Plastic overshoot day

Plastic overshoot day

News: On July 28, 2023, the Earth saw its first Plastic Overshoot Day.

What is Plastic Overshoot Day?
• Plastic Overshoot Day is the date when the amount of plastic waste generated by humans in a year exceeds the capacity of the world to manage it properly.
• It indicates that we are producing and consuming more plastic than we can recycle, reuse, or dispose of safely, resulting in plastic pollution and environmental damage.
• Plastic Overshoot Day is determined based on a country’s Mismanaged Waste Index (MWI).

Plastic Waste in India (Earth Action EA report)
• India ranks fourth in the MWI, with 98.55 per cent of generated waste being mismanaged and fares poorly in the management of plastics waste.
• India categorized as ‘The Waste Sponges’: It contributed a staggering over 73 lakh ton of mismanaged plastic waste in 2023
• India has a relatively low annual per capita plastic consumption of 5.3 kg (USA has 221 kg)

What are the measures needed to curb plastic pollution?
• Promote recycling and Circular economy
• Improve waste collection and management
• We must Invest in waste management policies like Extended producer responsibility (EPR)
• Reduce use of Single use plastics
• Create biodegradable packaging materials
• Investing in environment friendly plastics – Bioplastics, compostable plastics

What are initiatives taken by India to curb plastic pollution?
• India was among the few countries in 2019 to propose a global ban on single-use plastics.
• Gradually increased thickness of plastic carry bags -From 50 to 75 microns to 120 microns
• Extended Producer Responsibility - The plastic packaging waste, which is not covered under the phaseout of identified single-use plastic items, shall be collected and managed in an environmentally sustainable way through the Extended Producer Responsibility of the Producer, importer and Brand owner (PIBO), as per Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.
• Plastic and litter-free zones - These initiatives also include making 100 monuments across the country into plastic and litter-free zones.
• Mission LiFe
• 1000 Cities to become 3-Star Garbage Free by October 2024