A new study by the University of Leeds, published in Nature Journal, shows that India is the biggest contributor to plastic pollution. Every year, 57 million tonnes of plastic waste are produced. This waste spreads everywhere, from the deepest ocean trenches to the highest mountains, and even into the human brain.
Researchers compare the amount of plastic waste produced each year to filling New York’s Central Park and stacking it up to the height of the Empire State Building, which is 157 meters tall.
Almost two-thirds of this pollution comes from waste that is not collected or properly disposed of. About 15% of the world’s population lacks access to proper waste collection services, leading to random disposal and accumulation of waste.
A new study says products made from recycled plastic in India are not safe.
India is the biggest plastic polluter
It produces 9.3 million tonnes of plastic waste, which is double that of countries like China, Nigeria, and Indonesia. China used to produce more plastic waste but has improved, now producing 2.8 million tonnes. China’s efforts in waste collection and processing have moved it to 4th place in plastic waste production.
India’s large population and poor waste management contribute to its high plastic waste. Much of the waste remains uncollected, showing that India lacks an effective waste management system.
Health Related Issue
About 57% of plastic pollution is burned. This makes incineration a common way to deal with plastic waste. Plastics are burned in streets, landfills, and homes, often without considering the environmental and health impacts. Uncontrolled burning of plastic can cause serious health issues, including problems with brain development, reproduction, and birth outcomes.
Poor communities are most at risk. Without proper waste management, people have to burn or dump plastic waste in water bodies. Waste collection is crucial for sanitation and basic living conditions. Improving waste collection policies can greatly improve billions of lives.