Author:  Sivani Kona, MBA, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. 

What are single-use plastics(SUPs)?

 The word Single-use plastics (SUPs), denotes that these goods are made basically from fossil fuel-based petrochemicals meant mainly for single-use, which is thrown away right after the use. This “Thrown away Culture” opened the floodgates of all sorts of present-day chaos of environmental, socio-economic, and health hazards, climatic change, damage of ecosystems, contamination of natural resources crisis throughout the World, that needs immediate attention at a war footing. Otherwise, this may endanger the whole life of the Mother Earth itself.

 These SUPs may include all short-term used service ware plastics like cutlery, packaging materials, wrappers etc., that are thrown away immediately after use. Its non-biodegradability and leachability prove to be detrimental to the health of the planet. Hence, its ban has become inevitable and covers 21 items at present, with further scope to increase shortly.

 Asia is the world’s largest producer of Plastic Pollution, followed by other developed countries. The Philippines dumped one billion pounds of plastic waste into the ocean. 150 MT of plastic waste is dumped into the ocean, at a rate of 8MT per annum. 83 per cent of the ocean is already contaminated by plastic waste. It created the ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch’. that killed many rare endemic flora and fauna of marine life. Consequently, we are bearing the fruits of bitter seeds we have sown knowingly at all levels at present. Its impact can though be seen equally in both Biotic and Abiotic ecosystems, of them the worst sufferers are innocent living beings, not known of their curse. There is no ecosystem, that is untouched by Plastic Pollution. Microplastics had entered all entities of flora and fauna without any discrimination. For instance, traces of microplastics were found in the blood samples of just-born babies, causing many health hazards like various types of cancers, tuberculosis, heart-breathing problems, hormonal imbalances etc., not only in humans but also in the whole animal kingdom. 52 kgs of plastic waste was recovered from a cow’s stomach in Chennai, and huge amounts of the same were also recovered from marine animals like big fish. It is estimated that plastic production will soon outnumber the number of fish and outweigh the total population by 2050. All these confused estimates made the governments, environmentalists and conscious society gasp at once.

 India’s position in the world of SUPs

India’s pilot resolution on SUPs was adopted by the United Nations Environment Association in 2019, in which it agreed to form a legally binding inter-governmental instrument by 2022.

India is the third largest producer of SUPs with more than 6 million tonnes annually, after China and the United States of America with more than 25 MT and 18 MT respectively. According to Indian Science and Technology Innovation (ISTI), our country has known plastic with the name Bakelite since 1907. India’s per capita consumption of plastic is 11kg/annum against the world average of 28 kg/annum. However, India stands at 94th rank in per capita-wise SUP waste production. India has issued the world’s largest EPR guidelines for the effective implementation of the SUP ban. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India’s plastic consumption rose from 61,000 tonnes in 1996 to more than 178 lakh tonnes in 2017. At present plastic production is more than 20 MT, of which approximately 43 per cent is SUP in nature. That means out of the 26000 tonnes of plastic waste generated daily, 10,000 tonnes go uncollected to contaminate the country’s ecosystem. Of them, cities like Mumbai, Chennai, and NCR Delhi are the major contributors followed by other urban areas. State-wise, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu follow the same pattern. There are a total of 10 plastic parks situated in Madya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Assam. Approximately 22,000 plastic manufacturing units exist in the Country that contribute to present-day chaos in one way or the other.

Pros & cons and how SUPs became more popular than any other material?

Reasons for the high production and use of SUPs are consequent to their ubiquitous, hygienic, cheapness, and durable nature pushing away all other substitutes to the end.

1. On the other hand, the “Throw-away culture” of consumer behaviour is the most important contributing factor and the root cause of the present-day crisis. If there is no acceptance from the side of the end-user, the world would have not come across such a menace now. People are not just acquainted with this culture, but in reality, addicted to it. Their busy lifestyles, growing and escaping household work culture etc., made the public indifferent.

2. Lack of economically viable biodegradable alternative substitutes like cotton, jute and other biodegradable plant products on a demand-supply basis.

3. Less/no incentives to substitute production units.

4. Insufficient policy-making and vigilance from the government side

5. Lack of centralized machinery to implement the ban. Though the law was made by the government, its implementation was left to the whims and fancies of the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) of the respective States which give priority to their economies, relegating environment and ecosystems to their peril.

6. Availability of cheap raw materials generated from expanding petrochemical facilities.

7. Last but not least, we need to mention here ‘The Covid Pandemic’ that gave birth to ‘The Plastic Pandemic’ that subsequently raised SUP production exponentially in the form of medical utilities like masks, gloves, syringes, PPE kits, takeaways, online shopping etc.

