• Recently, the Vice President of India has highlighted the fact that Single use plastic is a major cause of concern for the world today.

A Glance at the Magnitude of the issue:

• In today’s Era, around 300 million metric tonnes of plastic is being produced every year out of which India alone produces around 80.7mmt of plastic and 50% of this production is Single use plastic.
• There is an increase of around 8.7% every year in the production of plastic which can be harmful for human health.
• Eg: Packaging plastics, micro plastics etc.
• The magnitude of irregular disposal of plastic is very high due to which earth will be facing harmful effects like blide in the landscape, unhygienic conditions and mainly it reduces the soil fertility due to which there is water seepage in the soil which is also a major cause of floods.
• The use of plastics is increasing day by day and is turning out to be a serious problem which may cause severe repercussions in the near future.

Challenges ahead

• The major challenges in dealing with single use plastic can be classified into 3 categories:

• Building Awareness- The awareness level regarding harmful effects of single use plastic is very poor and the majority of the population has become addicted to the use of plastics in everyday life.

• Stimulating innovation- Generally, the startups prove to be the best starting point for stimulating innovation where investment becomes a major issue for introducing new technology in dealing with the plastic.

• Re-engineering solutions- Finding out sustainable alternative solutions for dealing with disposal systems, alternatives to plastics and replacing especially the packaging plastics as being low value plastic it is very difficult to recycle such plastic and meeting the demands can be a major concern.

Some of the steps taken by Government

• Atal Innovation mission has empowered the new startups for “Responsible production and responsible consumption” of single use plastics.
• The Atal tinkering labs are used for spreading awareness regarding the harmful effects of single use plastics from top to the bottom level.
• Innovation is being stimulated at the university level.
• Challenges like New India, ARISE are being introduced for bringing up new solutions and encouraging the concept of Circular economy.

Way Forward

• The foremost importance has to be given to waste collection systems where low value waste collection systems can be given incentives to reduce the magnitude of the problem. 
• A serious audit about the life span of the plastics needs to be done from a scientific and environment perspective.
• Upscaling of the plastics without undermining the range utility plastics can be a solution.
• The technique like pyrolysis can be used at a managing level along with R&D, public awareness and enhancing innovation.
• The 3R’s which is “reduce, refuse and reuse” can be an alternative in the form of providing affordable plastic as well as  employment to the people.
• The major focus should lie in enhancing “research in recycling” which may change the production and consumption levels.