by Umaima Reshi
SRINAGAR: As the world marked World Environment Day 2025 under the theme Beat Plastic Pollution, the United Nations called for urgent and unified global action to address the escalating crisis of plastic waste, a crisis so deep-rooted that microplastics have now been detected in human bodies.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which spearheads the observance each year on June 5, focused this time on eliminating plastic pollution on land and in oceans, urban spaces, and human ecosystems. The agency warned that failure to act could lead to a 50 per cent increase in plastic waste by 2040, threatening human health and environmental stability.
UNEP urged nations to adopt sustainable solutions that target every stage of the plastic lifecycle, from production to disposal, and to encourage widespread recycling and reuse. The agency noted that tackling plastic pollution is critical to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to climate action, marine conservation, and sustainable consumption.
First commemorated in 1973 following the Stockholm Conference of 1972, World Environment Day has evolved into a global platform for awareness and action across more than 150 countries. It continues to influence public engagement and policy responses to climate change, pollution, deforestation, and biodiversity loss.
Jammu and Kashmir’s Plastic Trail
In a recent reply to the Rajya Sabha dated March 27, 2025, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change revealed that Jammu and Kashmir generated over 2.25 lakh tonnes of plastic waste in the past five years. The highest volume was recorded in 2019–20 at 74,826 tonnes, followed by 34,367 tonnes in 2018–19; 51,710 tonnes in 2020–21; 34,384 tonnes in 2021–22; and 30,342 tonnes in 2022–23.
Despite this decline, experts believe the region continues to suffer from inadequate management of plastic waste, posing grave risks to both land and water ecosystems.
Though the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, and their 2021 amendment outlawed several single-use plastic items from July 2022, enforcement remains weak. A key provision, the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), obliges producers to collect and recycle the plastic they introduce into the market. However, monitoring and compliance remain inconsistent.
The central government has advised local bodies to intensify enforcement, raise awareness, and activate Plastic Waste Management Units (PWMUs). So far, 51 blocks in Jammu and Kashmir have been approved for these units. As part of the Swachh Bharat Mission, local authorities are also tasked with door-to-door waste collection, source segregation, and the upkeep of public spaces.
A National Picture of Uneven Progress
India’s plastic waste output climbed from 3.36 million tonnes in 2018–19 to more than 4.13 million tonnes in 2022–23. As of now, 978 PWMUs operate across the country, with Tamil Nadu leading at 326 units, followed by Uttar Pradesh (68) and Kerala (48). In contrast, regions like Goa and Ladakh remain without functional units, reflecting stark infrastructural gaps.
To support these efforts, financial assistance of up to ₹16 lakh per block is being provided under Phase II of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin). States are also encouraged to implement cluster-based units tailored to local needs. Non-recyclable plastic waste is being redirected to road construction, energy generation, and waste-to-oil projects, promoting a circular economy.
Bans That Fail to Stick
In Kashmir, despite an official ban on polythene bags and single-use plastics, these items are still a common sight in markets, shops, and on the streets. Local vendors and grocery stores continue to use plastic bags widely, citing their low cost, convenience, and persistent consumer demand.
This unchecked usage has led to growing plastic waste clogging lakes, rivers, forests, roads, and agricultural fields. Although bans have been issued repeatedly over the past two decades, they have yielded limited results due to a lack of enforcement and resistance to behavioural change.
Environmentalists warn that unless there is widespread awareness, availability of alternatives, and strict penalties, plastic waste will continue to overwhelm the region. They describe the situation as a “crime against the environment,” especially in a place known for its natural beauty.
