Among the "Bhasmasurs" (demons) being created and promoted in the name of modern development, plastic is one. Invented just a hundred to a hundred and twenty-five years ago, this feat has now become a threat to nature, the environment, and human existence. What are its dangers?
At the end of last year, the 'Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee' meeting held in Busan, South Korea, considered global efforts to combat plastic pollution significant. The objective of the talks was to finalize a legally binding treaty on plastic pollution, which was being negotiated for the first time. Although a consensus could not be reached in the talks, it indicates a focus on addressing the root causes of plastic pollution, as well as controlling more sustainable production and consumption systems. Plastic pollution has diverse effects on human health, such as cancer, heart disease, and reproductive health.
Plastic was first discovered in 1907, but its use grew rapidly in a very short time. Once considered a boon, plastic has now become a major problem for the world. In 1950, global plastic production was 2 million tons, which increased to 390 million tons in 2021. According to the 'Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development' (OECD), the global production of 'synthetic polymers', the fundamental component of plastic, has increased 230 times compared to 1950. Between 2000 and 2019 alone, total plastic production doubled to about 460 million tons.
The production of 'synthetic polymers' is increasing faster than that of steel, aluminum, and cement. According to the OECD, by 2060, this figure will increase from 460 million tons to 1.2 billion tons. Only 9 percent of plastic waste worldwide is recycled, 19 percent is incinerated, and about 50 percent is filled into landfills, or large pits. The remaining 20 percent is disposed of illegally. According to the OECD, 22 million tons of plastic has entered the environment, of which 6 million tons has gone into rivers, ponds, and oceans.
Extremely fine particles of plastic, in the form of microplastics, have now become dominant worldwide. Only a small fraction of the water on Earth, approximately 0.3 percent, is potable. Water pollution is already a concern in India, and the leakage of plastic and waste has exacerbated this threat. Groundwater and reservoir water are highly susceptible to the leaching of toxic substances. This is a major threat not only to the environment but also to human health and biodiversity.
Black plastic containers used for packing online food pose serious long-term health risks. Dr. Mangesh Kamat, Additional Director of Medical Oncology at Fortis Hospital, stated that containers made from recycled electronic waste often release toxic chemicals directly into food, increasing the risk of cancer. He added that black plastic contains 'polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons', which are considered carcinogenic. In addition to threatening marine life, soil fertility, and human health, plastic waste contributes 3 to 4 percent to global carbon emissions. Plastic pollution has now reached alarming new levels.
A study published in 'Toxicological Sciences' revealed that microplastic particles have now reached the mother's uterus. This study was conducted by scientists at the 'University of New Mexico Health Sciences' in the United States. According to Samuel Pottinger, lead author of research published in 'Science' magazine, if plastic production is not banned globally, annual 'greenhouse gas' emissions from the plastic system will increase by 37 percent by 2050. Analysis showed that most of the 547 million tons of plastic produced globally in 2020 was used for packaging. According to Pottinger, "plastic waste in the environment breaks down into tiny pieces, including micro and nano plastics, thereby negatively impacting countless ecosystems, right down to the deep sea of the Arctic."
The 'United Nations Environment Programme' and other international institutions had identified about 13,000 chemicals in plastic. Now, a team of European scientists has confirmed the presence of 16,325 chemicals in plastic in their report. Of these, 26 percent, or 4,200 chemicals, are dangerous to human health and the environment. A study by environmental chemists at the 'Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory' of the 'Columbia Climate School' has revealed a frightening discovery. 2.4 lakh plastic pieces were found in one liter of bottled water. 90 percent of this is nanoplastics. The extent to which the bottled water business is dominating globally can be gauged from the fact that more than 1 million water bottles are sold every minute worldwide.
In 2021, approximately 60 billion plastic bottles and containers were produced, which is equivalent to the weight of 625,000 trucks, each weighing 40 tons. An international study from 2020 shows that Coca-Cola produces 167,000 bottles every minute worldwide. It is also said that if you line them up, they would go to the moon and back 31 times. Every year we accumulate 300 million tons of plastic waste on Earth. The size of the global plastic market was 609.01 billion US dollars in 2022, and it is expected to reach 824.46 billion US dollars by 2030.
According to Rohini Krishnamurthy's report in 'Down To Earth' magazine, India has become the world's largest plastic polluter. It generates 9.3 million tons of plastic annually, which is approximately one-fifth of global plastic emissions. The Indian government issued 'Extended Producer Responsibility' (EPR) guidelines in February 2022 for the 'Plastic Waste Management Rules - 2016'. The Central government banned 'single-use plastic' in 2022 and advised the adoption of 'biodegradable plastic'.
Subsequently, 'biodegradable' and 'compostable' plastic waste has been introduced as a solution to the growing problem of plastic waste pollution in the 'Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules - 2024'. Under these guidelines, a total of 2614 plastic waste processors (PWUP) have been registered to date, and 10.3 million tons of plastic waste has been processed. According to a report by the Delhi-based 'Centre for Science and Environment' (CSE), the 'Central Pollution Control Board' and 'State Pollution Control Boards' found that 700,000 fake certificates were generated by plastic recyclers, which is 38 times more than the recyclers' capacity to generate certificates.
CSE's analysis found such irregularities in 'mechanical recyclers' operating in states like Delhi, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. The Madhya Pradesh government banned single-use plastic on June 4, 2019. It is not produced in the state, but it is coming from other states and being used. The government has made a rule of 'Extended Producers Responsibility' to make producers responsible for plastic management, but these orders and rules have been lost in the waste. Our environmental and sanitation costs are increasing. Waste management or recycling is not the only solution. We also need to actively work to reduce the waste we generate.
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*Bargi Dam Displaced and Affected Union
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