A call for ‘ending plastic pollution globally’

World Environment Day 2025, is just two days away, to remind us that Plastic pollution is a global issue that needs collective effort to reduce this menace that is negatively impacting the environment and humans.
Since 1973 World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated annually on 5th June and encourages awareness and action for the protection of the environment. Every year the occasion is provided with a theme and forum for businesses, governments, NGOs, communities, politicians, youths etc. to advocate environmental causes. Themes have ranged from “Global warming-global warning”, “Children and environment”, “Only one Earth: Care and Share”, “Give Earth a Chance”, and many more, all focused on the Environment and our need to protect and preserve Earth for our very own survival.
Plastic Pollution has been has been highlighted thrice as the theme of WEDs celebrations, beginning with WED-2018 when it was “Beat Plastic Pollution”, in 2023 it was “Solutions to Plastic Pollution”, and now in 2025, its “Ending Plastic Pollution globally”. It’s an emphasis that plastic pollution is a growing threat and we are not doing enough to reduce its consumption and are not responsible enough to ensure its effective disposal. There is always a complete apathy when the issue of plastics pollution is raised. It’s an issue where the general public and the policy makers are either completely ignorant about the damaging effects of plastic pollution, have a total lack of civic sense and etiquette , or are not concern enough about the environment. Waste is generated by each and every individual- from the cradle to the grave, but no one is willing to take the responsibility for its management and proper disposal. Dumpsites has become the bane of the locality concern and the surrounding areas of these sites has become the most negatively affected, resulting in water and soil contamination as well as air pollution causing irrevocable damages to the environment and the eco-system. There is generally a lack of responsibility towards waste in the community and it is high time proper methods of waste disposal are undertaken. The problem of waste management is a serious issue, and can be reduced to large extend with proper management and segregation. The occasionally clean ups, undertaken are good for creating awreness but they do little to address the source of the problem.
There are mainly three inter-connected crisis the world faces today, namely (1) climate change, (2) nature and bio-diversity loss and (3) pollution and waste level increase. These crisis are manifested in air, land and water pollution, pestilent and erosive land use practices, and desertification and extreme weather events. A study from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, USA, found greenhouse gas emissions from plastics could triple by midcentury accounting for 20% of the remaining carbon budget before planetary disruptions become unbearable. Other researchers have found that pollution from plastics and chemicals has already exceeded the “planetary boundaries” for sustaining life on Earth.
Plastics have grown immensely in chemical complexity since their invention, evolving from simple fossil fuel derivatives into materials containing thousands of synthetic compounds. They now surround us – in our food, air, water and rain. Yet we remain largely unaware of the potentially toxic effects of thousands of these chemicals now ubiquitous in modern everyday life.
Researchers have identified over 16,000 chemicals used in plastic production, with at least 4,200 are considered “highly hazardous” to human health and the environment, according to a report published last year by scientists at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NUST). Around 5,000 of the compounds in plastic are totally unknowns as scientists have not sufficiently studied them to understand their toxicity, leaving potential health effects up in the air. The 16,000 are also just those scientists have been able to identify—the report’s authors admit there are likely many more compounds out there they haven’t caught yet. Only 980 hazardous chemicals— 6% —are currently regulated by international treaties.
Chemicals present in plastic products causes hazards such as cancer, genetic mutation, heart attacks and harm to the reproductive system, etc., not to mention the vast environmental damage to our soil, air and water, the very essence of our existence
These findings are indeed frightening realities. Some say more recycling will fix the plastics problem, but plastic recycling has remained at less than 10% globally for decades and because plastics are made with toxic chemicals, recycling simply spreads these chemicals to new products. Whatever the solutions maybe touted by various industries/ organizations, the fact remains that plastic pollution is a challenge that requires collective efforts to reduce its usage and proper disposal.
Responsible disposal is the key to reducing plastic pollution. The Government had recently announced its intention to set up a recycling plant in the state, but its effectiveness is doubtful considering that the global recycling rate is below 10% only, or it may see the same fate as the Kohima Solid Waste Management Unit at Lerie, which was installed at a cost of Rs. 45 Crores, but have never functional till date. Whatever maybe the case, we hope that the Government’s program and good intention will eventually benefit the people and the environment.
The Nagaland Integrated Waste Management Policy 2019, enacted by the state Government in February 2019, clearly highlights efficient waste management and proper disposal across both urban and rural areas. It focuses on educating the public to segregate waste at source (biodegradable, recyclable, inert) and encourages waste reduction, reuse, and recycling. The policy also details the arrangements for waste classification, segregation, collection, storage, handling, transportation, and disposal, with waste generators responsible for ensuring proper management. The policy needs to be effectively implemented through people’s participation as everyone one of us is a waste generator. Coming specifically to plastics, the responsible disposal of plastics as per Plastic Management Rules of 2016 , suggest two methods of disposal :-
1). Use it for making asphalt roads and 2) Use as a fuel in cement factories via a technique called co-processing
In commemoration of WED 24, the Government vide their notification dated 17th May 2024 has taken the drive for collection of dry unsoiled plastic waste of the MLPs and SUPs by the ULBs and the municipalities which was to be sent for co-processing. However there seems to be no positive follow up to this drive, ultimately and sadly, which would have prevented tons of plastic waste being dumped in the landfills and littering the environment.
Much has been shared, written and spoken on the issue of plastic pollution in various forums and programs, it’s now time for all to seriously play their role in tackling the crisis of pollution that we are being challenged with today. Be it the government, business groups, or individuals.
As a run-up to the WED 2025, Mokokchung City, in collaboration with the MMC, Forest Department, YWCA (Mokokchung) and Earth Alliance@N had initiated the campaign of “Trade Waste for Green”, where sapling where distributed to all participants who deposited their segregated waste at MMC’s MRF. The respond was very encouraging and is an indication of people’s participation if awareness is effectively and timely decimated.
Some visuals of the events can been seen below. Here’s wishing all a meaningful World Environment Day.
L.H.Thangi Mannen