World Environment Day 2025 is just two days away, to remind
us that plastic pollution is a global issue which needs collective effort to
reduce the menace that is negatively impacting the environment and humans.
Since 1973, World Environment Day (WED) has been celebrated
annually on 5th June, encouraging awareness and action for protection of
environment. Every year, the occasion is provided with a theme and forum for
businesses, governments, NGOs, communities, politicians, youths etc. to
advocate environmental causes. Themes have ranged from “Global warming-global
warning”, “Children and environment”, “Only one Earth: Care and Share”, “Give
Earth a Chance”, and many more, all focused on the Environment and our need to
protect and preserve the Earth for our very own survival.
Plastic Pollution has been highlighted thrice as the theme
of World Environment Day since 2018 (“Beat Plastic Pollution”). The theme in
2023 was “Solutions to Plastic Pollution”, and “Ending Plastic Pollution
globally” for this year. It’s an emphasis that plastic pollution is a growing
threat and we are not doing enough to reduce its usage and are not responsible
enough to ensure its effective disposal. There is apathy when the issue of
plastics pollution is raised. It’s an issue where the general public and the
policy makers are either completely ignorant about the damaging effects of
plastic pollution, lack civic sense and etiquette, or are not concerned about
the environment. Waste is generated by each and every individual- from the
cradle to the grave, but no one is willing to take the responsibility for its
management and proper disposal. Dumpsites have become the bane of the locality
concerned and the surrounding areas, resulting in water and soil contamination
as well as air pollution, causing irrevocable damage to the environment and the
eco-system. There is generally a lack of responsibility towards waste in the
community and it is high time proper methods of waste disposal are employed.
The problem of waste management is a serious issue but it can be reduced to a
large extent with proper management and segregation. The occasional cleanup
drives are good for creating awareness but they do little to address the crux
of the problem.
There are mainly three inter-connected crises the world
faces today, namely (1) climate change, (2) nature and bio-diversity loss, (3)
and pollution and waste level increase. These crises are manifested in air,
land and water pollution, pestilent and erosive land use practices, and
desertification and extreme weather events. A study from the Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratory, USA, found greenhouse gas emissions from plastics could
triple by the mid century, accounting for 20% of the remaining carbon budget
before planetary disruptions become unbearable. Other researchers have found
that pollution from plastics and chemicals has already exceeded the “planetary
boundaries” for sustaining life on Earth.
Plastics have grown immensely in chemical complexity since
their invention, evolving from simple fossil fuel derivatives into materials
containing thousands of synthetic compounds. They now surround us – in our
food, air, water and rain. Yet we remain largely unaware of the potentially
toxic effects of thousands of these chemicals now ubiquitous in modern everyday
life.
Researchers have identified over 16,000 chemicals used in
plastic production, with at least 4,200 are considered “highly hazardous” to
human health and the environment, according to a report published last year by
scientists at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NUST). Around
5,000 of the compounds in plastic are totally unknowns as scientists have not sufficiently
studied them to understand their toxicity, leaving potential health effects up
in the air. The 16,000 are also just those scientists have been able to
identify—the authors of the report admitted that there could be many more
compounds they haven’t caught yet. Only 980 hazardous chemicals— 6% —are
currently regulated by international treaties.
Chemicals present in plastic products cause hazards such as
cancer, genetic mutation, heart attacks and harm to the reproductive system,
etc., not to mention the vast environmental damage to our soil, air and water,
the very essence of our existence
These findings are indeed frightening realities. Some say
more recycling will fix the plastics problem, but it has remained at less than
10% globally for decades, and because plastics are made with toxic chemicals,
recycling simply spreads these chemicals to new products. Whatever the
solutions maybe touted by various industries/ organisations, the fact remains
that plastic pollution is a challenge that requires collective effort- to
reduce its usage and proper disposal.
Responsible disposal is the key to reducing plastic
pollution. The Government has announced its intention to set up a recycling
plant in the state, but its effectiveness is doubtful considering that the
global recycling rate is below 10% only, or it may see the same fate as the
Kohima Solid Waste Management Unit at Lerie, which was installed at a cost of
INR 45 crore but not functional till date. Whatever maybe the case, we hope
that the government’s programme and good intention will eventually benefit the
people and the environment.
The Nagaland Integrated Waste Management Policy 2019,
enacted by the state Government in February 2019, clearly highlights efficient
waste management and proper disposal across both urban and rural areas. It
focuses on educating the public to segregate waste at source (biodegradable,
recyclable, inert) and encourages waste reduction, reuse, and recycling. The
policy also details the arrangements for waste classification, segregation,
collection, storage, handling, transportation, and disposal, with waste
generators responsible for ensuring proper management. The policy needs to be
effectively implemented through people’s participation as everyone one of us is
a waste generator. Coming specifically to plastics, the responsible disposal of
plastics as per Plastic Management Rules of 2016, suggest two methods of
disposal:-
1) Use it for making asphalt roads, 2) and use as a fuel in
cement factories via a technique called co-processing.
In commemoration of World Environment Day in 2024, the
Government vide notification dated 17th May 2024 had taken the drive for
collection of dry unsoiled plastic waste of the MLPs and SUPs by the ULBs and
the municipalities, which was to be sent for co-processing. However, there
seems to be no positive follow up to this drive, ultimately and sadly, which
would have prevented tons of plastic waste being dumped in the landfills and
littering the environment.
Much has been shared, written and spoken on the issue of
plastic pollution in various forums and programmes; it’s now time for all to
seriously play their role in tackling the crisis of pollution that we are being
challenged with today, be it the government, business groups, or individuals.
As a run-up to the World Environment Day 2025, Mokokchung
town, in collaboration with the MMC, Forest Department, YWCA (Mokokchung) and
EarthAlliance@N has initiated the “Trade Waste for Green” campaign, where tree
saplings were distributed to all participants who deposited their segregated
waste at MMC’s MRF. The respond was very encouraging and is an indication of
people’s willingness to participate if awareness is effectively and timely
decimated.
Here’s wishing all a meaningful World Environment Day.
