Plastic Ban and issues in India

Sustainability is a big issue globally and so is in India.

The issue in India is compounded by use of single use laminates, lack of proper waste management and lack of economic case for recycling any of the packaging material.

As it always happens in mass hysteria, plastic is being painted as a scourge and something to be eliminated. Once the public opinion is shaped this way, it becomes impossible to share the public discourse and actions the proper and right way.

Anything is this world happens if there is some good and use in it. Plastic is one of the most wonder discoveries that made economies progress in many aspects of modern lives and it doesn't appear that there is any alternative to it that make sense in all respect. We will need to use Plastics and nothing wrong in using it sensibly. However, the real crux of the problem is not managing the waste that get generated and not recycling a large part of it. If the government, consumer and companies that use plastics focus on these, then this problem is addressed. It is though much easier said than done as there is reason for these not be done, the main one is economic one.

There is lot of activism by the governments in India and many of the states in India. This is creating lot of panic and confusion in the industry and consumers and will not be very helpful. In the kneejerkk reaction for example, one may more to glass. Will it solve the problem and achieve the key objective of being good to the planet. Im yet to see any comprehensive studies on the right approach and direction that we should taken and that is something that is required.

What should be the way forward?

First we must accept that we will have to support use of right plastic in the right way. We should focus on collection which can be facilitated by attaching an economic value to it. Some early stage collection of rigids are being done already in some pockets in India as ease of collection of bottles is there and there is a some money to be made for the rag pickers. However, converting the collected bottle into resins which can be mixed with virgin resins require technological solutions. It involves through cleaning and deodorizing. Hence, here investment is required. Government can play a crucial role here by facilitating the investment behind these initiatives in partnership with corporate world. How do we encourage consumer to segregate and facilitate the collection of the spent packging material. Believe this can be done through education linked to higher order purpose, a economic benefit and fear of law.

Here are the few things that are required to be done urgently:

1. The EPR framework - A high powers committee having top experts from academics, Industry, NGO and judges should be given time and resources to comeup with a comprehensive EPR framework considering consumers, environment and technology to define the EPR framework and make it a law.

2. In the short term, the energy recovery for laminates is the only practical and pragmatic solution and must be facilitated. The entire economics should be worked out and a reasonable price should be attached so collection can be driven.

3. For the HDPE and PET, PCR must be made mandatory and recycling should be facilitated with tax break and cheap funds for investment

4. In all housing societies, segregation should be made mandatory. All factories and commercial enterprice likewise should be made to ensure segregation.

5. There is noting sensible rules and their implementation can achieve. Rules for plastic waste much be made stringent and implemented with outmost rigidity.

How will we know that our measures are working?

It will take at least 10 years for the required infrastructure to be developed and implementation of sustainability measures to bear fruit. There are 8 rivers that take maximum debris and plastic waste to the sea and 2 of these are in India. We will know that we have successfully tackled the packaging waste menace the day these two rivers are no longer named as the rivers bringing packaging waste to the sea. It seems daunting and impossible to happen currently but if the government has the will, then it can happen. Mr. Narendra Modi is making all the right noises and must back these up with concrete policy framework and implement it. Time will tell.