Lack of alternatives may hurt decision to phase out plastics

CHALLENGES AHEAD Rehabilitation of 5mn workers in single-use plastic manufacturing sector another task at hand

are a huge environmental concern because once plastic reaches the environment in the form of macro- or microplastics, it contaminates and accumulates in food chains through agricultural soils, terrestrial and aquatic food chains, and the water supply… all plastic waste management technologies result in the release of toxic metals such as lead and mercury, organic substances (dioxins and furans), acid gases, and other toxic substances to the air, water, and soils,” said Swati Singh Sambyal, programme manager - environmental governance (waste management) at Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment. There are challenges related to collection and segregation as well.

India has seven million workers who collect single-use plastic waste and pass it on for recycling but in many cases, single-use plastic is difficult to retrieve as the waste is not segregated. “Waste workers generate close to ~1,200 crores annually. We can play an important role in managing single use plastic waste provided we are assisted with baling, shredding and segregation machines. Plastic packaging you see on biscuit and chips packets was not getting recycled until recently; it is being used for road construction now,” said Shashi Bhushan Pandit of All India Ragpickers Union.

The environment ministry is yet to develop a framework on how extended producer responsibility (EPR) will be enforced so that plastic manufacturers can contribute in waste management.

The Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016 have a provision for EPR. “The micro, small and medium enterprise sector will be badly hit if there is a sudden phase-out. The government must give us time...,” said Deepak Ballani, director general of the All India Plastic Manufacturer’s Association.