Life of Plastic: India is not collecting and recycling its polymer waste properly; here is how

Life of Plastic: India is not collecting and recycling its polymer waste properly; here is how

Subject: Environment

Context-

• India’s plastic waste nightmare is because the country is not properly collecting and recycling the trash, thus leading to lethal plastic pollution, according to a new report by Delhi-based think-tank, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

Report findings-

• Currently, the focus is entirely on downstream issues related to the collection, management, diversion and disposal of plastic waste.
• Management of plastic waste involves two distinct steps:collection and recycling or end-of-life disposal. Both are not executed properly in India.
• The collection of plastic waste is the responsibility of local government bodies, producers, importers and brand owners.
• As high as 42-86 per cent of the plastic waste in India flows through the informal sector to material recovery facilities.
• Brand owners outsource the work of waste collection and recycling to third parties and exempt themselves from taking responsibility for their actions.
• The Indian government claims that the country is recycling 60 per cent of its plastic waste. However, this is limited to specific types of polymers (plastics) like PET bottles.
• India is recycling (through mechanical recycling) approximately 12 per cent of its plastic waste.
• Close to 20 per cent of this waste is channelised for end-of-life solutions like co-incineration, plastic-to-fuel and road making, which means we are burning 20 per cent of our plastic waste and still calling it ‘recycling’.68 per cent of plastic waste is unaccounted for.

Where does the Real Problem Lie?

• Single-Use Plastic:
  • Plastics are primarily produced from crude oil, gas, or coal, and 40% of total plastic is discarded after a single use.
  • Many plastic products, such as plastic bags and food wrappers, have a lifespan of mere minutes to hours, yet they may persist in the environment for hundreds of years.
• Microplastics:
  • Sea, sunlight, wind, and wave action break down plastic waste into small particles, often less than one-fifth of an inch (less than five millimetres or 2 inches in diameter) across called microplastics. Spread throughout the water column and have been found in every corner of the globe.
  • Microplastics are breaking down further into smaller and smaller pieces.- Plastic microfibers. They have been found in municipal drinking water systems and drifting through the air.
• No Strict Adherence to Plastic Waste Management:
  • Globally, about one-fourth of plastic waste is never collected.
  • In less wealthy countries, waste plastic is sometimes burned in the open, releasing toxic chemicals into the air.

What are Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016?

• It mandates the generators of plastic waste to take steps to minimize the generation of plastic waste, prevent littering of plastic waste, and ensure segregated storage of waste at source among other measures.
• The rules also mandate the responsibilities of local bodies, gram panchayats, waste generators, retailers and street vendors to manage plastic waste.

These rules are amended in 2022 to expedite the process of plastic waste management.

Provisions under the New Rules-

• Classification of Plastics:
  • Category 1: Rigid plastic packaging will be included under this category.
  • Category 2: Flexible plastic packaging of a single layer or multilayer (more than one layer with different types of plastic), plastic sheets and covers made of plastic sheet, carry bags, plastic sachets or pouches will be included under this category.
  • Category 3: Multi-layered plastic packaging (at least one layer of plastic and at least one layer of material other than plastic) will be included under this category.
  • Category 4: Plastic sheet or like used for packaging as well as carry bags made of compostable plastics fall under this category.
• Plastic Packaging:
  • The reuse of rigid plastic packaging material has been mandated in the guidelines to reduce the use of fresh plastic material for packaging.
  • The enforceable prescription of a minimum level of recycling of plastic packaging waste collected under Extended Producer’s Responsibility (EPR) along with the use of recycled plastic content will further reduce plastic consumption and support the recycling of plastic packaging waste.
• Extended Producer Responsibility Certificates:
  • In a significant first, the guidelines allow for the sale and purchase of surplus extended producer responsibility certificates.
  • This will set up a market mechanism for plastic waste management.
• Centralised Online Portal:
  • The government has also called for establishing a centralised online portal by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for the registration as well as filing of annual returns by producers, importers and brand-owners, plastic waste processors of plastic packaging waste by 31st March, 2022.
  • It would act as the single point data repository with respect to orders and guidelines related to the implementation of EPR for plastic packaging under the Plastic Waste Management Rule, 2016.
• Environmental Compensation:
  • Environmental compensation will be levied based upon the polluter pays principle, with respect to non-fulfilment of EPR targets by producers, importers and brand owners, for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the environment and preventing, controlling and abating environmental pollution.
  • The Polluter Pays Principle imposes liability on a person who pollutes the environment to compensate for the damage caused and return the environment to its original state regardless of the intent.
• Committee to Recommend Measures:
  • A committee constituted by the CPCB under the chairmanship of CPCB chairman will recommend measures to the environment ministry for the effective implementation of EPR, including amendments to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines.
• Annual Report on EPR Portal:
  • State Pollution Control Board (SPCBs) or Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) have been tasked to submit an annual report on the EPR portal with respect to its fulfilment by producers, importers and brand-owners and plastic waste processors in the state/Union Territory to the CPCB.