- The concerns for the environment degradations owing to unchecked pollution, unrelenting fossil fuel consumption, rampant deforestation to accommodate growing human footprints, unprecedented growth witnessed on the back of mind-boggling technological inventions, and some such developments are most valid if it is backed by earnest efforts to address. The ill-effects of modernity-defined inventions have created an unsustainable situation for the well-being of humanity in general needs no further elaboration. Erratic weather patterns witnessed over the last few years have created enough concerns amongst the global leaders who are making efforts to reduce carbon footprints to an acceptable level. We know all about this.
PC: Kashmir Mirror
- However, incessant abuse of natural resources by the most advanced nations primarily, and developing nations in a much lesser way in comparison continues unabated under the guise of modernity leading to growing environmental alarms. The Indian establishment to is not left behind in contributing to the larger cause to safeguard the environment by chipping in with earnest efforts even though our carbon footprint is much less. Of course, there’s no denying that plastics are proving to be quite a menace apart from the abovementioned environmentally degrading entities. Towards curbing the menace to a great extent, Indian authorities decided to introduce measures to ban single-use plastic after exhorting the users for a considerable time.
- But whether the nationwide single-use plastic ban beginning from 01st July 2022 will be an effective counteraction is in doubt though. Tonnes of plastic waste is dumped at landfills or out into the open oceans where they disintegrate into tiny microplastics that find their way into marine life or terrestrial animals. From there they eventually enter the human food chain. The Central Pollution Control Board had estimated that India generates around 9,200 metric tonnes of plastic waste daily. For all that we know, this figure is most likely a gross underestimation. Note that the Union Government notified the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021 in August last year, prohibiting 20 single-use plastic items by 2022.
PC: Rasayanika
- Mind you, nineteen of those will be banned from 01st July 2022, including ubiquitous plastic cutleries. Further, plastic carry bags with a thickness of fewer than 120 microns will be banned from the end of December. No wonder, experts have pointed out that the scope of the ban is too small. But even the current effort is unlikely to succeed in a meaningful way. Remember, alternatives to everyday plastic items are far more expensive. For instance, paper straws cost five times as much as plastic straws hurting small vendors and manufacturers disproportionately. Thus, a better approach would be to support and work with the plastic industry to foster innovation and boost the production of compostable plastics. The Union Government should work towards this diligently.
