Get to the root

India, like many other burgeoning economies, is grappling with an escalating plastic waste crisis. The numbers are staggering: according to a 2020-21 report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the country generates an alarming four million tonnes of plastic waste annually. Yet, only a quarter of this waste is recycled or treated. The remainder is relegated to landfills or disposed of in a manner that threatens both environmental and public health.

The Plastic Waste Management Rules, introduced in 2016, mandate that the onus of collecting and recycling plastic waste lies with its users. This principle, known as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), aims to hold manufacturers, importers, and large-scale industrial users accountable. Initially voluntary, these rules are now enforced through an online EPR trading platform. Despite the noble intent behind this system, its execution has been fraught with inefficiencies and corruption, undermining its effectiveness.

The CPCB's report for 2022-23 reveals a damning statistic: out of the 3.7 million tonnes of recycled plastic claimed, approximately 600,000 certificates were fraudulent. Additionally, a cyberattack led to the theft and illicit sale of several thousand certificates. This malfeasance has cast a long shadow over the credibility of the EPR system and raises serious questions about the integrity of the recycling process.

In response to these revelations, the CPCB has initiated an audit of nearly 800 firms, a significant portion of the 2,300 registered recyclers who traded certificates. Additionally, the CPCB has revamped the security features of the EPR trading platform, though this has delayed the filing of returns for 2023-24. The CPCB characterizes these issues as "teething problems" of a large-scale electronic system. However, labeling systemic fraud and cyber vulnerabilities as mere growing pains belies the gravity of the situation.

While the audit is a necessary step, it should be a one-time measure. Annual, prolonged investigations risk eroding trust in the system. The CPCB's authority to impose heavy fines is undercut by protracted legal battles, rendering punitive measures largely ineffective. The current market-driven approach to managing plastic waste, while impactful to an extent, is fundamentally limited. It fails to address the core issue: the ever-increasing production of plastic.

To genuinely tackle the plastic waste problem, India must go beyond merely patching up its EPR system. The focus needs to shift towards reducing plastic production and encouraging sustainable alternatives. Legislative measures, economic incentives, and public awareness campaigns are crucial in this endeavour. Only by addressing the root causes of plastic waste and bolstering the efficacy of recycling systems can India hope to mitigate this mounting environmental challenge.