'Recycling plastic waste can create more jobs in India'

Plastic waste management in India may create jobs in the country which produces over 15,000 tonnes of plastic waste per day out of which only 60 percent is recycled, said a TERI expert at a conference hosted by the European Union (EU) here today.

Speaking at a conference on 'Plastic Pollution and Management', The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) expert Saurabh Manuja said that recycling plastic waste can create six times more jobs than simply dumping the plastic.

As per 2017 figures, India produces 15,722 tonnes of plastic per day, he said.

The conference marking the World Environment on June 5, was hosted by the EU Delegation (EUD) and missions of European Union Member states in New Delhi with the support of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.

Addressing the conference session themed 'Beat Plastic Pollution', Henriette Faergemann, Head for Environment, Energy and Climate Change at the EUD, presented the EU's Plastic Strategy adopted on January 16 this year.

"It (Plastic Strategy) aims to achieve a whole new, smart, innovative, sustainable plastics industry by 2030," she stated.

Every year, Europeans generate 25 million tonnes of plastic waste, but less than 30 percent is collected for recycling. Across the world, plastics make up 85 percent of beach litter, she said in her presentation.

Environment ministry director Manoj Kumar Gangeya said that plastic waste management strategy is a priority for India.

Ten EU representatives shared best practices of plastic management in their respective countries.

Poland representative Konstancja Piatkowsk talked about extended producer responsibility saying it was introduced in her country in 2002 fixing targets of recovery and recycling of packaging wastes.

Dr Hafeez Raehman, Belgium, highlighted that the country is one of the leaders in managing waste in the EU.

"Almost 90 percent of the waste in Belgium is recycled and put to productive uses."