The Harmful Effects of Plastic Pollution: A Closer Look

The term “single-use plastics” (or SUPs in short) refers to all those plastic items that are intended to be used only once and then thrown away or discarded. It also includes plastic products that are intended to be used for a very short period. Some common examples of SUPs are plastic cutleries, straws, cups, cotton bud sticks, etc. This type of plastic is used mainly by the food industry. The fact that SUPs effectively serve the purpose of production which is also cost-effective has made its usage prevalent. However, the harmful effects of plastic, particularly SUPs, are a growing concern. Almost everyone uses them in one or the other form and indeed they are very useful and efficacious.

However, its widespread usage and improper disposal have made it a critical environmental issue. The Indian government recognized this issue and implemented significant measures to reduce the usage of SUPs. The government had taken an indispensable action on July 1, 2022, which resulted in a comprehensive ban on SUPs. In this article, we will explore the detrimental effects of SUPs, the potential impact of the ban on consumers and other sectors, and the enforcement strategies.

Harmful Effects of SUPs
As discussed above, due to the convenience and cost-effectiveness SUPs offer, they have become ubiquitous and now almost half of the global plastic production consists of SUPs. It is a well-known fact that plastic is non-biodegradable which stays in the environment for centuries causing severe pollution. This huge concentration of SUPs, especially plastic bags, obstructs the respiratory and digestive systems of various terrestrial and aquatic animals as well. The toxic chemicals used in plastic production also pose severe health risks to humans. Moreover, its incineration also releases hazardous chemicals which again puts human health and the environment in danger. It is evident that the harmful effects of plastic pollution extend to both nature and living beings.