Plastic Pollution

LAST UPDATED ON APRIL 18, 2024 BY CLEARIAS TEAM

Global negotiators have agreed to craft a draft treaty to end plastic

pollution during the UN talks in Paris. It is a preliminary but crucial
step toward tackling one of the most lasting sources of human waste.
The committee is charged with developing the first international,
legally binding treaty on plastic pollution, on land and at sea. Read
here to learn more.
 Plastic is everywhere in our lives, from single-use water bottles to food
packaging and personal care items.

Plastic waste produced globally is set to almost triple by 2060, with about
half ending up in landfill and under a fifth recycled, according to
the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Leaders and politicians throughout the world, including the Government of

India, have increased their attention on environmental sustainability in
response to the serious environmental danger posed by plastic pollution.

Table of Contents
 Plastic pollution
 How do Plastics move around the World?
 Impact of Plastic Pollution
o Impact on wildlife
o Impact on human life
o Gendered impact of plastic pollution
 Way forward
o Related posts

Plastic pollution
As the world’s capacity to cope with the fast-rising output of throwaway
plastic goods becomes overwhelmed.

 In Asia and Africa, where rubbish collection services are either

ineffective or non-existent, plastic pollution is most noticeable.
 But wealthier countries also struggle with adequately collecting waste
plastics, especially those with poor recycling rates.
 The United Nations has been trying to create a worldwide convention
because plastic waste has grown so pervasive.

Fossil fuel-based plastics have been around for a little over a century.

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  After World War II, the research and production of tens of thousands
of new plastic goods surged to the point that modern life is
inconceivable without plastics.
 Plastics have transformed medicine with life-saving gadgets, enabled
space flight, lightened vehicles and planes, reduced fuel use and
pollution, and saved lives with helmets, incubators, and equipment for
clean drinking water.

However, the advantages of plastics have given rise to a culture of waste,

which exposes the negative aspects of the substance: Single-use
plastics now make up about 40% of the annual plastic production.

 Many of these items, like plastic bags and food wrappers, are used for
only a few minutes or hours yet might endure hundreds of years in the
environment.
 Plastics often contain additives making them stronger, more flexible,
and more durable. But many of these additives can extend the life of
products if they become litter, with some estimates ranging to at least
400 years to break down.

How do Plastics move around the World?

Most of the plastic trash in the oceans, Earth’s last sink, flows from land.

 Trash is also carried to sea by major rivers, which act as conveyor

belts, picking up more and more trash as they move downstream.
 Once at sea, much of the plastic trash remains in coastal waters. But
once caught up in ocean currents, it can be transported around the
world.
 On Henderson Island, an uninhabited atoll in the Pitcairn Group
isolated halfway between Chile and New Zealand, scientists found
plastic items from Russia, the United States, Europe, South America,
Japan, and China. They were carried to the South Pacific by the South
Pacific gyre, a circular ocean current.

Once at sea, sunlight, wind, and wave action break down plastic waste into
small particles, often less than half a centimeter across.

 These so-called microplastics are spread throughout the water column

and have been found in every corner of the globe, from Mount
Everest, the highest peak, to the Mariana Trench, the deepest trough.
 Microplastics are breaking down further into smaller and smaller
pieces.
  Plastic microfibers or even smaller nanofibers, meanwhile, have been
found in municipal drinking water systems and drifting through the air.

Impact of Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution has emerged as one of the most urgent environmental
challenges.

Impact on wildlife
Wildlife, be it terrestrial, avian, or aquatic are greatly affected by plastics.

 Millions of animals are killed by plastics every year, from birds to fish
to other marine organisms.
 Nearly 700 species, including endangered ones, are known to have
been affected by plastics.
 Seals, whales, turtles, and other animals are strangled by abandoned
fishing gear or discarded six-pack rings.
 Microplastics have been found in more than 100 aquatic species,
including fish, shrimp, and mussels destined for our dinner plates.
 In many cases, these tiny bits pass through the digestive system and
are expelled without consequence.
 But plastics have also been found to have blocked digestive tracts or
pierced organs, causing death.
 Plastics have been consumed by land-based animals, including
elephants, hyenas, zebras, tigers, camels, cattle, and other large
mammals, in some cases causing death.

