India Tops in Global Plastic Pollution: A Wake-Up Call

India is the largest global plastic polluter, producing 9.3 million tonnes annually, accounting for 20% of total global plastic emissions. The country's plastic waste is double that of countries like China, Nigeria, and Indonesia.

India's Plastic Pollution Status

Recently Study finds, India is now the largest plastic polluter globally, producing 9.3 million tonnes annually.
This accounts for about 20% of total global plastic emissions.
India's official waste generation rate (0.12 kg per capita per day) is likely underestimated.
Waste collection rates are probably overestimated.
Rural areas, open burning of uncollected waste, and informal sector recycling are not included in official statistics.
India's plastic waste is double that of populous countries like China, Nigeria, and Indonesia.

Global Plastic Pollution Landscape

Global plastic waste emissions were 52.1 million tonnes per year in 2020.
Nigeria (3.5 million tonnes) and Indonesia (3.4 million tonnes) rank second and third respectively.
China, previously the highest polluter, now ranks fourth due to improved waste management.
69% (35.7 million tonnes) of global plastic waste emissions come from 20 countries.
High-income countries have higher plastic waste generation rates but better collection and disposal systems.
Littering is the largest emission source in Global North, while uncollected waste dominates in Global South.

List of top 20 Countries in Plastic Pollution

Rank	Country	Annual Plastic Waste
1	India	9,275,777
2	Nigeria	3,532,479
3	Indonesia	3,352,229
4	China	2,808,179
5	Pakistan	2,567,461
6	Bangladesh	1,748,215
7	Russia	1,702,453
8	Brazil	1,444,824
9	Thailand	995,718
10	Democratic Republic of the Congo	963,328
11	Philippines	819,843
12	Egypt	807,596
13	Iraq	799,891
14	Tanzania	778,932
15	Mexico	767,447
16	Vietnam	754,959
17	Myanmar	725,433
18	Ethiopia	651,876
19	Uganda	617,565
20	South Africa	609,757

Sources and Definition of Plastic Emissions

Plastic emissions defined as materials moved from managed to unmanaged systems.

Five main sources identified:

1. Uncollected waste

2. Littering

3. Collection systems

4. Uncontrolled disposal

5. Rejects from sorting and reprocessing

Study quantified emissions for 50,702 municipality-level administrations.
Researchers used correction algorithms to account for unreported waste generation.

Implications and Future Actions

Findings crucial for the Global Plastics Treaty, expected to be finalized by 2024.
Treaty aims to reduce plastic pollution and related greenhouse gas emissions.
Study provides a baseline for countries to develop action plans.
India needs to focus on gathering better data, especially from rural areas.
Improving waste collection is crucial for addressing the environmental crisis.
Open, uncontrolled burning is a major challenge in India that needs urgent attention.
High-income countries' plastic waste exports were deliberately excluded from the analysis.

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