Plastic Waste Crisis in the Himalayan Region | 26 Sep 2024

Source: DTE

Why in News?

The Himalayan region, known for its pristine environment, is facing a growing plastic waste crisis. Since 2018, “The Himalayan Cleanup (THC)” movement has brought volunteers together annually to clean up waste and audit the collected trash to understand its sources.  

• A crucial part of addressing this issue is implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which holds manufacturers accountable for their products' lifecycle, encouraging them to minimise waste and adopt sustainable practices to support local cleanup efforts.

What is the Extent of the Plastic Waste Crisis in the Himalayan Region? 

• Waste Generation: Solid waste generation (SWG) in the Himalayas varies based on factors such as urbanisation, tourism, and household income levels.  
  • A large portion of the waste is biodegradable, coming from households, markets, and hotels. However, plastic waste is predominant in tourist areas. 
  • Tourist hotspots generate a significant amount of plastic waste. Waste management in the Himalayan region is severely inadequate, despite the importance of these ecosystems. 
• Plastic Waste: Plastic pollution has reached even the remotest parts of the mountains, with no systems in place to bring the waste back down for recycling or disposal. 
  • Only about 25% of collected plastic waste consists of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), and Low-density polyethene (LDPE), which are categorised as recyclable, while the majority (75%) is non-recyclable. Multi-layered plastics (MLP) pose an added challenge as they are non-recyclable and difficult to manage. 
  • Microplastics, formed by the degradation of larger plastic items, have been found in Himalayan glaciers, rivers, lakes, and even in human tissues. 
  • The main contributors to plastic waste are plastics generated from top food brands, smoking and tobacco brands, and personal care products. 

What are the Consequences of Poor Plastic Waste Management? 

• Environmental Degradation: Open dumping of waste not only tarnishes the scenic beauty of the mountains but also leads to air and soil pollution, and destabilises mountain slopes. 
• Impact on Water Sources: The Himalayan region is vital for the water supply of major Indian rivers like the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra. Unscientific disposal of plastic waste is polluting these water sources and harming biodiversity. 
• Biodiversity at Risk: Wildlife, such as the Greater Adjutant stork in Assam, is reportedly consuming plastic waste instead of their natural diet. 
• Public Health Threats: Pollution from mixed waste in landfills poses health risks to local communities and disrupts ecosystems. 

What are the Challenges of Waste Management in the Himalayas? 

• Harsh Terrain and Climate: The remote and rugged landscape, combined with harsh climatic conditions, makes waste collection and disposal more challenging than in urban areas. 
  • Segregation at source, collection, and waste transport remain major challenges in Himalayan states. 
  • Most waste is collected and dumped in landfills or rolled downhill, exacerbating the pollution problem. 
• Limited Infrastructure: The availability of land for waste treatment and disposal is limited, and infrastructure for handling solid waste is often weak or non-existent. 
  • The practice of centralised dumping is still widespread, and the infrastructure for recycling is lacking. 
• Regulations and Data Gaps: There is insufficient data on the volume and types of waste generated in the Himalayan settlements, making it harder to manage waste effectively.  
  • Despite existing regulations under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016, the pace of implementation has been slow. 
• Lack of Awareness: Local communities are aware of the link between waste management and environmental health but lack knowledge about proper disposal practices.  

What are the Concerns Regarding the EPR in the Himalayan Region? 

• Limited Implementation: The EPR framework, anticipated to address plastic pollution, has seen minimal implementation in the Himalayan states. Local bodies exhibit low awareness of EPR, hampering effective operationalization. 
• Non-Recognition of Local Context: Current EPR rules do not adequately account for the specific needs and conditions of mountain communities, ignoring factors such as population density, local economies, and environmental fragility. 
  • The one-size-fits-all approach fails to recognize the ecological significance and challenges faced in the Himalayas. 
• Geographical Challenges: The mountainous terrain presents unique challenges in waste collection, aggregation, and transportation, making traditional EPR models difficult to apply. 
  • Inaccessible regions exacerbate issues of waste management, leading to an accumulation of litter. 
• Insufficient Producer Responsibility: The burden of waste management has largely fallen on consumers and waste managers, with producers not being held adequately accountable for the lifecycle of their products. 
  • There is a persistent lack of mechanisms for producers to take responsibility for waste generated from their products, particularly in remote areas. 

Way Forward 

• Local Adaptation of EPR Rules: Modify the Extended Producer Responsibility Rules (2022) to suit the unique challenges of waste management in mountainous regions. 
  • Engage local bodies in the development and enforcement of EPR regulations to ensure they are practical and effective. Provide incentives for manufacturers to adopt sustainable practices and take responsibility for their packaging and waste. 
• Implement Zoning Regulations: Similar to the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) classification of Nainital into prohibited, regulated, and development zones, the Himalayan region should establish designated areas that dictate the extent of permissible activities to mitigate environmental impact and promote responsible development. 
• Empowering Mountain Communities: To tackle the waste crisis in the Himalayas, encouraging local agriculture is vital for reducing reliance on packaged goods that generate plastic waste. Community-supported agriculture (CSA) can foster partnerships between consumers and local farmers, enhancing access to fresh produce.  
  • Furthermore, educational initiatives will inform communities about the benefits of local foods over processed options, supporting effective waste management and overall well-being. 
• Phased Implementation: A systematic, multi-tiered approach is needed, with the government and partners managing institutional capacity, policymaking, enforcement, and technological advancements in solid waste management. 
• Improved Data Collection: More data on waste generation and management in mountain areas is essential to address bottlenecks and design effective solutions. 
• International Best Practices: Case studies such as South Korea’s transformation of the Nanjido Island dump into an eco-park can inspire strategies for eco-restoration and improved SWM practices in the Himalayas.