UN plastic pollution treaty: Why does regulating single-use plastic and not a complete ban suit India?

New Delhi: According to the United Nations, we produce 400 million tons of plastic a year and if we continue generating the same amount of plastic, there could be more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050. Also, several hundred species of fish and coastal species are affected by this ‘plastic pollution’ by the way of ingestion, entanglement etc. Besides, the impact of plastic on the triple planetary crisis of – climate change, nature loss and pollution is now a global concern. The time is running out and something needs to be done about it. And quickly.

Representatives of about 172 countries are meeting today in Ottawa (Canada) to combat the global challenges posed by plastics. Some countries are advocating a complete ban on single-use plastics. Also, as per the Ipsos Ipsos survey (2022) conducted across 28 countries, about 75 per cent of people wanted a ban on single-use plastics and supported a strict international treaty to combat it. However, not all countries are on the same page. They want to combat plastic pollution, but not by banning its complete production.

They believe that there is more plastic for a reason, affordability, durability, and aesthetic appeal – and it will be better to regulate its production and recycling rather than the blanket ban. India too favours this.

Reaching any international agreement – even bilateral agreements – is a complex procedure. To expect that about 170 countries would agree on something as a popular and controversial issue as the complete ban on single-use plastic, that too within a week of negotiations, is to expect the impossible.

What are single-use plastics?

As the name suggests, single-use plastic is any plastic item which is discarded after a single use. And there are various kinds.

• Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) like water bottles and biscuit trays
• High-density polyethene (HDPE) like shampoo bottles and milk bottles
• Low–density polyethene (LDPE) like bags and food packaging film
• Polypropylene (PP) like potato chip bags and microwave dishes.
• Polystyrene (PS) like cutlery and plates
• Expanded polystyrene (EPS) like protective packaging and hot drink cup

India is for regulation, not ban

Meanwhile, let us understand why India is against the complete ban on single-use plastics at this stage. The country with about 145 crore people, with crores under the poverty line, wants to ‘regulate’ plastic use and not ban it. Why?

The single-use plastic has become an unavoidable part of our daily lives – from packaging a product to carrying food and water — it is almost impossible to go about daily business without them. And any alternative to single-use plastic currently is more expensive and likely to burden retailers and consumers. Doesn’t the five rupees recyclable bag pinch us all in the malls?

There are about 20,000 plastic manufacturing units in the country. It could take years before enough of these are brought under the alternative segment to make a visible difference to the packaging sector. Suddenly banning the products being manufactured in these factories is likely to harm the livelihood of lakhs of people working in these industries. Will take time for them to switch over gradually.

Besides, even if you ban the use of single-use plastics, enforcement and compliance will not be easy. Several cities and governments in the world have failed to do so. Besides taxpayers’ money will be used on enhanced vigil.

India implemented the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules (2021) and banned 19 categories of ‘single-use plastics’ in 2022 including items such as plastic cups, spoons, earbuds etc. Despite the ban, enforcement has been inconsistent, and the current ban only addresses about 11 per cent of single-use plastic in India.

India is advocating the development of better quality plastic which is durable but completely recyclable, improving waste management and working towards changing people's attitude towards the use of existing single-use plastic. It believes that the change has to come from within and any ban without bringing people on board will only be met with resistance.