The Public Accounts Committee has recently flagged concerns about the rising menace of plastic pollution. In this context, highlight the recent initiatives taken by the Government to curb plastic pollution.

Challenges highlighted

1. Poor set of guidelines by CPCB wrt EPR norms
2. Poor state of segregation, collection, processing, etc.
3. High % of open incineration due to lack of awareness.
4. Non enforcement of bans and regulations.
5. Dysfunctional waste to energy plants → Poor capacity of ULBs
6. Lack of proper penalties over public littering.

Impacts

(i) Health Hazard

(ii) cows, stray animals choke & die.

(iii) Ecosystem productivity ↓

(iv) Aesthetics ↓; tourism ↓, etc.

Govt. measures

(1) Ban on SUPs (Single use Plastics) (2) EPR (Extended Producer Resp.) by PIBO (Producer, Importer, Brand Owner) (3) W2E: Waste to Energy

Way Ahead

(1) Effective monitoring by CPCB (2) Stricter penalty on improper disposal (3) LIFE: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (Behavioral change)