Plastic Pollution: A Global Crisis And India’s Legal Framework On Plastic Waste Management
- IJLLR Journal
- 7 days ago
- 1 min read
Kirandeep Kaur, Ph.D. Research Scholar, Department of Law, School of Legal Studies, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda.
ABSTRACT
In today’s world, plastic has become an irreplaceable product, and we can’t imagine our daily life without plastic. Plastic has become a global crisis due to its use and non-biodegradability. Plastic was invented in the year 1907, and it achieved its full potential in the 1950s. Plastic is made from synthetic or semi-synthetic polymers, which don’t biodegrade for hundreds or thousands of years. Approximately 8.3 billion metric tons (BMTs) of plastic were generated worldwide between 1950 and 2015, of which 6.3 BMTs, or 80%, were classified as plastic garbage (as per the data published by NITI Aayog & UNDP handbook, 2021). According to recent studies, the annual global emissions of plastic trash are estimated to be 52.1 [48.3–56.3] million metric tons (Mt), of which 57% and 43% are made up of open-burning and unburned garbage, respectively (as per Ed. Cook’s research published in 2024). Plastic pollution is a threat to human health and the environment. Plastic Waste Management Laws in India are implemented, but plastic generation is increasing in India every year. Today, India is one of the leading countries in plastic pollution generation. This paper discusses plastic as a global issue, the existing legal framework in India to combat the problem of plastic pollution and the role of the Indian judiciary to combat plastic problems. The doctrinal research methodology is used for this. Based on research, suggestions have been drawn to improve the legal framework in India.
Keywords: Environmental Degradation, Legislation on Plastic, Plastic Waste Management
