Jaipriya K S, Content Writer, siliconindia

India, a country of over 1.4 billion people celebrated for its extraordinary ecological heritage, has now earned the ugly title ‘World’s Largest Plastic Polluter’. The escalating plastic crisis of the country casts a shadow over its environmental future as it accounts for 20% of the total global plastic waste. Of this shocking scenario, India generates 10.2 million tonnes of plastic waste per annum, which is larger than the contribution of entire regions. Out of this, regrettably 3.5 million tonnes of plastic waste are mishandled and outflow into the environment every year, choking waterways, and air, and threatening our ecosystem.

Alarming Impacts of Plastics:

Once celebrated for its durability and versatility, today plastics have become one of the most demanding environmental issues. Especially in India, the pressing urgency to avoid plastics is more critical than ever. India’s rapid urbanization, growing population, and changing food patterns have caused an alarming rise in plastic waste.

Amid many categories of pollution, plastic pollution poses a serious threat to ecosystems and human health. As there are tonnes of plastic waste generated annually where nearly 40% remains uncollected, leading to choking and spoiling of drainage systems. Plastics’ non-biodegradable nature makes them persist in the environment for centuries, crumbling into microplastics that contaminate air, soil, and water. Particularly, marine life is vulnerable to plastic pollution. A frightening number of marine species consume plastic particles, leading to severe suffocation, injury, and death which results in the decline of various habitats.

Securing our planet begins with taking a simple pledge: Eliminating plastic waste and embracing a sustainable tomorrow

More than environmental damage, plastics pose vital health risks. The chemicals present in plastics such as bisphenol A and phthalates can leak into food and beverages, causing potential health problems including cancer, developmental disorders, and hormonal imbalances. Furthermore, the activity of burning plastic wastes exhibits toxic pollutants worsens air pollution, and causes respiratory diseases.