Context: The Plastic Overshoot Day report said global plastic waste generation has risen by 7.11 per cent since 2021.

Key finding of the report: 

• The Plastic Overshoot Day report by Swiss non-profit EA Earth Action said global plastic waste generation has risen by 7.11 per cent since 2021. 
• The world is estimated to have generated 220 million tons of plastic waste this year, 70 million tons of which will end up polluting the environment.
• 12 countries are responsible for 60 per cent of the world’s mismanaged plastic waste: China, India, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Vietnam, Iran, Indonesia, Egypt, Pakistan, the United States and Turkey.
• Belgium are the top generators of plastic waste, with a yearly waste production of 147.7 kg per person. This is 16 times higher than in India.
• Oman tops the list of countries in terms of mismanaged plastic waste, with a projected 111 kg of mismanaged plastic per person in 2024. This is 30 times higher than Norway. India is in the bottom 12 countries.
• On September 5, 2024 , that the plastic waste produced worldwide will surpass the planet’s waste management systems and will be called “Plastic Overshoot Day”.

• Each country has its own “Plastic Overshoot Day”, determined by the amount of plastic waste generated and the country’s capacity to manage it. India will reach its Plastic Overshoot Day on April 23,2024.
• The amount of plastic produced is expected to double by 2040, which will triple the volume of plastic pollution. The underlying issues with plastic pollution are the excessive production and use of plastic across the planet and the lack of sufficient waste management systems to properly process plastic after it has been used. 

Status of India’s Plastic Waste Management

• India is a “low-waste-producing” polluter due to its low per capita plastic waste production (8 kg per capita per year). India’s expected mismanaged waste in 2024 will be 7.4 million tons, which is “very high”.
• India’s mismanaged plastic waste will be less than one-fifth of China and one-third of the US.
• India is estimated to release an average of 4 lakh tons of microplastics into the environment and 32 thousand tons of chemical additives into waterways.