The demand for plastic disposables around the world has been increasing significantly ever since large-scale production of it began in the ‘50s due to its necessity be it for packaging or to store things. Its uses are immense. However, human negligence and excessive dependence on single-use or disposable plastic is causing a severe environmental hazard. An estimated 80 percent of marine litter comes from the land: plastic thrown on open roads, railway stations, market areas, landfill etc., which are carried into oceans by rivers. According to the UN Environment, the world uses up to 5 trillion single-use plastic bags today and produces around 300 million tonnes of plastic waste every year. India’s Central Pollution Control Board states in a report that there is rampant littering of plastic waste in the country, generating an estimate 25,940 tonnes per day. It also revealed that Nagaland’s capital city Kohima generated an average 2.26 tonnes of plastic waste daily during 2010-2012.
Considering a gross increase of plastic waste around the world and the severe environmental consequences it has, the United Nations chose the slogan “Beat Plastic Pollution” for this year’s World Environment Day, observed in June. Many Indian states responded positively by banning single-use plastics. The Nagaland government too declared that the state would be made plastic waste-free. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said recently that single-use plastic items like bags, bottles, paper cups and plates would be completely banned in the state by December. He said that INR 10 lakh each had already been allotted to all the districts from the CM’s corpus fund; it is to promote bamboo products like bags, baskets and containers as an alternative to plastic products.
Some may still question the urgent need to stop the use of single-use plastic items owing to its myriad use in everyday life. But the harm it causes outweighs its use by multiple times. Plastic waste is not only polluting the environment and contaminating our precious water bodies. It is also affecting the lives of living beings including animals and humans. Burning plastic items leads to air pollution, causing respiratory issues among humans; and animals die after consuming plastic. Plastic litter also clog drains and causes floods.
Owing to the tremendous negative impact plastic waste has on the environment and living beings, we cannot be oblivious to the need to ban single-use plastic items. We should support the state government in its fight for the good cause by switching to reusable bags, cups, and bottles; and coming up with local products to replace plastic items. This small move will not only ensure quality life for our future generations but also generate revenue through the sale of locally made items.
