PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT AND LAWS ON WASTE DISPOSAL

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Published on 6th February 2025

Authored By: Akanksha
Chanakya National Law University, Patna

Abstract

Plastic waste management involves strategies and processes design to handle plastic waste efficiently to minimize its environmental impact. It includes reducing plastic uses, recycling, reusing and ensuring proper disposal. For saving our environment from hazardous situation we need to take action. Our Environment is alerting us to save it for future generations.

 Plastic plays an important role in our environment which is polluting it. It is the most contributed thing which remains in the environment for centuries. Effective management is critical since most plastics are non – biodegradable and remain in the environment for many years. We need to take action and reduce the source of it.

Minimising the production and use of plastics while promoting alternatives like biodegradable or reusable materials. It involve activities such as reducing plastic use, recycling, reusing, and proper disposal. To outsmart this we need environmental laws which are essential to ensure the protection and preservation of the environment while balancing the needs of human development. They provide a legal framework to regulate activities that could harm ecosystem biodiversity and public health.

Plastic waste management: A growing global challenge

Plastics are synthetic or semi-synthetic materials made up of polymers, which are large molecules consisting of repeating units called monomers. It is known for being lightweight, durable, and versatile. Plastics are widely used in industries like packing, construction , healthcare, and automotive.

Most plastics are derived from petrochemicals, call to bio-based and biodegradable plastic made from renewable resources like corn or sugarcane are becoming more common. “The word plastic derived from the Greek word plastikos, meaning “capable of being shaped or molded.” as a noun, the word most commonly refers to the solid products of petrochemical – derived manufacturing.”[1]

The noun plasticity means specifically here to the deformability of the materials used in the manufacture of plastics plastic allow moulding or compression into a many of shapes like fibers, plates, boxes, bottles etc. plastic waste has emerged as one of the most processing environmental issue of our time.

While plastic are valued for their durability , light weight nature,  and affordability , their improper disposal and over use have caused significant harm to ecosystem and human health. addressing this crisis requires efficient waste management practices and strong legal frameworks.

Managing plastic waste involve systematically handling it to reduce it is environmental impact. That includes reducing a Reliance on plastics , promoting recycling,  encouraging reuse and ensuring proper disposal. As plastic are largely non-biodegradable they can remain in the environment for hundreds of years, contributing to pollution on land, in water, and even in the air.

According to a data which was released by ministry of environment forest and climate change. It states that “plastic production increase from 15 million tonnes in the 1960s to 311 million tonnes in 2014 and it is expected to triple by 2050,When it account for 20 percent of global annual oil consumption. Plastic use has increase twenty-fold in the past half century and is expected to double again in the just next 20 years. A primary  reason the figures seem  alarming its plastics packaging. The vanguard of single use plastic packaging is and will remain the largest application currently packaging represent 26% of the total volume of plastic used section that people the market abilities played and socio culture acceptance of single use plastic is also the Mantra of plastic packaging it not only deliver economic benefit but can also contribute to increase level of resource productivity for instance, plastics packaging can reduce food based by extending self life and can reduce fuel consumption for transportation by bringing packaging weight down many plastic are design for single use without planning for the potential after- use pathways.”[2]

Harmful effects of plastics

Plastic is a material that is popular because it is versatile, lightweight, flexible, strong, resistant to moisture and inexpensive. These features make it high useful, leading to its widespread use around the world. However plastic is also very durable and take the long time to break down this means that once it is used, it often becomes waste.

 Our happy Reliance on plastic, combined with the habit of using too much showing it away carelessly, and polluting the environment has created a serious problem. This overuse and improper disposal of plastic harm nature and pose a significant threat to the planet. The disposal of plastics is one  of the largest recognise and most highly problematic areas of plastics ecological impact.

  • Plastic is design to last a long time and because of its chemical structure it does not biodegrade in street it breaks into tiny pieces overtime when plastic is dumbed in land- fills, it stays there for years without breaking down. During this time harmful chemicals from the plastic can leak into the ground contaminating groundwater lake and rivers. This pollution also effect the soil and tiny plastic particles called microplastics are now being found in the soil.
  • The rising amount of plastic in the ocean creates serious problems. Plastic floats for years without decomposing reducing oxygen levels in the water and harming marine life. When Marine animals and birds accidentally eat plastic, they choke, leading to a decline in their population.
  • It is dangerous for human life also. Burning plastic releases harmful chemicals called halogens, which are flame retardants. These chemicals are linked to serious health issues including cancer, hormonal imbalances, neurological damage, birth defects, reproductive problems, immune system damage, asthma, and organ failure.

Plastic waste management

Plastics are generally categorised into two types.[3]

  • Thermoplastics: Thermoplastics or Thermo -softening plastics are the plastics which soften on heating and can be molded into desired shape Such as PET,HDPE,LDPE,PP,PVC,PS etc.
  • Thermosets: Thermosets or thermosetting plastic strengthen or heating, but cannot be remolded or recycled such as sheet molding compounds(SMC), Fiber rainforced plastic(FRP),Bakelite.

