India leads global plastic pollution, emitting 9.3 million tonnes of waste yearly, representing around 20% of global plastic emissions, according to a recent study published in the journal Nature.
Official waste generation in India is underestimated, as it excludes rural areas, uncollected waste burning, and informal recycling, contributing to the country's massive plastic waste emissions problem, the study highlights.
Nigeria ranks second globally with 3.5 million tonnes of plastic waste emissions, followed by Indonesia with 3.4 million tonnes, according to recent data on global plastic waste production.
Uncollected waste and uncontrolled open burning significantly contribute to India’s plastic pollution, exacerbating environmental damage and public health risks, as per the study's comprehensive analysis.
China, once the top plastic polluter, now ranks fourth, due to major investments in waste collection and processing infrastructure over the past 15 years, significantly reducing emissions.
High-income nations generate more plastic waste but manage it better with full collection systems, preventing environmental emissions, leading to none being ranked among the top 90 polluters globally.
In Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, ineffective waste collection systems make uncollected waste the dominant source of plastic pollution, according to the study’s findings on waste mismanagement.
The Global Plastics Treaty, signed by 175 nations in 2022, aims to develop a legally binding agreement to combat global plastic pollution by 2024, addressing waste management and reduction.
Researchers noted that plastic pollution poses long-term health and environmental risks, particularly in low-income countries, where uncollected waste often ends up in open environments and water systems.
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