Plastic: An Enemy Or A Friend?

ByMOKOKCHUNG TIMES

Jun 5, 2025 #plastic, #pollution

As societies become increasingly industrialized, Plastic pollution has emerged as a significant environmental issue. It has wide-ranging implications for humans, wildlife, and the environment. The millions of tons of plastic swirling around the world’s ocean have garnered a lot of media attention recently. But plastic pollution arguably posses a bigger threat to the plants and animals – including humans-who are based on Land. Very little of the plastic, we discard everyday is recycled or incinerated in waste-to-energy facilities. Much of it ends up in landfills, where it may take up to 1000years to degrade, leaching potentially toxic substance into soil and water.

Each year, World Environment Day brings the spotlight onto an urgent issue. This year 2025, that issue is a #Beat Plastic Pollution. Environment day isn’t just for thoughts, it’s springboard for deeds. Plastic pollution exacerbates the deadly impacts of the triple planetary crisis : the crisis of climate change, the crisis of nature, land and biodiversity loss, and the crisis of pollution and waste.

We’ve all come across plastic waste in some form or other. You can find it in your homes , in your streets, and in your nearby streams/nullah. Plastic pollution has become a global issue that needs to be addressed urgently.

In our state, despite been total ban on Single Use Plastic (SUP) in the year 2023, while there have still been inroads in terms of total ban on SUP or in attempting to reduce plastic usage and changing the way plastic is dealt with once it is discarded, plastic usage continues to increase in our state too. This means the plastic problem poses a significant threat to the environment, and yet more needs to be done. One of the big problem relates to improper disposal of plastic. Much of the plastic waste comes from the SUP types which are not always recycled. As a result, these plastics accumulate in the environment and ultimate cause plastic pollution. In addition to the plastic waste problem, there is also the problem of microplastics. Microplastics come from the breakdown of larger plastic materials such as bottles and bags and can accumulate in the environment, Recently, its particles have been found in human blood, the long term affects of this are still to be understood fully.

The plastic waste problem has been around for many years, but it is only recently that people have started recognizing it as a major environmental issue that needs to be addressed. the plastic waste problem is a global issue and requires global action. It is essential that steps to reduce the amount of plastic waste in the environment are taken, as this can have a devastating effect on the environment and long term human health. To combat plastic pollution , a multifaceted approached is needed encompassing individual actions, policy changes, and technological advancement. This includes reducing SUP, promoting recycling and reuse, supporting sustainable alternatives, and developing innovatives clean up technologies. By implementing these measures collectively, individuals, communities, and governments can make a significant impact on reducing plastic pollution and creating a more sustainable future.

Issued by:

Research, Demonstration & Training Centre, Zubza
(Soil and Water Conservation Department)