Media: India overtakes China as world's largest plastic polluter
India's growing plastic emissions are primarily driven by its rapidly expanding population, which produces more waste than the country's infrastructure can effectively manage.
A recent study from the University of Leeds reveals that India has surpassed China as the world’s largest emitter of plastic waste, releasing approximately 9.3 million tons annually, which constitutes about 20% of global plastic emissions. The study defines plastic emissions as waste materials that escape from controlled waste management systems into the environment.
India's growing plastic emissions are primarily driven by its rapidly expanding population, which produces more waste than the country's infrastructure can effectively manage. The study identifies major challenges, including insufficient waste collection and disposal systems, with uncontrolled landfills outnumbering sanitary landfills by a ratio of 10 to 1. Additionally, India’s reported waste generation rate of 0.12 kg per person per day may be an underestimate, according to collected data.
In contrast, China has made significant strides in managing plastic waste and now ranks fourth globally in emissions. This improvement is attributed to the country's advancements in controlled landfills and waste incineration practices.
Written by: Muhammad Hafiz