The weight of plastic, the promise of change

In the time it takes to read this article, over 3,000 tonnes of plastic will have been produced, most of it designed for single use and then discarded. According to Plastics for Change, India generates 9.3 million tonnes (MT) of plastic waste annually, 43% of which is single-use plastic. Most of this ends up in a landfill, some of it is incinerated, and the rest often finds its way into a water body.

Plastic pollution knows no bounds. It has been found at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, inside Arctic ice, and even in human bodies (in the blood, lungs, breast milk, etc). Plastic does not decompose – it merely breaks down into smaller fragments and lingers in the environment indefinitely. These tiny fragments, or microplastics, are formed as larger plastics degrade and can have alarming health impacts, including but not limited to cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, neurological and cognitive disorders, and gastrointestinal issues.

Globally, over 350 MT of plastic waste is produced annually. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, this figure could triple by 2060 if the current trends continue. Moreover, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reveals that only 9% of the total plastic waste is successfully recycled. Once celebrated as a breakthrough in material sciences, plastic has now become one of the greatest ecological threats that we face. This World Environment Day, the theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ reminds us that urgent, collective action is no longer optional.

Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/the-weight-of-plastic-the-promise-of-change-3571716