Plastic-free planet: India’s polymer problem can be tackled if its street vendors switch to reusables, says study

Subject: Environment

Section: Pollution

Context:

Plastic waste would be reduced substantially and several new jobs would be created if Indian street food vendors transition to reusable materials, a new study released on the sidelines of the just-concluded third session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-3) in Nairobi has noted.

Details of the study:

Study title: Economics of Reuse for street vendors in India
Study done by: Three different groups namely Zero Waste Europe, Searious Business and National Hawkers Federation (NHF).
- Zero Waste Europe and the NHF represent Break Free From Plastic, a global movement against plastic pollution.
- Searious Business is a Netherlands-based company working towards the goal of zero plastics entering our ocean.
- NHF — championing the rights of street vendors— had played a key role in the passage of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014.
NHF also demanded a just transition for street vendors from single-use plastics to reuse systems.

Key findings:

The use of reusable steel instead of reusable plastic can be profitable.
Single-use plastic consumption exploded in recent years, leading to a global crisis impacting nature, people, and the climate.
If the plastic industry was a country, it would have ranked to be the fifth largest greenhouse gas emitter worldwide.
If 80,000 street food vendors in Kolkata were to transition to reusables, plastic waste would reduce by more than 86 per cent and over 2,250 jobs would be created.
The switch will also give a return on investment of 21 per cent and a payback period of 2.3 years.

Extended producers’ Responsibilities (EPR):

It is a globally recognized policy used as an effective tool to put the onus on the producers for efficient end of life waste management of the plastic, electronic and electrical equipment.
The concept of EPR responsibility is based on three foundation principles:
- Pollution prevention approach
- Life cycle thinking,
- Polluter pay principle
EPR responsibility makes it the responsibility of the producers not only to take back products for recycling but also to design better and longer life products to minimize the amount of waste generated.

EPR in India:

EPR responsibility Certificate is authorized by Central Pollution Control Board which is mandatory for Producers/Importers of the Electronic products.
Under these rules, the producers have a responsibility to delegate this responsibility to the third party or specialized organizations which manufacturers can financially aid for proper waste management.
E-Waste (management and handling) Rules, 2016 adopted Extended Producers Responsibility for the first time in India.
EPR responsibility under E-Waste (management) Rules, 2016 stipulates collection targets of E–Waste for producers.
The producers are responsible for setting up collection centres for e-waste and financing and organizing a system for environmentally sound management of e-waste.
The producers are required to have an arrangement with dismantlers and recyclers through either the Producers responsibility organization or the E-Waste exchange system.
Marketing or selling any electronic equipment without EPR responsibility Authorization is considered a violation of the rules.

Extended Producer’s Responsibility (EPR) for Plastic producers:

EPR for plastic packaging was introduced in India in 2022.
It covers businesses that introduce plastic packaging in the Indian market like producers of plastic packaging, importers of plastic packaging and products packaged in plastics, and the brand owners.