Impact on human life

Phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE),
among other chemicals used in plastics, have come under intense
examination and regulation.

 Along with medications, colognes, and cosmetics, they can be found

in computers, food packaging, automotive upholstery, flooring
materials, and medical gadgets.

All these compounds have been detected in humans and are known to
disrupt the endocrine system.

Gendered impact of plastic pollution

The gendered effects of this expanding risk are still not taken into account
and are not appropriately addressed.

Women, who are frequently marginalized, are leading the fight against the
effects of our addiction to plastic. They are particularly susceptible since
they work both as main consumers and in the unregulated trash industry in
India.

 A substantial portion of disadvantaged populations including women,

children, and recent immigrants make up the urban informal waste
management economy, which is essential in recycling 30% of India’s
annual plastic garbage.
 The risks linked with landfills and dumpsites disproportionately impact
women, who make up 49% of garbage pickers in India.

Women consume more plastic than men do.

 Products like sanitary napkins, which are created around 90%, are
composed of plastic.
 Women are key consumers of single-use plastics for food and home
products since they are the domestic decision-makers.
 Social norms have mandated women’s greater consumption of plastic-
packed beauty products.

Way forward
The expense of removing plastics from the environment would be
exorbitant given the worldwide scope of plastic pollution. Therefore, the
majority of approaches to the issue of plastic pollution concentrate on
avoiding improper disposal or even on restricting the initial use of some
plastic products.

In recent years, India’s government has launched several audacious

projects as a decisive reaction to the pressing problem of plastic pollution.

 Cornerstones in the fight against this environmental threat are the

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission), Lifestyle for
Environment, which encourages thoughtful consumerism, the Plastic
Waste Management Rules 2016, and banning Single-use Plastics.

The United Nations Environment Programme or the United Nations

Development Programme could work together with NITI Aayog to lead
research to fill the evidence vacuum and comprehend the particular
difficulties, effects, and needs at the junction of women and the plastics
sector.

 Waste management regulations must be enhanced to acknowledge

and address the gendered effect of plastic pollution, from bettering
working conditions and guaranteeing fair salaries to providing
protective equipment and access to healthcare.
 Greater partnerships and synergy between government programs and
efforts, like the Swachh Bharat Mission and the Smart
Cities movement, must be added to this.

OECD Report on Plastic Pollution, Sources, Types, Causes, Impacts

Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic objects and particles in the Earth's environment that
adversely affects humans. Check here Key Highlights of OECD interim report.

Posted bymanishsiq Last updated on May 26th, 2024 02:47 pm

Table of Contents

Context: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) released an interim
report (titled “Towards Eliminating Plastic Pollution by 2040: A Policy Scenario Analysis”)

Key Findings of the OECD Report

By 2040, it’s expected that the release of microplastics into the environment will increase by 50%
compared to the climate policies of 2021.

However, early, rigorous, and coordinated global policy efforts, costing just 0.5% of global GDP,
could cut plastic waste generation by a quarter of the current forecasts for 2040.

To effectively address plastic waste issues, reducing production and demand through taxes,
regulations, and promoting sustainable alternatives is vital.

Additionally, improving the design of plastic products for better reusability and developing more
efficient recycling techniques are essential.

Enhancing waste collection and disposal methods is also key to preventing plastic waste from
polluting the environment.

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Negative Effects of Persistent Plastic Usage and Waste

Environmental Damage: Oceanic plastic accumulation damages marine life, and ecosystem
imbalances due to plastic pollution.

Climate Change: Plastic production contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, and recycling processes
are energy-heavy.

Health Risks: Microplastics in the food chain impact human health and respiratory problems from
burning plastic.

Economic Costs: Expenses in cleaning up plastic litter, and decreased tourism in polluted areas.

Impact on Wildlife: Animals consuming plastic face lethal risks, and wildlife entanglement in plastic
waste.

Resource Consumption: Fossil fuel usage in making plastics, strain on raw materials for production.

Efforts to Combat Microplastics

Global Actions

Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML): Tackles marine litter globally.

GloLitter Partnerships Project: Focuses on reducing litter from maritime activities.

London Convention (1972): Regulates dumping into the seas.

India’s Initiatives

Single-use Plastic Ban: Aims to eliminate single-use plastics.

