Earth Day: Plastic pollution is slowly killing our planet

BusinessToday.In

Apr 20, 2018,
Updated Apr 25, 2018 12:11 PM IST

April 22 is celebrated as Earth Day to pay tribute to the ecosystem and various forms of life. This year, the theme revolves around Ending Plastic Pollution, aimed at measuring the human impact on water bodies and the devastating impact of plastic waste on marine environment.

6.3 bn of plastic wasteA Science Magazine report says that 8.3 billion tonnes of virgin plastic has been manufactured so far. Of which, 6.3 billion tonnes of plastic has been discarded as waste, somewhere in the landfills or in the open. The report says, at the current rate of usage and production, 12 billion of plastic waste will be in landfills by 2050.

Bottles, bottles everywhereGlobally, approximately 20,000 plastic bottles are produced every second, or one million every minute. According to estimates, 1.6 million barrels of oil is used to produce plastic water bottles every year.Around 480 billion plastic bottles were sold globally in 2016 and the number is set to go up 20% by 2021. With less than 50% going back for recycling, bottles, the most commonly used plastic waste, end up in the oceans.

Decomposition not an easy taskThe major problem involving plastic waste is that it takes too long to decompose. Some plastic items can take up to 1,000 years to break up in landfills. The plastic bags we use regularly can take 10 years to 1,000 years to decompose, while bottles take 450 years or more. Similarly, diapers, sanitary napkins and other similar products take up to 450 to 500 years to decompose completely.

Biggest contributorsAn estimated 13 million tonnes of plastic ends up in the ocean every year. A 2017 study in Nature said 86 per cent of plastic comes from Asian rivers, mostly from China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. In March 2018, scientists said the Great Pacific Garbage Patch contains about 80,000 tonnes of plastic.

Harm to Marine LifeThe plastic waste, released in the oceans every year, is ingested by sea birds, fish and other organisms. A World Economic Forum study on plastic pollution says plastic debris causes deaths of more than a million seabirds every year, as well as 100,000-plus marine mammals. We are expected to witness more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050.

India at riskAnnually, India throws away 56 lakh tonnes of plastic waste, which is approximately 15,342 tonnes of plastic waste every day. Around 60 per cent of waste is dumped into the seas and oceans. The national capital generates 9,600 metric tonnes per day. Large scale of plastic is recycled in India, which is higher than the global average of 14%. But over 6,100 tonnes of plastic are lying untreated in landfills, ending up polluting streams, groundwater resources and oceans.Source: UNEP, Nature