Rivers and other freshwater bodies are the lifelines of a nation, and home to aquatic biodiversity, too. But, these water bodies are getting polluted due to human activities. Plastic is one of the main pollutants carried by the rivers from land to sea.
Plastics and microplastics are now ubiquitous in our natural environment. They have become part of the earth’s fossil records and a marker of the Anthropocene epoch. Plastic pollution has given birth to a new kind of marine microbial habitat: “plastisphere”.
Plastic was originally invented in the second half of the 19th century, as a cheaper alternative to ivory, that also saved elephants from extinction.
It is estimated that global commercial production of plastic which started around the 1950s, has gained exceptional growth and reached a stage where 393 million metric tonnes of global annual production. At the present rate of growth, plastic production is estimated to double within the next 20 years.
We Consume over 250 Grams Of Plastic In One Year
The global plastic market size was valued at $579.7 billion in 2020. It 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. Close to 700 (690) species have encountered marine debris. And, 92% of individual encounters with marine debris are related to encounters with plastic. At least 17% of the impacted species are listed on the IUCN’s (International Union for Conservation of Nature) red list of threatened species, as near threatened or above.
Humans are consuming about 2,000 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.
Of Emerging Economies And Our Infrastructural Needs
There are more than 1,00,000 rivers on earth, but only 1% of the rivers (about 1,000 rivers) account for 80% of global annual emissions. These rivers pour plastics between 0.8-2.7 million metric tons per year, with small, urban rivers being the most polluting.
The remaining 20% of plastic emissions are distributed over 30,000 rivers. Plastic makes up for 80% of all marine debris found in oceans, from surface waters to deep-sea sediments.
The majority of plastic emissions are found in those countries that are emerging economies with sufficient wealth to consume a lot of plastic, but minus adequate waste management systems to collect all the trash and recycle it.
The growing population, coupled with the rapid urbanisation and industrialisation, in emerging economies is responsible for an increase in “plastic-based product production”, to fulfill their ever-increasing infrastructural needs.
Urban Rivers Are Plastic Pollution Hotspots
Infrastructural needs include construction, automotive production, electrical and electronics industries, agriculture, packaging, utility, consumer goods and the medical sector. Did you know that the Asia-Pacific dominated the plastic market, with a share of 44.6% in 2020.
Plastics have 85% less specific gravity when compared to metals. When used in the automotive and construction industries, they enable approximately 80% weight savings, and 30-50% 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 very little plastic into the oceans.
From Waterbodies To Fish To Humans
According to a report titled “the price tag of plastic pollution: an economic assessment of river plastic”, the economic impact on coastal communities is estimated to be up to $6-19 billion, for 87 coastal countries in 2018.
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 Plastic Pollution
Protecting ocean ecosystems from plastic pollution is among the main environmental imperatives of our time. Here are some suggestions on how to do this:
- Prevent plastic upstream – prevent all plastic from entering the rivers. Upstream solutions are clearly the more structural way to go about this. It’s the fastest and most cost-effective way to plug the leaks.
- Use interceptors – intercept trash in rivers and open drains. Interceptors can rapidly reduce the amount of plastic that will flow into the oceans via rivers and their tributaries.
- Ban single-use plastic – make packaging using biodegradable materials that decompose rapidly and fully.
- Use high-quality waste management – using financial incentives to drive collection and new recycling methods, is one way to go about this.
Controlling Plastic Pollution In Mahananda And Other Rivers
On March 28, 2022, UNEP’s (United Nations environment programme) former executive director, Erik Solheim, visited the 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 by the pollutants carried by its tributaries. Some of these pollutants include the people residing on its riverbank, open drains, untreated effluents, sand mining, carcasses of animals, and dumping of solid waste.
River pollution has negatively impacted Mahananda’s ecology, and the survival of dolphins and other riverine species living in it. But, this river can be made free from plastic pollution, with the help of the administration, people, Siliguri Municipal Corporation and political will.
This is exactly what was done in the Mithi river in Mumbai. Finland’s RiverRecycle company is successfully making the Mithi river free from plastic.
On March 2, 2022, the UNEA (United Nations environment assembly) voted to frame a global plastic treaty by 2024 at its fifth session. 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 the current generation and future generations. Let us act for nature and ecosystem restoration!