Context:
Plastic is omnipresent, spanning from the highest mountain peaks to the deepest ocean trenches, and it is even present inside human lungs and placenta. The Indian Himalayan Region, a crucial water source for the subcontinent, nourishes major rivers like the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra. Inadequate and unscientific plastic disposal practices are causing soil and water pollution in this region, adversely affecting biodiversity and posing a threat to the freshwater sources vital for downstream communities.
Relevance:
GS1-
- Geographical Features and their Location
- Physical Geography
GS3- Environmental Pollution and Degradation
Mains Question:
Examine the menace of plastic waste in the Indian Himalayan Region. How can empowering local bodies and creating the necessary infrastructure for waste management offer solutions to this problem? (15 Marks, 250 Words).
Plastic Waste Crisis in the Himalayas:
- The Himalayan mountains, rivers, lakes, and streams exhibit the deposition and accumulation of microplastics. Glaciers can entrap microplastics for extended periods, releasing them into rivers during snowmelt.
- The plastic waste crisis in the Indian Himalayan Region is primarily attributed to rapid and unplanned urbanization, along with shifts in production and consumption patterns. The escalating number of tourists further compounds the issue.
- The waste audit results reveal that 92.7% of the trash consisted of plastic, with 72% of the waste being non-recyclable plastic in the Indian Himalayan Region.
- The recent report from the Social Development for Communities (SDC) Foundation in Dehradun, highlighting the overwhelming presence of plastic waste in Uttarakhand towns, aligns with the challenges faced by nearly all mountainous states.
- Notably, the National Green Tribunal has issued notices to various authorities, including the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and regional bodies, addressing waste dumping in eco-sensitive areas by both tourists and commercial establishments.
Plastic Waste in Other Areas:
- Instances of plastic waste impacting wildlife are observed across the country. In Assam’s Ramsar site of Deepor Beel, Greater adjutant storks are seen consuming plastic waste instead of the usual fish from the wetland.
- Manipur reports growing pollution in rivers like the Nambul. The Himalayan Clean up initiative, conducted between 2018 and 2021 by the Integrated Mountain Initiative in collaboration with Zero Waste Himalayas and the National Productivity Council of India, along with the more recent Himalayan Clean up of 2022, illustrates a concerning trend.
Why Does this Amount to an Alarming Situation?
- Plastic Overshoot Day marks the annual occurrence when the volume of plastic waste exceeds the capacity of waste management systems to handle it. According to Environment Action, a Swiss-based organization, India experienced its Plastic Overshoot Day on January 6, 2023, which is particularly alarming.
- India possesses one of the highest Mismanaged Waste Index (MWI) figures globally, standing at 98.55%, trailing behind only Kenya, Nigeria, and Mozambique. This index reflects the disparity between waste management capacity and plastic consumption.
- Despite the Government of India asserting a 60% plastic waste recycling rate, a statistical analysis conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) using CPCB data reveals that only 12% of plastic waste is actually recycled through mechanical means.
- Approximately 20% of the plastic waste undergoes end-of-life solutions, including co-incineration, plastic-to-fuel, and road construction. However, this implies that around 20% of plastic waste is incinerated while still being classified as ‘recycling.’
- Moreover, a substantial 68% of plastic waste remains unaccounted for, emphasizing the significant challenge in effectively managing and curbing plastic pollution in the country.
Regulatory Framework for Plastic Waste Management in India and Their Analysis:
| Legislations by the Union Government: Solid Waste Management Rules (SWM) of 2016, Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules of 2016, and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines introduced in 2022: The combined mandate of SWM/PWM/EPR emphasizes waste segregation at the source. This involves not only segregating plastic from other waste but also categorizing different types of plastics—an essential aspect for a scientifically and sustainably managed disposal of plastic waste. According to the Solid Waste Management (SWM), Plastic Waste Management (PWM), and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks, the responsibility for waste management, encompassing collection to its scientific disposal, lies with local bodies. These bodies have the option to seek assistance from Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners (PIBOs) for establishing and operating the plastic waste management system, as stipulated by the EPR. | While the SWM acknowledges the specific needs of hill areas, these considerations are not effectively integrated into mandates for local bodies and producers, importers, and brand owners (PIBOs). Moreover, the PWM and EPR fail to recognize the distinct requirements of hilly terrains. While waste segregation is theoretically endorsed, on closer inspection, landfills are observed to be overflowing with mixed waste. Leachate from such mixed waste contributes to soil and groundwater pollution, while emissions from the waste cause air pollution. A substantial quantity of recyclable plastic waste remains deposited in landfills, highlighting a significant gap between policy intentions and practical implementation. While local bodies are central to the waste management system nationwide, there is an ongoing effort to appropriately devolve power to them. Currently, only a few states have enacted model by-laws, and a limited number of local bodies have formulated by-laws to operationalize this mandate. The collaboration between local bodies and PIBOs lacks clarity in terms of its specific mandate. |
| State Legislations: Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim have implemented state laws prohibiting the use of plastics, with Himachal Pradesh adopting a buy-back policy for non-recyclable and single-use plastic waste since 2019. Mizoram has been proactive in establishing regulations, with the Aizawl Municipal Corporation formulating by-laws under the PWM in 2019. Tripura has implemented policy changes, municipal by-laws, and a state-level task force targeting the elimination of Single-Use Plastic. | However, despite such policies, there is still widespread littering of plastic waste. Sikkim, which banned the use of packaged mineral water from January 2022, has a robust regulatory system but grapples with the issue due to inadequate infrastructure for plastic waste management. Similarly, although legislative framework exists in Tripura, the outcomes are not yet apparent. |
Way Forward:
- It is essential to broaden the definition of local bodies in the context of the Indian Himalayan Region, where traditional institutions play a significant role, particularly in several states in the northeast.
- It’s noteworthy that traditional institutions were allocated funds under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) and the Fifteenth Finance Commission. This inclusion emphasizes the need to recognize and involve traditional institutions in waste management efforts.
- Addressing data gaps is an initial step in the right direction. Resource allocation and support must be tailored to the unique biodiversity, ecological sensitivity, and fragility of the Indian Himalayan Region.
- This approach should also consider the specific challenges posed by the geography of mountain waste management. Immediate attention is required to empower local bodies and establish essential infrastructure for effective waste management.
- Waste segregation and public participation, facilitated by sustained education campaigns, are crucial components of this effort.
- To counter the geographical neutrality of targets outlined in the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), due consideration should be given to the higher operational cost of EPR in mountainous regions.
- The EPR certificate’s value, earned by Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners (PIBOs) in the Indian Himalayan Region, could surpass that earned in other parts of the country for every ton of processed plastic waste.
- It is imperative to fill data gaps regarding the quantity and quality of waste generated in the states of the Indian Himalayan Region.
- The Swachh Bharat Kosh Trust, designed to facilitate the channeling of philanthropic contributions and corporate social responsibility funds, could also be utilized to enhance resources.
Conclusion:
There is a need for convergence of existing schemes, such as the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation, Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and the Smart Cities Scheme and the grants from the Finance Commission, can be leveraged to create, maintain, and operate necessary waste management infrastructure.
