer to 0.54kg per person per day. The combination of such a large amount of waste, large population and low collection rate creates the conditions under which plastic pollution flourishes.

Targeted action

Pinpointing these pollution hotspots helps policymakers design more targeted ways to deal with plastic pollution. Countries with higher plastic pollution usually have fewer resources, in terms of money and infrastructure. So they tend to be least well-equipped to curb their emissions.
Having a more detailed understanding of how waste is managed and emitted in every corner of the world enables governments to target their scarce resources at the areas where plastic pollution is most acute. Our model will also help them to develop action plans that can feasibly meet the targets agreed in the global plastics treaty, an international agreement that’s currently being negotiated to reduce plastic pollution worldwide.
Reducing our consumption of plastic is one solution to curb plastic pollution. But plastic does not exist in isolation. It’s part of a complex mixture of materials in waste and we need to consider all of them together. For example, food waste, along with other biodegradable materials, produces most of the climate emissions from the waste management system when it is deposited in land disposal sites.
If we cut down on plastics, we will need to think of ways to reuse materials or replace them with others. But our previous research has shown that the opportunities to do so are limited and in practice – we’ll be making plastic long into the future. Right now, we need to manage our plastic waste more effectively. Finding ways to extend waste collection services could dramatically reduce plastic pollution and benefit billions of people.
---
*Costas Velis is Lecturer in Resource Efficiency Systems, University of Leeds; Ed Cook is Research Fellow in Circular Economy Systems for Waste Plastics, University of Leeds; Josh Cottom is Research Fellow, Plastics Pollution, University of Leeds. Source: The Conversation

Comments

From plagiarism to proxy exams: Galgotias and systemic failure in education

By Sandeep Pandey* Shock is being expressed at Galgotias University being found presenting a Chinese-made robotic dog and a South Korean-made soccer-playing drone as its own creations at the recently held India AI Impact Summit 2026, a global event in New Delhi. Earlier, a UGC-listed journal had published a paper from the university titled “Corona Virus Killed by Sound Vibrations Produced by Thali or Ghanti: A Potential Hypothesis,” which became the subject of widespread ridicule. Following the robotic dog controversy coming to light, the university has withdrawn the paper. These incidents are symptoms of deeper problems afflicting the Indian education system in general. Galgotias merely bit off more than it could chew.

Farewell to Saleem Samad: A life devoted to fearless journalism

By Nava Thakuria* Heartbreaking news arrived from Dhaka as the vibrant city lost one of its most active and committed citizens with the passing of journalist, author and progressive Bangladeshi national Saleem Samad. A gentleman who always had issues to discuss with anyone, anywhere and at any time, he passed away on 22 February 2026 while undergoing cancer treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He was 74.

From ancient wisdom to modern nationhood: The Indian story

By Syed Osman Sher South of the Himalayas lies a triangular stretch of land, spreading about 2,000 miles in each direction—a world of rare magic. It has fired the imagination of wanderers, settlers, raiders, traders, conquerors, and colonizers. They entered this country bringing with them new ethnicities, cultures, customs, religions, and languages.

The 'glass cliff' at Galgotias: How a university’s AI crisis became a gendered blame game

By Mohd. Ziyaullah Khan* “She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and in her enthusiasm of being on camera, gave factually incorrect information.” These were the words used in the official press release by Galgotias University following the controversy at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. The statement came across as defensive, petty, and deeply insensitive.

Conversion laws and national identity: A Jesuit response response to the Hindutva narrative

By Rajiv Shah A recent book, " Luminous Footprints: The Christian Impact on India ", authored by two Jesuit scholars, Dr. Lancy Lobo and Dr. Denzil Fernandes , seeks to counter the current dominant narrative on Indian Christians , which equates evangelisation with conversion, and education, health and the social services provided by Christians as meant to lure -- even force -- vulnerable sections into Christianity.

Sergei Vasilyevich Gerasimov, the artist who survived Stalin's cultural purges

By Harsh Thakor* Sergei Vasilyevich Gerasimov (September 14, 1885 – April 20, 1964) was a Soviet artist, professor, academician, and teacher. His work was posthumously awarded the Lenin Prize, the highest artistic honour of the USSR. His paintings traced the development of socialist realism in the visual arts while retaining qualities drawn from impressionism. Gerasimov reconciled a lyrical approach to nature with the demands of Soviet socialist ideology.

Development vs community: New coal politics and old conflicts in Madhya Pradesh

By Deepmala Patel* The Singrauli region of Madhya Pradesh, often described as “India’s energy capital,” has for decades been a hub of coal mining and thermal power generation. Today, the Dhirouli coal mine project in this district has triggered widespread protests among local communities. In recent years, the project has generated intense controversy, public opposition, and significant legal and social questions. This is not merely a dispute over one mine; it raises a larger question—who pays the price for energy development? Large corporate beneficiaries or the survival of local communities?

Development at what cost? The budget's blind spot for the environment

By Raj Kumar Sinha* The historical ills in the relationship between capital and the environment have now manifested in areas commonly referred to as the "environmental crisis." This includes global warming, the destruction of the ozone layer, the devastation of tropical forests, mass mortality of fish, species extinction, loss of biodiversity, poison seeping into the atmosphere and food, desertification, shrinking water supplies, lack of clean water, and radioactive pollution.

Public money, private profits: Crop insurance scheme as goldmine for corporates

By Vikas Meshram The farmer in India is not merely a food provider; he is the soul of the nation. For centuries, enduring natural calamities and bearing debt generation after generation while remaining loyal to the soil, this community now finds itself trapped in a different kind of crisis. In February 2016, the Modi government launched the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) with the stated objective of freeing farmers from the shackles of debt. It was an ambitious attempt to provide a strong safety net to cultivators repeatedly devastated by excessive rainfall, drought, and hailstorms.

Search This Blog