Report raises concern on India’s reliance on single-use plastics; cites study to support reuse systems

This story has been updated

The thriving street food sector across India depends heavily on single-use plastics that include plates, bowls, cups and takeaway containers, according to a report launched during the Sixth United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA-6) at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

Although affordable and accessible, single-use plastic items translate into a nationwide waste management burden and cost to society, Turning rubbish into a resource: Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 added.

The report further stated that Zero Waste Europe and National Hawker Federation (NHF) had undertaken a cost-benefit analysis to compare a proposed reuse system, tailored to Indian street food vendors, with the current single-use plastic system. Zero Waste Europe is a European network of communities, local leaders, experts, and change agents working towards the elimination of waste. NHF — championing the rights of street vendors— had played a key role in the passage of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. Both Zero Waste Europe and NHF represent Break Free From Plastic, a global movement against plastic pollution.

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The study was found to encompass the perspectives of street vendors, customers and policy makers and also potential cost savings, revenue implications and overall viability in five Indian cities, the report said. These cities included Kolkata (West Bengal), Delhi, Maharashtra’s Mumbai and Nagpur and Ranchi (Jharkhand).

Its findings went on to reveal that reuse systems presented a compelling business case and stressed on its benefits towards waste management. “It reduced costs for vendors and customers. Hence, it considerably reduced the quantity of materials required, and had a 21 per cent return on investment with a two- to three-year payback period. Important considerations included material choice, retention time, return rate, deposit amounts and government incentives,” the Zero Waste Study findings highlighted by the United Nations Environment Programme report elaborated.

The study concluded on the lines of a recommendation envisioning a solution for India’s waste problem. 

“Adopting a reusable packaging system in India’s street food sector would translate into being both economically viable and environmentally sustainable. This, in turn, would benefit all stakeholders and pave the way for a more resilient and sustainable future for Indian cities,” it stressed.