India tops global plastic pollution chart due to uncollected waste
A recent study using machine learning (ML) has identified the world's most significant plastic pollution hotspots. The research covered over 50,000 urban and rural areas globally, with India emerging as the top contributor due to its high levels of uncollected waste. The study provides an unprecedentedly detailed picture of global plastic pollution, highlighting the urgent need for improved waste management strategies.
Plastic pollution: A global challenge
The study aimed to understand how plastic enters the environment, a task complicated by the difficulty in tracking "emissions." These are defined as macroplastic (larger than 5mm) that escapes from material systems and activities. Emissions can occur when waste is blown away from garbage bins or falls off collection trucks, and when litter is discarded by individuals either accidentally or intentionally.
AI model reveals uncollected waste as major pollution source
The researchers used artificial intelligence (AI) to create a model that illustrates how plastic transitions from controlled systems into the environment. The model revealed that of the 52 million tons of waste entering the environment annually, uncollected waste is the primary source. This accounts for approximately 68% by weight of all pollution or around 36 million tons each year.
Management issues exacerbate plastic pollution
The study challenges the notion that plastic pollution is primarily due to irresponsible human behavior. It highlights that 1.2 billion people globally do not have their solid waste collected at all, leading them to resort to burning, burying or scattering it on land or in water bodies. This lack of proper waste management contributes significantly to the global plastic pollution crisis.
Open burning of waste is biggest contributor
The study also found that open burning of waste is a widespread practice, contributing to 57% of all plastic pollution worldwide by weight. This method involves setting waste on fire in open areas, without any measures to prevent harmful emissions from reaching the environment or affecting human health. The practice is prevalent possibly because it seemingly makes the waste vanish, reducing pressure on waste management authorities and minimizing the unsightliness of land-dumped waste.
India discharges 9.3 million tons of plastic annually
India has been identified as the largest plastic polluter, discharging 9.3 million tons of plastic into the environment annually. This figure is 2.7 times higher than the next two largest polluters, Nigeria and Indonesia combined. The study attributes India's high ranking to the fact that only 81% of its waste is collected and it generates more waste than previously assumed models suggested.
Improved waste management key to curbing pollution
The identification of these plastic pollution hotspots can aid policymakers in devising targeted strategies to address this issue. Countries with higher plastic pollution often lack adequate resources and infrastructure to curb their emissions. The study suggests that reducing our consumption of plastic is one way to curb plastic pollution, but emphasizes the need for effective waste management and extended waste collection services as more immediate solutions.
