The pollution caused by the single use plastics are affecting the environment.
Therefore steps must be taken to reduce their use and explore sustainable alternatives.
What is the present scenario of plastics?
Plastics are organic polymers of high molecular mass and are usually synthetic, mainly derived from petrochemicals.
Due to their low cost, ease of manufacture, versatility, non-corrosiveness and imperviousness to water, plastics are used for multiple purposes at different scales.
Presently, over one million plastic bags and one million plastic bottles are used every minute worldwide.
About 50% of the plastics used are single use (disposable) which constitute 10% of the total waste generated.
And of the 7 billion tons of plastic waste generated, only 9% was recycled, 12% incinerated, and 79% accumulated in landfills or the environment.
What is the impact of plastics on environment?
The plastics, mostly single use plastics are carried down the rivers to the oceans and this accounts for two thirds of the plastic waste present in the oceans.
This affects the marine ecosystem as fishes are killed when they swallow plastic particles.
Also the economic impact due to plastic pollution is high especially in fisheries and tourism sector.
Another direct impact of plastic pollution is on the land, as it degrades slowly and leaches chemicals into surroundings and groundwater.
Drinking water samples in different parts of the world including India reveal presence of up to 83% micro plastic concentrations.
What measures can be taken to reduce plastic pollution?
Plastic use cannot be entirely eliminated from day to day activities, but safe disposal, reuse and reducing the quantity can be done.
Policies should be made to restrict plastic production and encourage recycling.
Since plastics are used by the common man, a behavioural change is necessary and segregation of household waste must be made mandatory.
Awareness has to be created on the dangers of plastics hazards and to opt for sustainable and biodegradable products.
Incentives for developing eco-friendly substitutes (cloth/paper/jute bags, leaves/areca leaf plates, paper straws), scientific as well as financial support must be provided.
