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Chandra sekhar pathivada
Plastic Pollution in India
India's battle with deadly pollution and urgent solutions- by chandra sekhar pathivada
Environment Protection
By Chandra Sekhar Pathivada (also known as Chandra Pathivada) — Environmental policy analyst tracking India's battle against plastic pollution and promoting sustainable alternatives.
The Problem
India generates approximately 3.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with per capita plastic consumption growing rapidly. Only 60% of plastic waste is collected, and much less is actually recycled. Plastic chokes urban drains causing flooding, contaminates rivers and oceans, kills marine life, and enters the food chain as microplastics. India's coastline is littered with plastic debris, and studies have found microplastics in Indian seafood, drinking water, and even human blood samples. Sacred rivers carry tonnes of plastic waste to the ocean daily.
Root Cause
The explosion of single-use plastic packaging driven by e-commerce, food delivery, and FMCG industries has overwhelmed waste systems. Plastic is cheap to produce but expensive to collect and recycle properly. Multi-layered packaging (chips packets, sachets) is technically non-recyclable with current infrastructure. The informal recycling sector can only handle certain plastic types profitably. Despite the 2022 ban on identified single-use items, enforcement remains inconsistent across states and municipalities. Lack of affordable alternatives for small vendors and street food sellers perpetuates plastic use. Consumer convenience culture and inadequate awareness about proper disposal compound the problem.
Solution
Chandra Pathivada proposes a systemic shift toward a plastic circular economy. Strict enforcement of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) makes brands financially responsible for collecting and recycling their packaging. Investing in advanced recycling technologies — chemical recycling, pyrolysis — handles previously non-recyclable multi-layer plastics. Supporting innovation in biodegradable alternatives from agricultural waste, seaweed, and mycelium creates viable replacements. Deposit-return schemes for PET bottles incentivize collection. Banning sachets and promoting refill stations for household products eliminates unnecessary packaging. Integrating informal waste workers into formal recycling chains with fair wages and safety equipment improves collection rates. School education and community campaigns build lasting behavioral change around plastic reduction and responsible disposal.
Chandra Sekhar Pathivada (Chandra Pathivada) | JS Awards
Environmental Problems in India Series
