Plastic Waste in Himalayas

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• According to a report more than 84% of the plastic waste collected in Himalayan region is posing serious environmental and systemic challenges.

About

• According to data gathered from the Himalayan Cleanup (THC) 2024, conducted across nine Himalayan states, over 1.2 lakh pieces of waste were audited—88% of which were plastic.
• Within plastic waste, 84.2% was attributed to food and beverage packaging, and 71% of this was non-recyclable.
• Sikkim and Darjeeling (West Bengal) emerged as the top contributors in terms of volume, followed by Ladakh, Nagaland, and Uttarakhand.

Impact of plastic waste

• Impact on Tourism: The worst plastic accumulation was found around tourist destinations, rivers, and protected areas, indicating the role of unregulated tourism and poor infrastructure.
• Climate and Biodiversity Linkages: Plastic waste in the Himalayas contributes to soil and water contamination, affecting biodiversity and local food systems.
• Health Hazards: Accumulated plastic waste near human settlements leads to vector-borne diseases, water pollution, and respiratory problems due to open burning.

Challenges in Waste Governance in the Himalayas

• Lack of Localised Waste Infrastructure: Most mountain towns and villages lack basic waste collection, segregation, and treatment facilities.
• Plastic Ban Policies: Although several Himalayan states have banned certain plastic products, enforcement is weak, due to inconsistent monitoring, and a lack of viable alternatives for local communities and vendors.
• Low Awareness: There is insufficient awareness among producers about their responsibilities under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). 
  • Also tourists often lack both education and sensitivity towards sustainable practices.
• Dispersed Settlements: The rugged topography, scattered population, and seasonal weather conditions make it logistically challenging to establish and maintain effective waste management systems across the Himalayan belt.

India’s Efforts in Tackling Plastic Waste

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): The Indian government has implemented EPR, making plastic manufacturers responsible for managing and disposing of the waste generated by their products.
• Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022:  It prohibits manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of plastic carry bags having thickness less than 120 microns.
• Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: It is a national cleanliness campaign, which includes the collection and disposal of plastic waste.
• Plastic Parks: India has set up Plastic Parks, which are specialized industrial zones for recycling and processing plastic waste.

Way Ahead

• Mountain-Sensitive Waste Policies: Waste management policies that consider geographic remoteness, traditional practices, and ecological sensitivity are essential.
• Decentralised Waste Systems: Focus should be on community-based, low-impact waste solutions rooted in traditional knowledge and local governance.
• Sustainable Tourism Practices: Establish mandatory waste audits and management protocols at tourist sites, especially around water bodies and pilgrimage circuits.

Source: TH