What is the issue?
- The pollution caused by the single use plastics are affecting the environment.
- Therefore steps must be taken to reduce their use and explore sustainable alternatives.
What is the present scenario of plastics?
- Plastics are organic polymers of high molecular mass and are usually synthetic, mainly derived from petrochemicals.
- Due to their low cost, ease of manufacture, versatility, non-corrosiveness and imperviousness to water, plastics are used for multiple purposes at different scales.
- Presently, over one million plastic bags and one million plastic bottles are used every minute worldwide.
- About 50% of the plastics used are single use (disposable) which constitute 10% of the total waste generated.
- And of the 7 billion tons of plastic waste generated, only 9% was recycled, 12% incinerated, and 79% accumulated in landfills or the environment.
What is the impact of plastics on environment?
- The plastics, mostly single use plastics are carried down the rivers to the oceans and this accounts for two thirds of the plastic waste present in the oceans.
- This affects the marine ecosystem as fishes are killed when they swallow plastic particles.
- Also the economic impact due to plastic pollution is high especially in fisheries and tourism sector.
- Another direct impact of plastic pollution is on the land, as it degrades slowly and leaches chemicals into surroundings and groundwater.
- Drinking water samples in different parts of the world including India reveal presence of up to 83% micro plastic concentrations.
What measures can be taken to reduce plastic pollution?
- Plastic use cannot be entirely eliminated from day to day activities, but safe disposal, reuse and reducing the quantity can be done.
- Policies should be made to restrict plastic production and encourage recycling.
- Since plastics are used by the common man, a behavioural change is necessary and segregation of household waste must be made mandatory.
- Awareness has to be created on the dangers of plastics hazards and to opt for sustainable and biodegradable products.
- Incentives for developing eco-friendly substitutes (cloth/paper/jute bags, leaves/areca leaf plates, paper straws), scientific as well as financial support must be provided.
Source: The Hindu