Plastic Waste Management Rules (2016): Regulates plastic waste handling.

Un-Plastic Collective: Encourages plastic waste reduction.

Kerala’s Beat Plastic Pollution Initiative: State-level effort against plastic pollution.

International Approaches to Single-use Plastic:

UN Resolution: 124 countries, including India, agreed to formulate a legally binding agreement
covering the entire lifecycle of plastics to curb pollution.

Bag Bans: 68 countries enforce plastic bag bans.

Bangladesh: First to ban thin plastic bags in 2002.

China: Implemented a phased plastic bag ban in 2020.

European Union: Prohibits certain single-use plastics with available alternatives.

Check here all about Plastic Pollution, its sources, types of Plastic Waste, impact of Plastic Pollution
and many more.

What is Plastic Pollution?

Plastic is a synthetic organic polymer made from petroleum with properties ideally suited for a wide
variety of applications, including packaging, building and construction, household, electronics,
agriculture etc.

It is non-biodegradable in nature and persists in the environment, for hundreds or even thousands)
of years.

Plastic pollution is caused by the accumulation of this plastic waste in the environment.

It can be categorized as primary plastic wastes such as cigarette butts and bottle caps, or secondary
plastic wastes that are formed by the degradation of the primary ones.

As per the UN, over 300 million tons of plastic are produced every year and India generates 46
million tonnes of plastic waste annually, of which 40% remains uncollected and 43% is used for
packaging, most of which are of single-use plastic.

Sources of Plastic Pollution

The main sources of marine plastic are land-based, from urban and storm runoff, sewer overflows,
beach visitors, inadequate waste disposal and management, industrial activities, construction and
illegal dumping.

Ocean-based plastic originates mainly from the fishing industry, nautical activities and aquaculture.

Under the influence of solar UV radiation, wind, currents and other natural factors, plastic fragments
into small particles, termed microplastics (particles smaller than 5 mm) or nanoplastics (particles
smaller than 100 nm).

Types of Plastic Waste

Microplastics are small plastic pieces of less than five millimetres in size.

Microplastic includes microbeads (solid plastic particles of less than one millimetre in their largest
dimension) that are used in cosmetics and personal care products, industrial scrubbers which are
used for aggressive blast cleaning, microfibers used in textiles and virgin resin pellets used in plastic
manufacturing processes.

Single-use plastic is a disposable material that can be used only once before it is either thrown away
or recycled, plastic bags, water bottles, soda bottles, straws, plastic plates, cups, most food
packaging and coffee stirrers are sources of single-use plastic.

India has announced its commitment to eliminate single-use plastic by 2022 at the Confederation of
Indian Industry’s Sustainability Summit in New Delhi.

Threats/Impact of Plastic Pollution

Economic Losses: Plastic waste along the shoreline has a negative impact on tourism revenue
(creates an aesthetic issue). For example, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are facing aesthetic
issues because of the international dumping of plastic waste on the island.
Impact on Animals: Plastic wastes have profoundly affected animals in aquatic, marine, and
terrestrial ecosystems. Plastic ingestion upsets or fills up the digestive systems of the animals thus
contributing to their death due to intestinal blockage or starvation.

Impact on Human Health: The chemicals leached from the plastics contain compounds, like
polybrominated diphenyl ether (anti-androgen), bisphenol A (mimics the natural female hormone
estrogen) and phthalates (also known as anti-androgens), which impact human health leading to
various hormonal and genetic disorders.

Land Pollution: Plastics leach hazardous chemicals onto land, resulting in the destruction and decline
in quality of the earth’s land surfaces in terms of use, landscape and ability to support life forms.

Air Pollution: Plastic burning releases poisonous chemicals into the atmosphere impacting general
well-being and causing respiratory disorders in living beings.

Groundwater Pollution: Whenever plastics are dumped in landfills, the hazardous chemicals present
in them seep underground when it rains. The leaching chemicals and toxic elements infiltrate into
the aquifers and water table, indirectly affecting groundwater quality.

Water Pollution: In 2014, a United Nations report estimated the annual impact of plastic pollution on
oceans at US$ 13 billion.

Interference with the Food Chain: When the smaller animals (planktons, molluscs, worms, fishes,
insects, and amphibians) are intoxicated by ingesting plastic, they are passed on to the larger
animals disrupting the interrelated connections within the food chain.