8. Another important
contributor of SUP which we should not forget to mention here is – The ever-growing
menace produced by the exponential usage
of sanitary pads and diapers of both children and adults. Though it
provides undeniable benefits like hygiene and comfortability, its
non-biodegradability further strains the overburdened landfills and water
bodies. Hardly there are no such segregation points where it can be
reprocessed, except by an NGO in the North. The SUPs and synthetic chemicals
used in its composition leach into the soil and contaminate the water tables,
in addition to both aquatic and marine ecosystems, 

 According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), “Our planet is drowning in plastic pollution”. Out of the annual production of 9.4 MT of SUPs, only 60% is recycled and the remaining is littered. In reality, it’s only 12% is recycled against the claims of 60%. The remaining litter to landfills and aquatic and marine ecosystems.

https://planet.outlookindia.com/news/countries-agree-to-target-plastic-pollution-by-force-at-un-meet-indian-proposal-not-included-news-414694

Why SUPs are so lethal and highly menacing?

 Following are the reasons. 

1. Because of low utility and high litter capacity,
2. Its non-biodegradability takes hundreds of years to degrade into the soil, hence entering the life cycles of food pyramids, and abiotic components of ecosystems,
3. Not every SUP is viable for recycling, hence burning them became an alternative solution, eventually enhancing the Green House Gases, resulting in consequences of increasing Ozone holes and Climatic change.
4. It is estimated that SUPs will soon replace plastic by 2050.

The necessity of the ban

Therefore, the Central Government tightened its belt to embark upon the policy of the SUP ban. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climatic Change amended the Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016 to ban the usage, manufacture, import, sale, stock, and distribution of more than 100 microns of identified SUPs (21 items) from July 2021. It further extended to include more than 75 microns from September 2021. By December 2022, it was further enhanced to include SUPs of more than 120 microns.

The Centre organized three national-level task forces throughout all states and union territories under the effective monitoring of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs).

 A national-level Eco-Alternative Expo was organized with Tamilnadu collaboration to encourage micro, medium and small enterprises in the eco-friendly substitute sector.

A SUP Grievance App was also launched to accept complaints concerning the issue.

India took a defining step to curb pollution caused by littered and unmanaged single-use plastic waste on July 1, 2022. It bans the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of identified SUP items that have low utility and high littering potential.

Why this noble initiative did receive partial success and what may be the reasons for its backlash?

The Centre For Science and Environment (CSE) program Director Siddharth Singh says that “The ban has become a Paper Tiger” Because “the SUP ban addresses a merely 11% of the total SUP waste that is generated in the country” he adds.

https://www.cseindia.org/single-use-plastic-ban-11752#:~:text=India%20banned%2021%20items%20of,environment%20for%20centuries%20to%20come.

1. On the day of enforcement July 1, 2022, small vendors and manufacturers of Delhi commercial establishments came onto the streets baulking against implementation of the ban. Many unconscious
   public also expressed their non-compliance against the sudden and strict implementation of the ban for not replacing/providing alternatives. Atul Biswas, the program director of CSE says “There are challenges. There is political resistance in some states and also there is no planned effort by
   state authorities to implement the ban”
2. Lack of organized plastic waste management system 
3. On the other hand, only 26 States and UnionTerritories have followed a complete ban, while 5 States and Union Territories (Goa, Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal, and Ladakh) have partially banned. And other 5 States (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Manipur, Meghalaya and Mizoram) are not banned at all. Despite the sporadic implementation of fifines here and there ranging from Rs.500 to 50 lakhs, besides five years of imprisonment, the SUPs continue to be ubiquitous all the time.
4. The implementation of the ban is not uniform throughout the country. No centralized mechanism or multi-pronged strategy to look after the noble task. Hence, responsibility is left over to the whims and fancies of the Pollution Control boards of respective governments, which gave priority to their economies leaving the environment in peril. Moreover, the COVID-19 Pandemic halted the process
   of the ban. The PPE industry has grown 56 times during this period. The packaging industry is the largest of the Indian economy. Hence strict ban is not a viable solution for our economy in such a scenario. 
5. Ban crushes the vulnerable vendors who use them, leaving SUP producers unpunished who escape the law unabatedly. The branded packaging industry is the largest culprit behind this waste.
6. Shortage of funds hinders transition to eco-friendly alternatives.
7. No viable recycling plants and most of the plastic waste goes uncollected to fill landfills and water bodies. The All India Plastic Manufacturers Association (AIPMA) Director General Deepak Maslani
   says “We want a clean India and ready to transition. But why not focus on the root cause of the
   problem-plastic waste? We need to improve waste segregation and ramp up our recycling infrastructure”   https://www.aipma.net/press.php
8.  Absence of effective multi-pronged strategy. CEO of Institutional Forum for Environment Sustainability and Technology doubts ban alone sufficient to eliminate SUPs and says “There needs to be marketing of affordable alternatives as well as improvements in waste management to achieve results” https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462901122003458
9. No optimum recycling capacity to more than 50 per cent production. The
   CPCB reports that “the impact of
   plastic waste disposal on soil and water quality at Lucknow dump sites had
   deteriorated water and soil quality there due to leaching of plastic additives”
   https://cpcb.nic.in/displaypdf.php?id=cGxhc3RpY3dhc3RlL0ltcGFjdF9vZl9wbGFzdGljX3dhc3RlX01heV8yMDE2LnBkZg==
10. The Extended Production Responsibility of the plastic waste-generating companies provides lip service.
11. Expensive and inconvenient handling of packaging of substitute material.

