01Single-use macroplastics (fragments over 0.5 mm) constitute the predominant source of plastic pollution in Nagaland. The goods encompass bottles, caps, cigarettes, shopping bags, mugs, and straws. Approximately 1.8 million individuals in Nagaland use at least one type of plastic daily. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) estimates that Nagaland generated 3,360,043 tonnes of plastic garbage in the year 2018-19. It has been escalating annually. Forty percent of plastic garbage is discarded in open areas designated as dumping sites without suitable landfills; twenty percent accumulates in drainage systems and beside roadways, while the remainder is incinerated. Recycling only accounts for a small portion (less than 5%) of plastic waste, including water bottles. Only a limited number of districts, such as Dimapur and Kohima, participate in recycling initiatives. Recycling is currently indispensable in several facets of contemporary existence.
Although the prevalent acknowledgement that the excessive utilisation and mismanagement of plastics exacerbate global pollution and environmental deterioration, plastic production persists in expanding owing to the considerable benefits attributed to diverse polymer varieties. For example, it is feasible to heat, sterilise, and manipulate plastics while maintaining their structural integrity. Nevertheless, individuals often use and discard plastics excessively due to their cost-effectiveness and disposability.
Globally, waste management systems are encountering difficulties in handling the rising volume of refuse. With an estimated cumulative mass of 8.3 billion tonnes, global plastic production has surpassed that of the preceding 50 years since 2004. The majority of this plastic is drawn from crude oil and natural gas. Approximately 9% of the 6.3 billion tonnes of primary and secondary (recycled) plastic garbage produced between 1950 and 2015 was recycled, and 12% was burned; the other 79% was either landfilled or discharged into the environment. Manufacturers produced 407 million tonnes (Mt) of plastic in 2015, of which 164 Mt were used for packaging, or 36% of the overall production.
Plastic exerts a significant influence on several factors. Effects on human health – Solar radiation, winds, currents, and several natural forces cause plastic to decompose into microplastics (less than 5 mm) and nanoplastics (less than 100 nm). Abrasion causes goods such as synthetic fabrics and tyres to release primary microplastic particles. Human blood and placentas, along with consumables such as tap water and salt, contain microplastics. Many chemicals used in plastic synthesis are known to cause cancer and can lead to developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immunological problems. The consequences on flora and animals are substantial.
Plastic adversely affects both plant and animal life in several ways. Plastic pollution presents a significant danger to terrestrial fauna, resulting in entanglement, ingestion that induces malnutrition or internal damage, and habitat disturbance, eventually affecting their health, survival, and numbers. The discharge of deleterious substances diminishes soil fertility and impairs plant development. Plastic debris and pollution interfere with natural ecosystems, hindering plant growth and reproduction. Microplastics in the soil impede the roots of plants and trees, diminishing their capacity to absorb water and nutrients essential for growth. Chlorinated plastic can emit toxic compounds into the adjacent soil, which may then infiltrate groundwater or other nearby water sources, so impacting the environment. Uninformed ingestion of microplastics by animals may cause gastrointestinal obstruction, potentially resulting in mortality, malnutrition, or stunted development. Plastic bags often attract fauna with their aroma of sustenance. While foraging for food, animals frequently become ensnared by their heads, paws, or wings in plastic. Failure to assist people frequently results in the asphyxiation of animals and birds. Plastics inundate the environment with waste, pollute essential resources for existence, induce a spectrum of recognised and unrecognised diseases, and support the most detrimental industries on the planet.
Impacts on aquatic ecosystems: Plastic pollution severely impacts Nagaland’s water bodies, adversely harming aquatic life and the ecosystem as plastic trash accumulates. The contamination spans from little tributaries to major rivers. Plastics are detrimental when ingested by fish and other animals. They pollute aquatic ecosystems, resulting in perilous long-term carcinogenic consequences for aquatic organisms due to the discharge of lead, mercury, cadmium, and other toxic substances. It presents a danger to aquatic organisms.
Every difficulty possesses an answer; nevertheless, it necessitates particular methodologies to get it. Incineration is not a viable option; the combustion of plastic or other garbage does not eliminate it. It frequently transforms into an equally detrimental or more severe situation. Plastic, derived from crude oil and natural gas, contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases that drive climate change. Incinerating polymers is analogous to combusting fossil fuels. Toxins and furans carcinogenic substances generated during the combustion of plastic are further concerns. These compounds infiltrate our lungs, bodies, and even certain foods we consume, such as fish and eggs.
Adoption of production and consumption regulations; prohibitions on single-use plastics; promotion of circular economy ideas; implementation of expanded producer responsibility programs; consumer education; and improved waste management are necessary. Eco-design mitigates trash accumulation in landfills and seas, conserves energy, and diminishes dependence on fossil fuels for the manufacturing of new plastics. Enhancing demand for recycled plastics emphasizing awareness, advocating sustainable practices, and incentivising consumers and companies to select recycled materials—is an additional strategy for mitigating plastic pollution. The use of renewable energy in recycling facilities and processes such as pyrolysis, which transforms plastic waste into fuel, is a sustainable strategy for mitigating plastic pollution and fostering a circular economy. This method expands producer accountability for trash, thereby diminishing plastic pollution. This implies that corporations bear the responsibility of collecting and managing post-consumer plastic waste, thereby incentivising them to develop products and packaging that promote recycling and reuse. We are enhancing garbage collecting systems, implementing effective segregation techniques, augmenting collection infrastructure, and increasing awareness of recycling and appropriate disposal methods.
C Yeilih Konyak
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
4th semester
Nagaland University, Lumami