The National Green Tribunal (NGT) of India has banned the use of disposable plastic in Delhi, the capital city. Concerns have been raised about the large amount of plastic waste the country produces. But now, single-use plastics such as cutlery, bags, and cups are prohibited entirely in the country’s capital.

Why the Ban Was Introduced

In India, there have been complaints about the air pollution caused by the illegal mass burning of plastic waste at three local landfills. The dumpsites are intended to be waste-to-energy plants, but the NGT has deemed them an environmental and health concern for the residents of Delhi. Because of the growing amounts of plastic waste at these sites, the NGT enforced a ban on plastic materials. The government of Delhi will work towards storing and regulating the use of plastic materials. All of Delhi’s public authorities and corporations have been called to take action to reduce and recycle their dumped waste. The entire National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi is now affected by the plastic ban.

The Problem with Plastic

Mass burnings of plastic have negatively affected the air quality in India. The Greenpeace Energydesk has investigated the capital’s air pollution to show the severity of the issue. They measured the air pollution during the UK Prime Minister’s recent visit to India and found the results to be astounding. During Theresa  May’s three day visit to Delhi, the pollution particulate measure was 552 μg/m3. To put that number into perspective, London’s the average particulate measure is 15 μg/m3. During her three day visit, May was exposed to air that was 36 times more toxic than air in her resident city of London.

Another growing concern is the amount of plastic India sends into the world’s waterways. According to the India Times, 60% of the plastic dumped into the world’s oceans each year comes from India. Plastic pollution in our oceans affects marine life by introducing invasive species to different areas of the world, entanglement, and by poisoning the food chain. Plastic has become commonplace in society’s everyday life, but its overwhelming presence is now causing harm to the environment and humans all over the globe.

Luckily, countries such as India are taking baby steps to address the issue of plastic on both a local and global scale. As individuals, we must also take initiative and choose to be part of the solution. In our day-to-day lives, we can reduce the amount of disposable plastics we use by opting for reusable shopping bags, buying in bulk, and by using reusable kitchenware. Let’s help save our world from being polluted even more by plastic.