Despite Plastic Ban, Delhi among Largest Plastic Generators

Bangalore: Delhi is one of the largest producers of plastic waste in the nation. The capital generates more than 800 metric tonnes of plastic waste per day. Everyday approximately 750 metric tonnes reach landfill sites of which about 80 percent are plastic bags and packaging materials, reported Neha Lalchandani & Maria Akram for TNN. It is a shocking fact as plastic bags have been banned in the city since 2009.

Delhi is among nine Indian cities where plastic forms more than 10 percent of the total waste generated. Data from Central Pollution Control Board revealed that in cities like Shimla and Chandigarh plastic waste forms less than 4 percent of municipal solid waste, while in Faridabad, Ahmedabad, Raipur, Kolkata, Surat and Port Blair plastic forms more than 10 percent of the total waste.

The municipal corporations say the percentage of plastic waste has come down to 2-4 percent in Delhi in the past few years, and accept that very little has been done to segregate the waste.

CPCB officials said non-segregation of waste and such high levels of plastic reaching landfill sites is shameful.

A CPCB official was quoted by TNN, saying, "Most of the segregation is done by ragpickers who are an unorganized workforce. Even recycling is done largely in the unorganized sector. Delhi has around 4,000 manufacturing units of which only 200-300 have licences. The rest operate in unauthorized areas and employ more than one lakh people. The failure of the civic agencies to manage plastic waste is evident from the massive pollution that can be seen all around us."

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