Shortcomings in Handling Plastic Pollution in India

Weak waste management systems: Lagging to meet the growing needs.

Insufficient data and reporting: The products are scattered into diverse sectors.

Use of Single-Use Plastics which has short lifespan and widespread use.

Poor implementation of policies: Like Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021.

Consumer behaviour: This is currently aligned with the usage of plastic disposables.

Lack of a suitable alternative: which is either too costly or difficult to produce in mass.

Initiatives to Combat Plastic Pollution

Global Initiatives

The 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter
(or the London Convention).

The 1996 Protocol to the London Convention (the London Protocol).

The 1978 Protocol to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships
(MARPOL).

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) considers plastic marine debris and its ability to
transport harmful substances as one of the main emerging issues affecting the environment.
GloLitter Partnerships (GLP): It is a project launched by the International Maritime Organization
(IMO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and initial funding
from the Government of Norway.

Clean Seas Campaign:

The United Nations Environment Programme launched the Clean Seas Campaign in 2017 to reduce
the use of unnecessary, avoidable and problematic plastics including single-use plastics and phase
out intentionally added microplastics.

The Campaign contributes to the goals of the Global Partnership on Marine Litter and the New
Plastics Economy Global Commitment.

UNEA’s Resolution to “End Plastic Pollution”: 175 countries have endorsed the UN Environment
Assembly (UNEA-5) resolution in Nairobi to End Plastic Pollution and forge an international legally
binding agreement by 2024.

Indian Initiatives

The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 clearly stipulate that urban local bodies (ULBs) should
ban less than 50 micron thick plastic bags and not allow the usage of recycled plastics for packing
food, beverages or any other eatables.

The Rules also require that local bodies should provide separate collection, storage and processing
of plastic waste in their areas.

Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021:

Prohibits the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of single-use plastics.

The thickness of plastic carry bags increased from 50 to 75 microns from 30th September 2021 and
to 120 microns with effect from 31st December 2022.

Extended Producer Responsibility guidelines made applicable to plastic producers.

India is a signatory to MARPOL (International Convention on Prevention of Marine Pollution).

Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022: To strengthen the circular economy of plastic
packaging waste and development of recycling infrastructure for plastic packaging waste.

India Plastic Pact: It is the first of its kind in Asia. The Plastics Pact is an ambitious and collaborative
initiative to bring stakeholders together to reduce, reuse and recycle plastics within the material’s
value chain.

Way Forward

Incentivize Recycling: Offer incentives for plastic recycling and recovery.

Raise Awareness: Educate the public about plastic pollution’s impact.

Enforce Regulations: Strengthen enforcement of plastic pollution rules.

Empower Pollution Control: Enhance Pollution Control Board’s capabilities.

Circular Economy: Implement circular economy practices for plastics.

Identify Hotspots: Pinpoint plastic leakage areas for targeted action.

Promote Alternatives: Replace plastics with recyclable or biodegradable materials.

Oxo-Biodegradable Plastics: Encourage faster biodegradation plastics.

Plastic-Eating Bacteria: Harness plastic-digesting bacteria for waste reduction.

Recycling Innovation: Develop technologies like plastic-based tiles.

Plastic-Free Workplaces: Ban single-use plastics in workplaces.

Plastic Pollution

August 5, 2023

GS Paper IIIEnvironment and Ecology

Context:

Recently, Earth Observed its first Plastic Overshoot Day on 28 July,

2023.

