Rivers & other freshwater bodies are the lifeline of a nation & are homes of aquatic biodiversity too, but these water bodies are getting polluted due to human activities. Plastic is one of the main pollutants, which the rivers carry from land to sea. Plastics and microplastics are now ubiquitous in our natural environment, becoming part of the Earth’s fossil record and a marker of the Anthropocene. Plastic pollution has given birth to a new kind of marine microbial habitat called the “plastisphere“.
Plastic was originally invented in the second half of the 19th century, as a cheaper alternative to ivory, which saved elephants from extinction.
It is estimated that global Commercial production of plastics that started around the 1950’s has gained exceptional growth, and reached 393 million metric tonnes of global annual production equivalent to global human biomass, in plastic, every single year. At the present rate of growth, plastics production is estimated to double within the next 20 years.
The global plastic market size was valued at USD 579.7 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.4% from 2021 to 2028.
Plastic pollution is one of the most challenging issues our oceans face today. At least 690 species have encountered marine debris. 92% of the individual encounters with marine debris related to encounters with plastic. At least 17% of impacted species listed on the IUCN Red List as near threatened or above.
Humans are consuming about 2000 tiny pieces of plastic every week. That’s approximately 5 grams of plastic every week (equivalent weight of a credit card), approximately 21 grams a month, and over 250 grams a year.
There are more than 100,000 rivers on Earth. But only 1% of rivers (about1000 rivers) account for 80% of global annual emissions. These rivers pour plastics between 0.8 million and 2.7 million metric tons per year, with small urban rivers among the most polluting. The remaining 20% of plastic emissions are distributed over 30,000 rivers. Plastic makes up 80% of all marine debris found from surface waters to deep-sea sediments.
The majority of plastic emissions is found in those countries that are emerging economies with sufficient wealth to consume a lot of plastic but that don’t have adequate waste management systems to collect the trash & recycle it.
The growing population, coupled with the rapid urbanization and industrialization in emerging economies, is responsible for an increase in “plastic based product production” to fulfill increasing needs for infrastructure (construction, automotive, electrical & electronics industries, agriculture, packaging, utility, consumer goods, and medical sector). Asia Pacific dominated the plastic market with a share of 44.6% in 2020. Plastics have 85% less specific gravity compared to metals. When used in the automotive and construction industries, they enable approximately 80% weight savings and 30% to 50% cost savings in individual components.
Rivers running through dense coastal cities in emerging economies are notorious plastic pollution hotspots while rural rivers in the same countries generally emit only very little plastic into the oceans.
According to “The price tag of plastic pollution- an economic assessment of river plastic”, the economic impact on coastal communities is estimated to be up to USD 6 to USD 19 billion for 87 coastal countries in 2018.
Based on the waste density in rivers, it is identified that 19 Asian countries account for 82% of global plastic waste flowing from land into oceans. The economic impact of marine plastic pollution in these countries constitutes 86% of the global costs.
Plastics are magnets for toxic chemicals, which, when consumed by the fish we eat, potentially impacts the health of the billions of people who rely on these seafood as their primary source of protein.
If current trends are allowed to continue, the amount of plastic entering the oceans is set to double in the next ten years; annual emissions may reach up to 53 million metric tons per year by 2030.
Controlling The Plastic Pollution
Protecting ocean ecosystems from plastic pollution is among the main environmental imperatives of our time. Here are some suggestions.
1- Prevent plastic upstream. Prevent all plastic from entering the rivers. Upstream solutions are clearly the more structural way to go and are required to control few percent of the problem. It’s the fastest and most cost-effective way to plug the leaks.
2- Use Interceptors for intercepting trash in rivers & open drains. Interceptors can rapidly reduce the amount of plastic that will flow into the oceans via rivers & their tributaries.
3- Ban single-use plastic or single-use packaging to be made of biodegradable materials that are rapidly and fully degradable.
4- Use of high-quality waste management, financial incentives to drive collection, and new recycling methods.
How to control plastic pollution in Mahananda river?
On 28th March 2022, UNEP’s former Executive Director Mr Erik Solheim visited Mahananda riverbank, in Siliguri, to raise awareness among the people to make the river pollution-free, especially from plastic. Mahananda, While passing through Siliguri, gets polluted from the pollutants carried by its tributaries, people residing on its riverbank, open drains, untreated effluents, sand mining, carcasses of animals, and dumping of solid waste; river pollution have negatively impacted Mahananda ecology and the survival of dolphins and other riverine species. But, this river can be made free from plastic pollution, with the help of people, administration, Siliguri Municipal Corporation, and political will in the same way as Mithi river in Mumbai. Finland’s RiverRecycle company is successfully making the Mithi river free from plastics.
Mr Erik Solheim also given “Mantra of 3 R“, i.e., Refuse, Reduce & Recycle to clean river Mahananda & other rivers too.
On March 2, 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly or the UNEA at its fifth session voted to frame a global plastic treaty by 2024. Its aim was to create an international legally-binding instrument to end plastic pollution.
Being human it’s our duty to make water bodies and aquatic ecosystems plastic-free, for current generation and future generations to come. Let us act “For Nature” & “Ecosystem Restoration”.
For Nature, For Future 