Laws on waste disposal

Plastic waste management rules 2016.The Government of India introduced the plastic waste management(PWM) rules on March 18, 2016. replacing the earlier plastic waste (management and handling )rules of 2011. These rules were later revised and updated in 2018, becoming the plastic waste management amendment rules 2018.[4]

Salient features of this rule:

The plastic waste management rules, 2016, apply to all waste generators, local bodies, gram Panchayats, manufacturers, importers, producers, and brand owners.This includes:

  1. Carry bags: plastic carry bags must be at least 50 microns thick, except for compose table plastic bags that meet specific standards.
  2. Waste Generators: individuals and institutions must not litter plastic waste, must segregate waste, hand it over to authorized agencies, and pay user fees or fines or violations.
  3. Local bodies: responsible for promoting plastic waste use in road construction, energy recovery, or other recycling methods. they must develop systems for waste segregation, collection, storage, transportation and disposal.
  4. Gram Panchayats: must manage plastic waste in rural areas by ensuring segregation collection and recycling without harming the environment. They should raise awareness and prevent open burning of plastic waste.
  5. Producers, importers, and brand owners: mast create a system to collect back their plastic waste within 6 months and implemented within two years in coordination with local authorities.
  6. State pollution control boards(SPCBs): oversee enforcement related to plastic product manufacturing, registration, and west processing.
  7. State/Union Territory Authorities: urban development departments and Gram panchayats are responsible for enforcing rules on plastic waste management in their areas.
  8. District Authorities: district magistrates or deputy commissioner’s must assist in enforcing the rules as needed.

These rules aim to ensure responsible plastic waste management, reduce environmental harm, and promote recycling

“Hazardous and other wastes(Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016: These rules regulate the generation, storage and disposal of hazardous wastes, Ensuring safe handling to minimize environmental impact. Importing hazardous waste for disposal is prohibited, import for recycling recovery or reuse is permitted under strict conditions.”[5]

“E-Waste Management Rules,2016:These rules assign responsibility to producers for the collection and proper disposal of electronic waste, implementing the extended producer responsibility(EPR) principle to manage waste effectively.”[6]

Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016: These rules aim to reduce plastic waste by promoting the use of biodegradable alternative and enforcing proper collection and recycling mechanism.

Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016:These rules provide guidelines for the safe disposal and recycling of construction and demolition waste to reduce environmental degradation.

Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016: These rules ensure safe handling, segregation, and disposal of biomedical ways to prevent contamination and health hazards.

Management of Plastic Waste

There are five favoured option for the management of plastic waste. These includes Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recovery, and  landfill.

  • Reduce: Plastic is problem attic because it doesn’t biodegrade and stays in the environment much longer than other types of waste.However a small changes in daily life can help reduce plastic waste. some of these steps are :

– using reusable bags instead of plastic once.

– avoiding single- use plastic items like straws and bottles.

– Opting for product with less plastic packaging.

– Recycling plastic properly to keep it out of landfills.

– Choosing alternatives to plastic, like glass or metal.

These  small actions can help reduce the amount of plastic waste we produce.

  • Reuse: Reusing plastic is better than recycling because it reduce waste and makes recycling easiest. It is a step between reducing and recycling.
  • Recycle: Recycling and reusing plastic Waste have many benefits. It helps save natural resources, reduces energy use, and lower carbon dioxide emissions.
  • Recovery: Another option is to convert waste into energy by using it as fuel for manufacturing or energy production. Different methods like mechanical, biological, and heat based technologies can transform based into new materials or energy sources.
  • Landfill: It is the least favourable option for managing plastic wastes. It includes filling of land from plastic which takes many years to degrade.

Some important case studies:

Operation Blue mountain, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu

In 2001, Supriya Sahu, the district collector, lead operation Blue mountain to band plastic in nigiri’s district the goal was the two clear clock rivers and springs in the popular hill station this campen was recognized by the planning commission and UNDP as a waste governance practice today’s awareness the campaign should pictures of animals found by plastic and explain how plastic clock dreams and pollute lakes and water bodies.[7]

Sikkim: first state to ban plastic bottles and disposable Foam products

Sikkim was the first states in India to ban plastic bottles and disposable foam products in 1988 and latter targeted single-use plastic bottles. In 2016, it took two major steps: drinking water in government offices and events, and banning Styrofoam and thermocol plates and cutlery state wide. These actions aimed to reduce plastic pollution and manage growing waste.[8]

The plastic waste management (Amendment) Rules,2022[9]

The plastic waste management amendment rules, 2022, introduce by the government of India, aim to enhance regulations for managing plastic based and reducing environmental pollution. These rules update the plastic waste management rules, 2016, and include key changes:

  • Ban on single- use plastics (SUPS). From July 1st 2022 term manufacture impose storage distribution, sale, and use of specific single- use plastic items have been prohibited.
  • Extended producer responsibility (EPR) guidelines established systems for collecting, recycling, and Reusing plastic packaging waste.
  • Categories of plastic packaging. It is divided under four categories.
  • Recycling and reuse targets. PIBOs must meet  recycling and reuse goals for plastic waste. Non-compliance may result in penalties and entities can purchase compliance certificate is needed.
  • Thickness restrictions for carry bags. From September 30, 2021 use of plastic carry bags thinner than 75 microns was banned. The minimum thickness was further raised to 120 micron starting December 31st 2022 to promote reuse.
  • Reduction of multi-layered plastics that are difficult to recycle.

Objectives

Minimise plastic pollution and its harmful effects on the environment and ecosystems. Encourage recycling and reuse to support a circular economy. Contribute to India’s commitments under sustainable development goals (SDGs) and global environment agreements.

 

References:

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