Single-use food packaging 84% of Himalayan plastic waste, Pg18

Key Highlights

• 84.2% of plastic waste in Indian Himalayan regions is from food and beverage packaging, mainly single-use.

• 71% of this waste is non-recyclable, comprising multilayered plastics and tetra packs.

• Largest contributors to waste: Sikkim, Darjeeling, Ladakh, followed by Nagaland and Uttarakhand.

• Study led by Zero Waste Himalaya Alliance, with data from 450 sites and 15,000 volunteers.

• Points to a systemic failure in upstream production and policy, not just poor waste disposal.

Detailed Insights

Magnitude of the Problem

• In 2025, 1,21,739 pieces of trash were collected across 9 Himalayan states.

• 1,06,857 pieces (≈88%) were plastic; majority (84.2%) were food packaging related.

• Food wrappers were traced to top corporate polluters.

• Non-recyclable materials not picked by waste collectors, hence choke waterways, mountains, and landfills.

Geographic Spread (2025 Audit)

• Sikkim: 53,814 items (44%)

• Darjeeling: 36,180 items

• Ladakh: 11,958 items

• Others: Nagaland, Uttarakhand

Organisational Context

• Led by Zero Waste Himalaya and Integrated Mountain Initiative.

• Annual audit called The Himalayan Cleanup (THC), launched in 2018.

• 2024 edition involved 350 NGOs and over 15,000 participants.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved

• Multilayered plastic: Laminated plastics combining different polymer layers; non-recyclable due to material complexity.

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Policy tool to hold companies accountable for post-consumer waste.

Significance

• Highlights India’s mountain ecosystems' vulnerability to plastic packaging waste.

• Reflects failure of EPR enforcement, need for corporate accountability.

• Stresses upstream reform, not just better waste collection or recycling.

Way Forward

• Ban or redesign multilayered plastic in food packaging.

• Strengthen EPR compliance by FMCG companies.

• Promote biodegradable packaging, local alternatives.

• Incentivise mountain-specific waste systems, tailor policies to eco-sensitive zones.

Mains Mock Question:

“The Himalayan plastic waste crisis is more a production and systems issue than a post-consumer problem.” Critically examine in the light of recent findings from The Himalayan Cleanup 2024.