Topic Of The Day:-“Life In Plastic: On Waste Management Framework“
As a major producer of plastic waste that ends up in the oceans, India is arguably the best place to host World Environment Day. Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan has said the government means business, and the UN theme, “Beat Plastic Pollution”, will not remain an empty slogan. His claim would have inspired greater confidence had India taken its own rules on waste management seriously. Both the Solid Waste Management Rules and the Plastic Waste Management Rules of 2016, which built on previous regulations, mostly remain on paper. State governments have simply not given them the necessary momentum, and the producers of plastic articles that are invariably used just for a few minutes have shown little concern about their negative environmental impact. The Centre’s somewhat liberal estimate shows over 60% of about 25,000 tonnes of plastic waste generated daily is collected. That essentially means staggering 10,000 tonnes of trash is being released into the environment, a lot of it going into the sea. Also, not every piece of plastic collected by the system is scientifically processed. It is no surprise, therefore, that the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna river system is on the UN map of 10 rivers worldwide that collectively carry the bulk of the plastic waste into the oceans. The effects are evident: they threaten marine life and the well-being of people, as microplastics are now found even in drinking water. In their response to the crisis, communities and environmentally minded individuals are ahead of governments and municipal authorities. They segregate waste, compost at home, conduct “plastic free” social events and help recover materials that would otherwise just be dumped in the suburbs and wetlands. But, valuable as they are, voluntary efforts cannot achieve what systemic reform can. It is the Centre’s responsibility to ensure that the Environment (Protection) Act, the overarching law that enables anti-pollution rules to be issued, is implemented in letter and spirit. Ideally, regulation should help stop the manufacture of single-use plastic articles such as carry bags and cutlery and encourage the use of biodegradable materials. There is a challenge here, though. The provisions of the Plastic Waste Management Rules require manufacturers of compostable bags to get a certificate from the Central Pollution Control Board, but this has not stopped counterfeit products from entering the market. Local bodies mandated under rules to ensure segregation, collection and transfer of waste to registered recyclers have spectacularly failed to fulfil their responsibilities. The State Level Monitoring Committees provided for under the rules have not been made accountable. The waste management framework is dysfunctional, and Mr. Vardhan’s assertions on beating plastic pollution alone will not inspire confidence. India and the world face a plastics crisis. Solving it will take more than slogans.
MEANINGS AND WORDS
1) Ends up
Meaning: To finally be in a particular place or situation.
Example: “They’re travelling across Europe by train and are planning to end up in Moscow”
2) Arguably
Meaning: It may be argued (used to qualify the statement of an opinion or belief).
Example: “She is arguably the greatest woman tennis player of all time”
Synonyms: Possibly, Conceivably.
3) Inspired
Meaning: Of extraordinary quality, as if arising from some external creative impulse.
Example: “They had to thank the goalkeeper for some inspired saves”
4) Momentum
Meaning: The impetus and driving force gained by the development of a process or course of events.
Example: “The investigation gathered momentum in the spring”
Synonyms: Impetus, Energy.
5) Invariably
Meaning: In every case or on every occasion; always.
Example: “Ranch meals are invariably big and hearty”
Synonyms: Always, Every time.
6) Impact
Meaning: A marked effect or influence.
Example: “Our regional measures have had a significant impact on unemployment”
Synonyms: Effect, Influence.
7) Stagger
Meaning: Continue in existence or operation uncertainly or precariously.
Example: “The treasury staggered from one crisis to the next”
8) Threaten
Meaning: State one’s intention to take hostile action against (someone) in retribution for something done or not done.
Example: “How dare you threaten me?”
Synonyms: Menace, Intimidate.
9) Crisis
Meaning: A time of intense difficulty or danger.
Example: “The current economic crisis”
Synonyms: Catastrophe, Calamity.
10) Ahead
Meaning: In the lead.
Example: “He was slightly ahead on points”
Synonyms: Leading, Winning.
11) Compost
Meaning: Decayed organic material used as a fertilizer for growing plants.
Example: “Cover with a layer of fine compost”
Synonyms: Fertilizer, Plant food.
12) Dumped
Meaning: Deposit or dispose of (rubbish, waste, or unwanted material), typically in a careless or hurried way.
Example: “Trucks dumped 1,900 tons of refuse here”
Synonyms: Dispose of, Get rid of.
13) Suburbs
Meaning: An outlying district of a city, especially a residential one.
Example: “A highly respectable suburb of Chicago”
Synonyms: Outlying district, Residential area.
14) Wetlands
Meaning: Land consisting of marshes or swamps; saturated land.
Example: “The draining of British wetlands”
15) Overarching
Meaning: Comprehensive or all-embracing.
Example: “A single overarching principle”
16) Counterfeit
Meaning: A fraudulent imitation of something else.
Example: “He knew the tapes to be counterfeits”
Synonyms: Fake, Forgery.
17) Mandate
Meaning: Give (someone) authority to act in a certain way.
Example: “The rightful king was mandated and sanctioned by God”
18) Ensure
Meaning: Make certain that (something) will occur or be the case.
Example: “The client must ensure that accurate records are kept”
Synonyms: Make sure, Make certain.
19) Spectacularly
Meaning: In an impressive, dramatic, or eye-catching way.
Example: “The immense skyscraper is spectacularly lit up”
20) Fulfil
Meaning: Achieve or realize (something desired, promised, or predicted).
Example: “He wouldn’t be able to fulfil his ambition to visit Naples”
Synonyms: Succeed in, Attain.
21) Dysfunctional
Meaning: Not operating normally or properly.
Example: “The telephones are dysfunctional”
22) Assertion
Meaning: A confident and forceful statement of fact or belief.
Example: “His assertion that his father had deserted the family”
Synonyms: Declaration, Contention.
