A circular economy is restorative and regenerative around a "closed-loop" system. In the case of plastic, it refers to keeping them as beneficial materials within the economy and not disturbing the natural environment. Growing urbanization and plastic use in the world and India highlight the much-needed monitoring and analysis of plastic litter or waste and avenues for revaluation. Secondary reports show that in India, single-use plastics (SUPs) account for nearly 1/3rd of all plastics consumed, and they are a major component of plastic waste.
Of all the plastic packaging used globally, only 14% is recycled. Out of the remaining, 40% ends up in landfills and 32% in ecosystems, while the remaining 14% is used for energy recovery. The Government of India (GOI) has attempted to address this issue by proposing a new 2021 draught on plastic waste management, which will prohibit the manufacturing, import, stockpiling, distribution, and sale of certain SUPs beginning January 1, 2022. The standards emphasize good end-of-life management for plastics collection, storage, recycling, reuse, and disposal. This is an excellent concept for developing an ecosystem for a circular economy for plastic, in which plastic is never wasted. It offers a root-cause solution to plastic pollution, as well as several economic, environmental, and societal benefits. Policy guidance, citizen participation, and increasing business and industrial infrastructure should all be part of capacity-building initiatives for improved plastic waste management.
Inefficiency and a lack of operating markets for recycled plastics are the two most serious challenges facing a circular plastic economy. As market leaders, the industry should take the lead in developing demand and encouraging end markets for recycled plastic. Adopting upstream and downstream techniques can help to improve plastic litter/waste management and the circular economy in India. Upstream initiatives will address recycling by establishing required standards or objectives for SUPs such as multilayered plastics. Downstream efforts will create and enforce a financial structure for companies. SUPs management requires a solid waste management ecosystem that includes segregation, collection, and recycling.
Waste Management (PWM) may need to prioritize segregation, recycling, and municipal waste disposal. Alternatives to SUPs should be promoted as part of the ban implementation plan for this type of plastic grade. Existing plastic producers should be educated and encouraged to transition to other sectors. Simultaneously, local and small-scale manufacturers require assistance in the form of procurement policies or financial incentives.
Building capacity among stakeholders in the plastics value chain is an urgent necessity. Citizen forums and industry personnel can play critical roles in the information dissemination chain for the circular economy of plastic trash. Small and medium-sized businesses can benefit from economic growth by contributing to alternative forms of SUPs and related items, so contributing to the plastic circular economy industry. Citizens will be able to participate in the plastic recycling and reuse process and contribute to the plastic waste management process by utilizing the Swachh Bharat Mission's Swachh-Manch of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and similar citizen engagement platforms within the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). These platforms may serve as good meeting places for all habitat stakeholders, including researchers and representatives from the public and business sectors.
These can provide common ground for citizens to gather to learn, act, and encourage one another. The widespread transmission of these platforms will increase and engage the public's and many stakeholders' engagement, therefore contributing to a successful circular economy for plastic waste.
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