ARTICLE | Plastic Waste & Recycling
Plastic recycling promising, but alternatives are the solution
Since the 1950s, plastic has become an indispensable part of our lives. But the artificially created material has started to take over the world, threatening the very existence of life. Researchers, governments, businesses, and individuals are turning to recycling to tackle the plastic demon. Is recycling plastic enough to deal with the problem? Pooja Upadhyay | Trainee Reporter
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t the United Nations Environment Assembly held in 2019, India, along with other nations, had resolved to entirely phase out single-use plastics by 2025. Over the years, although many Indian cities have introduced a ban on singleuse plastics (SUPs), in the absence of regulatory seriousness, they continue to exist and thrive. Commercial production
34 July 2021 | www.urbanupdate.in
of plastics had started in the 1950s and has since enjoyed exceptional growth, especially in urban areas. Plastic is a widely used, inexpensive, durable, light and versatile commodity with wide application from our kitchens, offices and factories, to our cars, aircrafts and even spacecrafts. In fact, we cannot think of many instances when we do not come in contact with plastic. But the problem lies not in how plastic is used, but in the end-of-life management
of products made from it. Estimates show that 60 per cent of marine debris comes from urban centres as polluted waterways and unsound waste disposal systems carry plastic pollution to the ocean. Hence, plastic pollution becomes a collective responsibility of brand owners, recyclers, regulatory authorities, and individuals. As the deadline of the Sustainable Development Goals approaches rapidly, organisations across the world are recognising the significance and urgency of a circular economy, phasing out SUPs, and recycling, and scientifically incinerating the already present plastic waste. Countries are trying to implement innovations to remedy the plastic collection, recycling, and disposal systems. In Europe, countries including Denmark, Croatia, and Netherlands, have already introduced deposit return schemes, where consumers pay a small amount upfront, which is reimbursed to them when they bring the plastic container to a collection point after usage. Similar schemes and systems have enabled Norway to achieve a recycling rate of 97 per cent for plastic bottles. The Government of India introduced Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2021, proposing a complete ban on manufacturing, import, stocking, sale, and use of SUP and SUP-based products. However, many cities and organisations are now coming at the
