69 lakh tonnes of plastic waste annually as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report of 2019-20. A major contributor to the huge amount of plastic waste is India’s ever-growing FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) & food industry. Moreover, the country’s large population and economic growth have contributed substantially as well. The harmful effects of plastic are therefore particularly pronounced in densely populated areas.

Government Initiatives

The Indian government has undertaken serious measures to tackle this critical plastic pollution problem. During the 4th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) conference, India piloted a resolution plan and emphasized on the need for global attention on SUP pollution. Furthermore, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has also notified the Plastics Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2021 which prohibits the manufacturing, importing, stocking, distributing, selling, and usage of specific SUP items. CPCB and concerned SPCBs were delegated with the responsibility to monitor strict adherence and compliance and if anyone violates any of the relevant provisions or rules then they may be subjected to severe penalties and even imprisonment. Moving forward with this ban would only be possible by providing cheap and effective alternatives. The persistent harmful effects of plastic have made these government initiatives critical.

What are the Economic and Social Impacts?

Question

69 lakh tonnes of plastic waste annually as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report of 2019-20. A major contributor to the huge amount of plastic waste is India’s ever-growing FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) & food industry. Moreover, the country’s large population and economic growth have contributed substantially as well. The harmful effects of plastic are therefore particularly pronounced in densely populated areas.

Government Initiatives

The Indian government has undertaken serious measures to tackle this critical plastic pollution problem. During the 4th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) conference, India piloted a resolution plan and emphasized on the need for global attention on SUP pollution. Furthermore, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has also notified the Plastics Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2021 which prohibits the manufacturing, importing, stocking, distributing, selling, and usage of specific SUP items. CPCB and concerned SPCBs were delegated with the responsibility to monitor strict adherence and compliance and if anyone violates any of the relevant provisions or rules then they may be subjected to severe penalties and even imprisonment. Moving forward with this ban would only be possible by providing cheap and effective alternatives. The persistent harmful effects of plastic have made these government initiatives critical.

Accepted Answer

The economic and social impact of the SUP ban was addressed by the All India Plastic Manufacturers Association (AIPMA) which had warned that approx 90000 plastic manufacturing units would be required to close down and about 1 million jobs would be lost. Furthermore, it stated that exports worth ₹25,000 crore would be lost if the government moves forward with the ban decision. Moreover, the replacement cost of SUPs would be costly which means there might be some resistance to accepting the change. Which will make the implementation more difficult. Hence, the ban’s impact will need careful management to balance the harmful effects of plastic with economic needs. Discussing Global Efforts Similar responses can be seen globally as well. Almost all countries have implemented some or the other measures to curb plastic pollution. Some examples of other countries are as follows:  Bangladesh & New Zealand banned plastic bags in 2002 and 2019 respectively In 2020, China had also announced a phased ban on plastic bags The EU has also issued a directive on SUPs which came into effect in

The Harmful Effects of Plastic Pollution: A Closer Look

Nikita P

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