More About News

 According to Swiss-based research consultancy Earth Action

(EA), on July 28, 2023, the Earth saw its first Plastic Overshoot
Day.
 Plastic Overshoot Day marks the point when the amount of
plastic waste generated exceeds the world’s capacity to
manage it, resulting in environmental pollution.
o Each country has its own
Plastic Overshoot Day, which is determined by the amount of
plastic waste generated and the country’s capacity to manage it
 Plastic Pollution Crisis: The imbalance between the volumes
of plastic that are produced and used, as well as the world’s
ability to manage those volumes when they become
waste, is the root cause of plastic pollution.
o The global average consumption of plastic per person per year is
20.9 kg.
o In the first 208 days of 2023, plastic waste is well-managed,
meaning it is collected and then either recycled, incinerated or
deposited in a sanitary landfill.
o Short-life plastics, encompassing plastic packaging and
single-use plastics, accounts for approximately 37% of the
total plastic commercialized annually.
o By 2040 plastic production is set to double, with plastic pollution
is expected to triple.
o 175 countries account for 41% of the total mismanaged
waste, or 64,63 days, while 12 countries are responsible for
52% of the world’s mismanaged plastic waste, or 145 days of
overshoot for 2023.
o 12 Countries: India, China, Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand, Russia,
Mexico, the United States, Saudia Arabia, Democratic Republic of
Congo, Iran and Kazakhstan.
  Mismanaged Waste Index (MWI): The gap in waste
management capacity and plastic consumption is called MWI.
o India ranks fourth in the MWI, with 98.55 per cent of
generated waste being mismanaged and fares poorly in the
management of plastics waste.
o Expected mismanaged waste in India in 2023 will be
7,300,752 tonnes of plastic.
o India will also be responsible for releasing an average
of 3,30,764 tonnes of microplastics into waterways.

Global Plastic Pollution Crisis

 Plastic Pollution: According to the UN Environment

Programme (UNEP), approximately 7 billion of the 9.2 billion
tonnes of plastic manufactured between 1950 and 2017 ended
up as waste, either in landfills or dumped.
o If this is to continue unchecked, there will be more plastic than
fish in the ocean by 2050.
o Marine Plastic Pollution: More than 14 million metric tonnes of
plastic enters and damages aquatic ecosystems annually.
o Climate Change: Greenhouse gas emissions associated with
plastics are expected to account for 15 per cent of the total
emissions allowable by 2050 if humanity is to limit global
warming to 1.5°C.
 Plastic Recycling: According to the Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development (OECD), only 15% of global
plastic waste is collected for the purpose of recycling.
o Out of this, close to half is disposed off as residues, which
results in only 9% of plastic waste getting recycled.
o Another 19% gets incinerated, 50% ends up in landfill and 22%
evades waste management systems.

Menace of Plastic Pollution in India

 India is the second-largest consumer of plastic globally, with

packaging materials contributing significantly to the plastic
waste generated.
  According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India
generates over 9.46 million metric tons of plastic waste annually,
out of which only 60% is recycled.
o Plastic waste often ends up in landfills, rivers, and oceans,
causing irreversible damage to the environment and marine life.
 Some of the challenges imposed by plastic pollution are:
o Threat To Ecosystem: It threatens the biodiversity and health
of marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Plastic can harm or kill
wildlife, damage habitats, and disrupt food webs.
o Threat to Humans: It poses risks to human health and well-
being. Plastic can contaminate the food chain and expose
humans to harmful chemicals, reduce the quality and enjoyment
of natural environments, and increase the spread of diseases.
o Threat to Climate: It contributes to the climate crisis and
resource depletion. Plastic emits greenhouse gases during its
production, transportation, and degradation, and consumes
large amounts of energy, water, and land.
o Creates social and economic costs and inequalities: Plastic
can affect the livelihoods and incomes of people who depend on
natural resources, such as fishers or farmers.
o Climate Injustice: Plastic can create environmental injustice and
discrimination, as some communities or countries bear a
disproportionate burden of plastic waste generation or disposal.
 Flawed Waste Management System in India: Municipal
authorities are responsible for the collection and
transportation of waste, while the waste’s final disposal is
usually left to informal waste pickers or landfill sites.
o Waste management is primarily focused on the collection and
transportation of waste, while its disposal remains largely
neglected.
o This has resulted in the pollution of water bodies and the
emission of harmful gases like methane, which is a potent
greenhouse gas.


