World Environment Day 2023 Menace of plastic pollution and its remedial measures
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Dr Konthoujam Khelchandra
Contd from previous issue
It is noteworthy that the Government of Manipur has taken concrete measures by adopting the Manipur Plastic Policy, 2022 to reduce the level of plastic pollution and regulate use of single-use plastic products. As per the policy, the Manipur Government has ordered a ban on single-use plastics with effect from July 1, 2022. Penalty for violation of the Manipur Plastic Policy, includes stringent measures likes imprisonment of 5 years and fine of up to Rs 1 lakh. Implementation of the policy will substantially act as an important means towards reducing the impacts of plastic waste in Manipur. However, we need to watch and see the successful execution of the Manipur Plastic Policy in true spirit in order to achieve the actual desired objectives for a better environment.
What can be done to reduce plastic pollution? There is no magic formula by which we can immediately cut the level of plastic pollution. However, we can adopt specific lifestyle changes and alternatives to help reduce our dependence on usage of plastic items, thereby trimming its demand. Reduce, reuse, recycle and replace is the mantra when tackling plastic pollution. We should say no to single-use plastics; Use our own cloth bags for shopping; stop buying drinking water or any beverages in plastic bottles; Discourage the usage of plastic cups for soft drinks, coffee or tea. Insist on glass or ceramic mugs; Make your storage container plastic free. Store all our food items in glass containers. Clean and reuse glass containers whenever you buy one. In order to combat plastic pollution on a larger scale, introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is of prime importance; wherein the producer must bear the responsibility for the EPR throughout its life-cycle. In practice, there has to be a clearly identifiable manufacturer responsibility for every single mineral water bottle that is discarded. The company is responsible for ensuring that the bottles are picked up, collected, and recycled. There is need for phasing out the toxics like PVC and toxic additives used in plastics manufacturing. It is also important to encourage alternatives to plastic usage. Prevention of plastic waste is possible by altering attitudes and behaviour of individuals and businesses. Awareness programmes and youth led initiatives helps, while bans and levies on single-use plastics will force firms to change packaging, preventing plastic from reaching the consumers. Providing plastic-free drinking water through public tapes may prevent people from buying bottled water. Instead, people may carry reusable water bottles. It is also really important to provide plastic-free alternatives, edible packaging and reusable items, this will go a long way in minimizing the use of plastics in our daily life.
We should stress on change at local level. One of the changes we can bring is the demand for better material use. This can be done by buying greener and ecofriendly products. Moreover, we should make changes to showcase the possibility and viability of alternatives, such as in educational institutes, shopping areas, offices, and tourist spots. We could use substitutes for plastics or reduce their use, buy products that are packaged in better environment friendly materials. We should avoid using or serving in disposables, like plastic plates, plastic glasses, and thermocol. There should be sound waste collection and waste management systems that will ensure reduction of plastic in garbage. It is pertinent to have a systematic door to door solid waste collection from the different areas. The present system of waste collection by Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) and IMC nominated NGOs in the various areas of Imphal is not very effective. Segregation of waste at the source is very important. Till date to my knowledge there is no report of segregating the household waste at source in Imphal. This is one of the major challenges where the concerned authority should take appropriate measures for segregation of waste at source. It is noteworthy to remember that the Solid Waste Management Rules (SWM), 2016 have mandated the source segregation of waste in order to channelise the waste to wealth by recovery, reuse and recycle.
We should encourage reusing plastic products and materials; this will help extend their lifestyles and reduce wastage. Innovative reuse models like glass and steel bottles, cloth or jute shopping bags, plastic-free packaging reduce plastic pollution and save costs. Recycling plastic is extremely important since only 14 percent of plastic packaging is collected for recycling, increasing plastic collection rates will enhance recycling. Disposal should be the last option for materials that cannot be reused or recycled. So, a good waste management system is mandatory to reduce economic impact and environmental damage. These are some of the remedial measures that will aid in reduction of plastic pollution. Therefore, on this World Environment Day, 2023, let us all undertake immediate actions targeted towards minimizing the level of plastic pollution on priority basis and at the same time encourage and increase our support to policies that will ensure a plastic-free environment for the betterment of our future generations.
