Since time immemorial, humans have left no stone unturned in their quest to create things that make their lives easier. Plastic was created as a result of the need for a small, cost-effective, and lightweight material for a variety of applications. Packaging, construction, textiles, consumer goods, transportation, electronics, and industrial machinery all make substantial use of it. Despite being inexpensive and simple to use, the chemical structure of plastic makes it resistant to natural breakdown processes, rendering it non-biodegradable. Plastic bags disintegrate over thousands of years, polluting soil and water, spreading to plants, animals, and marine life, and eventually infiltrating the human food chain. They also contribute to global warming.
Single-Use Plastic, meant for ‘use-and-throw is referred to as disposable plastic and is commonly used for packaging and is used only once before disposing or recycling. This type of plastic amounts to almost 30% of the total plastic production, half of which is produced by Asian countries. We make single-use plastic a part of our daily life without even paying attention by using poly-bags, bottles, bottle caps, food wrappers, straws, stirrers, plastic cups, and plates.
Most Indian states have prohibited plastic carry bags, and others have outlawed single-use and thrown-away plastic products such as cutlery, plates, cups, straws, and so on. Massive community mobilization for Plastic Waste Shramdan and Single-Use Plastic Ban under 'Swachhata Hi Sewa' was done in 2019-20 through large-scale cleaning of public and tourist areas, marketplaces, schools, hospitals, and bus terminals.
Plastic alternatives and recycling are being prioritized. Plastic is used to generate electricity, build roads, and in power plants.
Forceful banning has very little impact because opportunists will always find ways and means to use plastic for short-term gains. If we want to eradicate the use of plastic as a society, the change needs to happen at the grassroots level where every individual will feel the need to avoid the use of plastic thus making it a collective responsibility, and this can happen with the right education on the subject.
Many people believe that the responsibility for plastic pollution should be placed squarely on the shoulders of plastic producers, governments, and businesses. However, the kids have a lot of potentials. Half of the world's population is under the age of 25, implying that primary, secondary, and university students may have a significant effect. When kids are educated about plastic pollution and the many strategies to decrease its consequences, they carry that knowledge into the future, when they will be able to influence meaningful change.
Today's youth will be tomorrow's decision-makers. When we develop a legion of young people who understand the dangers of plastic pollution and are passionate about keeping the environment clean, we create a core constituency that will demand action from the government and society.
Youth environmental education should be the main objective of state education policy. With the environmental education curriculum in schools, colleges, and universities, we should be able to establish a system of ongoing environmental education and training. Students should be encouraged to provide ideas and to study the environment to enhance the pool of professionals interested in this field, as well as to complete specialized courses in environmental management.
Once the youngsters have received environmental education, they must be allowed to propagate environmental ideals at the local, regional, and national levels by teaching them about how plastic pollution occurs, its fundamental causes, and its consequences. When the general public understands the fundamental cause of an issue, it is much simpler to attempt and workaround solutions to such difficulties. Furthermore, teenagers might be empowered to monitor environmental crimes and report them to the proper authorities. The government may from time to time provide incentives to qualified kids, which may encourage more individuals to apply.
To promote public awareness, youth can participate in drama and theatre, debates, exhibits, and public gatherings in a variety of settings, including schools. New media technologies, such as social media and blogs, may be utilized to rapidly increase collective education. The government should supply legitimate information to the young through the Environment media group, which works with the National Environmental Management Committee people.
Finally, the government must empower and encourage young people to achieve long-term environmental goals. Collaboration should be encouraged to develop practical solutions to eliminate plastic pollution. Thus, youth and government institutions must collaborate to develop a long-term solution to the worrisome problem of single-use plastic, which the country and the globe are currently confronted with.
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