India Ranked Among Top 12 Nations Responsible for 60% of Global Mismanaged Plastic Waste Despite Low Per Capita Production : Reveals Report

India has emerged as one of the twelve countries accountable for 60% of the world’s mismanaged plastic waste, despite its relatively low per capita plastic waste output, reveals a recent report by Swiss non-profit EA Earth Action.

The report, titled “Plastic Overshoot Day,” highlights a concerning trend of escalating global plastic waste generation, which has surged by 7.11% since 2021, reaching an estimated 220 million tons in the current year, with 70 million tons projected to contaminate the environment.

As world leaders prepare for the fourth meeting of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) in Ottawa, Canada, to address plastic pollution, the report underscores the urgency of the issue. The twelve nations identified as major contributors to mismanaged plastic waste include China, India, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Vietnam, Iran, Indonesia, Egypt, Pakistan, the United States, and Turkey.

Despite being classified as a “low-waste-producing” polluter due to its per capita plastic waste production of 8 kg annually, India is expected to contribute 7.4 million tons of mismanaged plastic waste in 2024, a figure deemed “very high” by the report. Nevertheless, India’s mismanaged plastic waste remains significantly lower than that of China and the United States.

According to the report, India is projected to release approximately 391,879 tons of microplastics into the environment and 31,483 tons of chemical additives into waterways. In comparison, Belgium ranks as the top generator of plastic waste, with an annual waste production of 147.7 kg per person, surpassing India’s output by sixteen times.

Among countries with high levels of mismanaged plastic waste, Oman leads the list with an estimated 111 kg of mismanaged plastic per person in 2024, thirty times higher than Norway’s figure. India finds itself among the bottom twelve countries in this aspect.

The report warns that by April 2024, nearly half of the global population will reside in areas where plastic waste exceeds the capacity for effective management. It designates September 5 as the “Plastic Overshoot Day,” marking the point at which global plastic waste surpasses the planet’s waste management systems.

Each country has its own “Plastic Overshoot Day,” determined by its plastic waste generation and management capacity. For India, this day is projected to occur on April 23. Sarah Perreard, Co-CEO of EA Earth Action & Plastic Footprint Network, emphasizes that while improvements in waste management are crucial, they alone are insufficient to tackle the plastic crisis. Without substantial reductions in plastic production at the source, efforts to combat plastic pollution will remain stagnant at best, warns Perreard.