Published in Dwarka Express on 10.6.23
June 5th 2023. World Environment Day. This year marks the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day, which focuses on solutions to plastic pollution, using the hashtag and slogan #BeatPlasticPollution. The whole world is showing concerns to the plastic trash. Our oceans are filled with plastic bottles and we have been seeing a lot of video clips in social media of turtles and whales being caught into the fisherman’s plastic nets. In the last fifty years, there is incredible growth of plastic. Plastic has become an inevitable and integral part of our lives. Out of 430 million tonnes of plastic produced and used every year worldwide, less than 10 per cent is recycled. It is estimated that 19-23 million tonnes end up in lakes, rivers and seas annually.
The most dangerous Microplastics (tiny plastic particles up to 5mm in diameter) are going into our stomach along with our food, water and air. It is estimated that each person on the planet consumes more than 50,000 plastic particles per year. Next time when you are proudly holding your paper cup with coffee, please be rest assured that those paper cups have also some micro plastic elements in their making. In July 2022, when the GOI banned the use of single use plastics, we were all breathing easy and thought that the single use plastic will be completely eliminated. But still we have not come out of its grip. Discarded or burnt single-use plastic harms human health and biodiversity and pollutes every ecosystem from mountain tops to the ocean floor. With population edging 142 crores, any action program initiated by Governments seems to be challenging. Ultimately it ends in the blame game and avoidable political skirmishes.
If we seriously think of eliminating Plastics, at the first instance, we must strictly enforce ban on SUP production. If the candy sticks, ear buds, ice cream sticks, balloons, cups, forks, packing materials and carry bags below 120 microns are not available in the market, where is the question of using them? Simultaneously we need to explore alternatives. We also need to help the SUP manufacturers switch over to alternatives. Enacting law is fine, but what is more important is enforcement. Are we ready for that?
Dr V Selvarajan
Dr V Selvarajan 