(The writer is Associate Professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, Manipur University. He can be contacted at: [email protected])
Contd from previous issue
It is noteworthy that the Government of Manipur has taken concrete measures by adopting the Manipur Plastic Policy, 2022 to reduce the level of plastic pollution and regulate use of single-use plastic products. As per the policy, the Manipur Government has ordered a ban on single-use plastics with effect from July 1, 2022. Penalty for violation of the Manipur Plastic Policy, includes stringent measures likes imprisonment of 5 years and fine of up to Rs 1 lakh. Implementation of the policy will substantially act as an important means towards reducing the impacts of plastic waste in Manipur. However, we need to watch and see the successful execution of the Manipur Plastic Policy in true spirit in order to achieve the actual desired objectives for a better environment.
What can be done to reduce plastic pollution? There is no magic formula by which we can immediately cut the level of plastic pollution. However, we can adopt specific lifestyle changes and alternatives to help reduce our dependence on usage of plastic items, thereby trimming its demand. Reduce, reuse, recycle and replace is the mantra when tackling plastic pollution. We should say no to single-use plastics; Use our own cloth bags for shopping; stop buying drinking water or any beverages in plastic bottles; Discourage the usage of plastic cups for soft drinks, coffee or tea. Insist on glass or ceramic mugs; Make your storage container plastic free. Store all our food items in glass containers. Clean and reuse glass containers whenever you buy one. In order to combat plastic pollution on a larger scale, introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is of prime importance; wherein the producer must bear the responsibility for the EPR throughout its life-cycle. In practice, there has to be a clearly identifiable manufacturer responsibility for every single mineral water bottle that is discarded. The company is responsible for ensuring that the bottles are picked up, collected, and recycled. There is need for phasing out the toxics like PVC and toxic additives used in plastics manufacturing. It is also important to encourage alternatives to plastic usage. Prevention of plastic waste is possible by altering attitudes and behaviour of individuals and businesses. Awareness programmes and youth led initiatives helps, while bans and levies on single-use plastics will force firms to change packaging, preventing plastic from reaching the consumers. Providing plastic-free drinking water through public tapes may prevent people from buying bottled water. Instead, people may carry reusable water bottles. It is also really important to provide plastic-free alternatives, edible packaging and reusable items, this will go a long way in minimizing the use of plastics in our daily life.
We should stress on change at local level. One of the changes we can bring is the demand for better material use. This can be done by buying greener and ecofriendly products. Moreover, we should make changes to showcase the possibility and viability of alternatives, such as in educational institutes, shopping areas, offices, and tourist spots. We could use substitutes for plastics or reduce their use, buy products that are packaged in better environment friendly materials. We should avoid using or serving in disposables, like plastic plates, plastic glasses, and thermocol. There should be sound waste collection and waste management systems that will ensure reduction of plastic in garbage. It is pertinent to have a systematic door to door solid waste collection from the different areas. The present system of waste collection by Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) and IMC nominated NGOs in the various areas of Imphal is not very effective. Segregation of waste at the source is very important. Till date to my knowledge there is no report of segregating the household waste at source in Imphal. This is one of the major challenges where the concerned authority should take appropriate measures for segregation of waste at source. It is noteworthy to remember that the Solid Waste Management Rules (SWM), 2016 have mandated the source segregation of waste in order to channelise the waste to wealth by recovery, reuse and recycle.
We should encourage reusing plastic products and materials; this will help extend their lifestyles and reduce wastage. Innovative reuse models like glass and steel bottles, cloth or jute shopping bags, plastic-free packaging reduce plastic pollution and save costs. Recycling plastic is extremely important since only 14 percent of plastic packaging is collected for recycling, increasing plastic collection rates will enhance recycling. Disposal should be the last option for materials that cannot be reused or recycled. So, a good waste management system is mandatory to reduce economic impact and environmental damage. These are some of the remedial measures that will aid in reduction of plastic pollution. Therefore, on this World Environment Day, 2023, let us all undertake immediate actions targeted towards minimizing the level of plastic pollution on priority basis and at the same time encourage and increase our support to policies that will ensure a plastic-free environment for the betterment of our future generations.
(The writer is Associate Professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, Manipur University. He can be contacted at: [email protected])