India generates 9.46 million tonnes of plastic waste annually: UPC

NEW DELHI: A new study by Un-Plastic Collective (UPC), a voluntary multi-stakeholder initiative reveals that India generates 9.46 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, out of which 40 per cent remains uncollected and 43 per cent is used for packaging. The study also reveals that most of the plastic is single use.

The UPC was launched on August 29 by the UN-Environment Program-India, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and WWF-India at CII’s Sustainability Summit.

Speaking on the occasion, Jamshyed Godrej, former president of CII and chairman, Godrej, and President, WWF-India highlighted the externalities of plastic and the challenges it poses to the ecological balance.

Jamshyed Godrej said, “UPC will bring together businesses, government, NGOs and civil society to focus efforts on collaborative approaches and maximise synergies to un-plastic in a time-bound manner.”

According to the data presented by UPC indicated that more than 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic has been produced around the world since early 1950s and out of which 60 per cent on this plastic was dumped in landfills or in the natural environment.

According to WWF, an average person ingests same amount of plastic in a week as found in one credit card. Plastic also kills 1 million sea birds every year, and 700 species are affected by ingesting plastics.

Renata Lok-Dessallien, UN India’s resident coordinator said, “The world has become infested with plastics, most of which is non-biodegradable. This is ruining our health, our planet and the flora and fauna we share it with.”

Ravi Singh, Secretary General & CEO, WWF India said, “Our oceans are choking under plastic pollution, which is rapidly becoming one of the largest threats to marine species and mankind. UPC seeks to prioritise concerted action on solutions that are ambitious and sustainable.”