Steps Taken to Reduce Menace of Plastic Pollution in India

 Single Use Plastic Ban: On July 1, 2022, a ban was imposed on
the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of
identified single-use plastic items, which have low utility and
high littering potential
 State Government Initiatives: In Delhi, stores of eco-
alternatives – Vikalp Stores – have been set up in markets;
o Tamil Nadu launched a massive campaign on using cloth bags
with vending machines set up under the Meendum Manjappai
campaign;
o Uttar Pradesh is implementing the refillable model to promote
reuse of packaging material.
 Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): EPR is a framework
that holds producers responsible for the entire lifecycle of their
products, including their disposal.
 EPR is implemented in India through various policies and
regulations, such as the Plastic Waste Management Rules
(2016), and through collaborations between the government,
NGOs, and other stakeholders.
 India Plastic Pact: Launched by World-Wide Fund for Nature-
India (WWF India) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII),
to develop a platform to promote a circular system for
plastics.
o Circular economy: It is a resource efficient economy where
waste and pollution are eliminated, products and materials are
kept in use at their highest value for the longest time possible,
and natural systems are regenerated.
Global Steps to Reduce Plastic Pollution
 World Environment Day (WED) 2023: It focuses on solutions to plastic pollution
the campaign #Beat Plastic Pollution.
 The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030
o It is a rallying call for the protection and revival of ecosystems all around the worl
benefit of people and nature.
o It is led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and
Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
 Global Plastic Treaty
o 175 nations agree to develop a legally binding agreement on plastic pollution by 20
a major step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production
disposal.
 Basel Convention, 1989
o It calls for minimizing the generation of waste and for its environmentally sound
o It is the only legally binding global instrument that aims to protect human health
environment by controlling the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and
 London Convention, 1972
o Also known as Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping
Other Matter.
o Objective: To promote the effective control of all sources of marine pollution and t
practicable steps to prevent pollution of the sea by dumping of wastes and other

o


Way Forward

 Global plastic production must be capped and reduced to

prevent plastic pollution from tripling by 2040.
 Adopt a circular economy approach for tackling the problem
of plastic pollution.
o Circular economy solutions can reduce pollution by 80% by
2040.
 Financial mechanisms and capacity-building are essential for
participation and national legislation implementation.
 Ensure Accountability: Governments and businesses must be
held accountable through mandatory disclosure and reporting.
o Global North countries that export their waste to Global
South countries must be held accountable for supporting
infrastructure development in importing countries by at least the
volume they export annually.
 Strengthen Waste Management Infrastructure: Financial
support is required to invest in robust waste collection and
recycling infrastructure across cities and towns.
o Implement effective segregation systems, establish recycling
centers, and promote the adoption of advanced technologies for
plastic waste processing.
o This can involve collaboration between the government,
private sector, and civil society to develop innovative
solutions.
 Investing in waste-to-energy plants using advanced
technologies can reduce fossil fuel dependence and generate
electricity while effectively managing plastic waste.
o India has the capacity to process 14.2 million tonnes of plastic
waste annually, accounting for 71% of primary plastic
production.
Earth Overshoot Day
 August 2 marks Earth Overshoot Day for 2023.
 It is the date each year at which humans have consumed more
natural resources than Earth can naturally replenish in one year’s
time.
 Currently, humans use roughly 70% more resources that Earth is
 capable of regenerating each year.
 Overshoot Day is calculated using UN data to work out
each country’s ecological footprint and the ‘biocapacity’ of the
planet.
o Biocapacity is Earth’s ability to produce renewable resources and
absorb waste, while the ecological footprint measures demand on
nature including consumption of resources and emissions.
 First Overshoot Day was observed on 25 December 1971

Highlights of the Plastic Waste

Management (Amendment) Rules
2024
 It defines biodegradable plastics as not only capable of
degradation by biological processes in specific
environments such as soil, landfill, but also as
materials that do not leave any microplastics.
o However, the caveat about microplastics in the
updated rules does not specify -
 Which chemical tests can be used to
establish the absence of microplastics, or
 To what extent microplastics must be
reduced in a sample in order to consider them
eliminated.
 The amendment provides that the manufacture of carry
bags and commodities shall be permitted to be made
from compostable plastics or biodegradable plastics.
o This is subject to mandatory marking and labelling
laid down under the rules and the regulations of
the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
(FSSAI) for food contact applications.
 The rules require the manufacturers of compostable
plastic or biodegradable plastic carry bags or
commodities to obtain a certificate from the CPCB
before marketing or selling.
 Every manufacturer of commodities made from plastic
shall -
o Ensure processing of the pre-consumer plastic
waste generated in the form of reject or discard
material at the stage of manufacturing and
o Report to the State Pollution Control Board or
Pollution Control Committee concerned.