Shankar IAS Summary: Environmental Pollution- 2 - UPSC PDF Download

• The marine environment covers 70% of Earth's surface, a vital asset in the biosphere.
• Nearly 1.5 million known species, with a quarter of a million residing in oceans.
• Almost 50% of global primary production occurs in the upper layers of seawater.
• Seafood constitutes 20% of the world's protein in global diets.
• The health of the marine food web and fisheries relies on the long-term viability of autotrophic algae (phytoplankton) and zooplankton.
• Plastic pollution is a significant contemporary threat to the marine environment.
• Increased plastic use leads to negative environmental impacts.
• Plastic pollution can interfere with plankton species, affecting the foundation of the food web.
• Adverse effects on other organisms disrupt the delicate balance in the marine ecosystem.

Marine Ecosystem

Plastics as a Waste Material in the Marine Environment

• Annual estimation of plastic waste introduced into the marine environment is unavailable.
• Plastic waste primarily results from fishing-related activities and non-point source influx from beaches.
• Differences in the fate of plastics in the ocean environment compared to on land: a) UV-induced photo-oxidative degradation is slower at sea. b) Lack of easy retrieval, sorting, and recycling mechanisms for plastic waste in the ocean.
• Extended lifetimes for plastics at sea due to these factors.
• Accumulation of plastic waste in the world's oceans, with potential disintegration into microparticulate debris.
• Impact of microparticles on Antarctic krill and zooplankton, with ingestion rates dependent on particle concentration.

Impact of Plastics in the Marine Environment

• Plastics are bio-inert, not conventionally toxic, but can concentrate toxic and non-toxic organic compounds from seawater.
• Plastic-related distress is documented in over 250 species worldwide, particularly focused on larger surface water and beach species.
• Negligible research by government agencies or the plastics industry on plastic issues in the marine environment.

Beach Species 

Plastics as a Waste Material in Land Environment

• Problems with uncollected plastic waste, include choking of drains, illness in animals, and non-biodegradable nature.
• The presence of additives and chemicals in plastics poses health and groundwater pollution risks.
• Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016: 15,000 tonnes of plastic waste generated daily, with 6,000 tonnes uncollected.
• Lack of an eco-friendly alternative to plastic; the challenge is to improve plastic waste management systems.

Salient Features of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016

1. Increase the minimum thickness of plastic carry bags for easier collection and recycling.
2. Promote the use of plastic waste for road construction or energy recovery.
3. Extension of rules to rural areas with responsibility given to Gram Panchayat.
4. Waste generators, including individuals and industries, must segregate and manage plastic waste.
5. Organizers of public events are responsible for waste management from their events.
6. Regulation of plastic sheets for packaging, ensuring proper collection and channelization.
7. Introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for producers and brand owners.
8. State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) to regulate plastic bags and packaging.
9. Retailers and street vendors are assigned the responsibility not to provide non-compliant plastic bags.
10. Restriction on the availability of plastic carry bags to registered vendors.

Amendment Rules, 2018

• Phasing out of Multilayered Plastic (MLP) for non-recyclable, non-energy recoverable, or with no alternative use.
• The central registration system for producer/importer/brand owner.
• National registry for producers with a presence in more than two states, state-level registration for smaller producers/brand owners.
• Omission of explicit pricing of carry bags.

Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021

• Prohibition of manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of certain single-use plastics from 1st July, 20.
• Increase in thickness of plastic carry bags from fifty microns to seventy-five microns in September 2021 and to one hundred and twenty microns in December 2022.
• Collection and management of plastic packaging waste through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
• The legal force is given to guidelines for EPR through Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021.