Plastic Waste

Decoded: Why beverage giants are pushing against govt's new PET bottle rule

Beverage manufacturers in India cites capacity constraints in recycling plastic waste and cost impact ahead of peak summer demand, as govt sets April 1 deadline for the use of 30 per cent rPET bottles

Why plastic flowers not included in list of banned items: HC asks Centre

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday sought to know why plastic flowers were not included in the list of single-use plastic items banned by the Union government. A division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Bharati Dangre asked if the Centre thought that plastic flowers could be recycled, or are biodegradable. The HC was hearing a petition filed by the Growers' Flower Council of India (GFCI) seeking a direction to the Centre to prohibit the use of plastic flowers. "Is the Union government sure that plastic flowers can be recycled, or that they are biodegradable? They are so flimsy. Can they be recycled?" the court asked, referring to the Centre's affidavit stating that these flowers were not in the list of banned items. The bench referred to a notifications issued by the Union government which stated that single-use plastics which cannot be recycled, or are not biodegradable, are banned. "Are you sure plastic flowers cannot be included in this list?" the bench asked. T

'Back to plastic': Trump to sign exec order to reinstate plastic straws

Once the executive order is signed next week, the federal ban on single-use plastic straws in the US will be lifted, allowing businesses to reintroduce them in beverages

Delay in global treaty on plastic pollution raises environmental risks

A recent study reveals India accounts for almost 20 per cent of global plastic waste annually, which is the fallout from rapid urbanisation and faster economic growth

South Korea's 'mountain' of plastic waste highlight limits of recycling

Bi-monthly MIT Technology Review magazine has rated South Korea as 'one of the world's best recycling economies', and the only Asian country out of the top 10 on its Green Future Index in 2022

Cleaning up pristine beaches means spotting plastic waste from space

The rising volume of the waste is an increasingly urgent issue for world leaders: Diplomats will descend on South Korea in a few weeks for the final round of United Nations talks

CPCB targets plastic waste breaches, tightens PWM compliance in tenders

The renewed focus on surveillance and compliance, along with the enforcement of strict labelling and certification standards, is aimed at improving the effectiveness of PWM regulations

Microplastic pollution is everywhere even in exhaled breath of dolphins

Tiny plastic pieces have spread all over the planet: on land, in the air and even in clouds

Nearly 40,000 km of rural roads constructed using plastic waste: Govt

Nearly 40,000 km of rural roads constructed using plastic waste till date with 13,000 km completed in the last two years alone, a senior official said on Tuesday. Speaking at a media interaction, Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Vini Mahajan said over 55 per cent of villages have been declared 'ODF Plus Model' while 5 lakh waste collection vehicles are in operation and there is a significant progress in greywater and plastic waste management. Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, nearly 40,000 km of rural roads have been built using this sustainable technique, with 13,000 km completed in the last two years alone, she said. "These innovations showcase our commitment to sustainability and the future of sanitation in India," she added. She emphasised the invaluable collective support from all Central ministries, states and UTs to the 'Swachhata Hi Seva-2024' campaign. Mahajan highlighted that sanitation is a societal issue that unites us all, drive

India leads in generating plastic waste with 10.2 mn tonnes a year: Study

India leads the world in generating plastic waste, producing 10.2 million tonnes a year, far more than double the next big-polluting nations, according to a new study. According to researchers at the University of Leeds in the UK, the world creates 57 million tonnes of plastic pollution every year and spreads it from the deepest oceans to the highest mountaintop to the inside of people's bodies. The study also said more than two-thirds of it comes from the Global South. It's enough pollution each year to fill New York City's Central Park with plastic waste as high as the Empire State Building, according to researchers. They examined waste produced on the local level at more than 50,000 cities and towns across the world for a study in Wednesday's journal Nature. The study examined plastic that goes into the open environment, not plastic that goes into landfills or is properly burned. For 15 per cent of the world's population, government fails to collect and dispose of waste, the ...

How to minimise microplastic exposure from food, water, air, and clothes

Plastic's ubiquity means that avoiding it entirely is impossible. However, there are steps you can take to minimize its presence

SC expresses concern over dumping of plastic waste in water bodies

The Bench was hearing a civil appeal regarding the removal of unauthorised structures adjacent to the river Ganga in and around the city of Patna

World Paper Bag Day 2024: History, Significance, quotes and more

Paper Bag Day 2024 is celebrated every year on July 12, 2024. This day aims to inform people about the harmful impacts of plastic on our environment and provide eco-friendly alternatives

New plastic management rules will impact FMCG companies: Analysts

India is the third-largest plastic producer globally. While these new norms will put India ahead in the global league, they will also impact packaging costs for consumer companies

Plastic pollution: What do countries, firms want in global treaty talks?

Meanwhile, the 60-nation "High-Ambition Coalition", which includes EU countries, island nations, Japan and the UAE, wants to end plastic pollution by 2040

Poly crisis: World needs system of public support to end plastic addiction

A report this month alleged that oil and chemicals companies "perpetuated a decades-long campaign of fraud and deception about the recyclability of plastics

Germany cuts plastic waste exports by 51% in a decade due to restrictions

The volume of German plastic waste exports decreased by 9 per cent between 2021 and 2022

Himachal to frame policy to find alternatives to plastic: CM Sukhu

Additionally, he emphasized the importance of utilizing plastic waste in road building and suggested incorporating culture and environment-focused subjects into the educational curriculum

Menstrual cups reduce plastic waste generation by 99%: Soumya Swaminathan

According to a recent report, one woman generates around 14.1 kg of non-biodegradable waste in a lifetime if she uses commercially manufactured disposable sanitary pads

'Solution to plastic pollution' on UN's agenda as planet chokes on plastic

On this World Environment Day (June 5), the UN focuses on solving the plastic pollution crisis as India plans to tackle plastic pollution as a key component of its global mass movement, Mission LiFE