Therefore, to balance the Economy and Environment at sustainable levels in this competing world, India has to focus on the “Blanket Ban” that aims at Sustainable Development in terms of 4 noble ideas ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover’. As part of it shifted attention towards creating public awareness, effective plastic waste management etc. Head of the TOXIC LINKS, Ravi Agarwal says “A Blanket Ban is very difficult to implement unless local governments take strict action against violators with public participation. Otherwise, it would end up with some sporadic fines here and there and some newspaper reports” 

1. SUP’s multi-pronged strategy focuses on people participation, Swatchata hi Sewa, identified one lakh schools as Eco-clubs, Beach cleaning drives, etc.
2. The government of India has initiated Swach Sagar, and Surakshit Sagar campaigns to clean up 75 coastal areas. 
3. On the other hand, National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2016 directed CPCB, and MEFCC to formulate Extended Production Responsibility (EPRs) to recollect, reuse, recycle and dispose of SUPs.
4.  To discourage the usage of pollution-generating goods, some governments like Andhra Pradesh, and
   Telangana also levy Green Tax (leaving big fish i.e. Producers escaped) on consumers rather than a complete ban on SUPs.

Conversely to the above efforts, India grabbed the largest market of plastic waste imports in the world after China banned its imports. Under such a dual nature and ironic behaviour of the country, where can we find sincerity at least at the government level?

Therefore, petitions against the SUP ban are not uncommon. 

Some of the notable petitions

Some of the notable petitions filed by

1. Kerala Bottled Water Manufactures Association filed a writ against the State of Kerala, which was later dismissed by the court.
2. Kerala High Court lifts ban on non-woven bags.
3. Antony Camout Rubia (NGT) vs. State of T.N.
4. Ramesh Chandra Kapri (NGT) vs. State of Karnataka
5. Telangana High Court directed all courts under its jurisdiction to ban SUPs in their premises with effect from April 1, 2019. And also reads various do’s and don’ts to be followed by SPCB, local and Urban entities. Here what should we remember is both Telugu states Andra and Telangana refrained from the SUP ban due to a lack of sufficient alternatives.
6. Instead, the Andhra Pradesh Government levies Green Tax on the public, leaving the main culprits free. AP High Court directs the government to ban only plastic flexes, not woven ones.

Suggestions to overcome the drawbacks in the implementation of the SUP ban

Here are some suggestions.

1. If the government sincerely wants to implement a complete ban, it has to address the root cause. That is by stopping the supplies of raw materials from the petrochemical industries.
2. Encourage micro, small and medium enterprises that produce alternative substitutes with subsidies and other incentives. Unfortunately, there is no such information from CPCB and SPCBs.
3. Enhance and ensure sincere efforts of EPRs.
4. Concerted action of governments-Scientists-Manufacturing units-Public partnership is need of the hour,
5. Here public awareness campaigns through celebrities using mass media, percolate deep into the public.
6. The effective implementation and continuation of a user-friendly Grievance Redressal App, that addresses complaints irrespective of state borders and punishes the culprits.
7. Like the dry dust bin and wet dust bin collection, one dust bin for collecting sanitary pads and diapers should also become mandatory at all collection points, so that its recollection and reprocessing become easier. For this purpose, more voluntary organisations need to come forward.
8. Last but not least, build up all-conscious consumer behaviour, so that they voluntarily and naturally abandon the usage of harmful SUPs. According to a vendor, “plastic bags can be eliminated, if the customer decides it, not the seller”. “Getting rid of it is a slow process, it can’t happen overnight”
9. As a responsible citizen, we should also give something back to the society.

Conclusion

Despite all odds, some responsible states like Sikkim, Tamilnadu, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand etc., started reaping the fruits of a complete ban on SUPs. Self Help Groups (SHGs) led by women already have started triggering the production of substitute manufacturing units in these states and spearheading a strong foundation for achieving Sustainable Development Goals. A state Environment official says, “Any government-led programme can only be successful if it becomes a people movement”. In this way, India is gradually shifting from SUPs towards eco-friendly substitutes. Let us hope this will continue for the sake of our wonderful Planet that fulfils the aspirations of billions.