India Emerges as Leading Contributor to Global Plastic Waste with 9.3 Million Tonnes Annually
India leads global plastic pollution with 9.3 million tonnes annually, driven by inadequate waste management infrastructure and fragmented policies. Researchers warn the crisis may be underestimated, urging immediate action.
India has been identified as the largest contributor to global plastic pollution, accounting for nearly 20% of worldwide emissions, according to a new study spotlighting environmental challenges in the world’s most populous nation.
The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Leeds and published in Nature, reveals that of the 50.2 million metric tonnes of plastic released into the environment annually, India is responsible for 9.3 million tonnes. This staggering figure underscores the severity of the country’s waste management shortcomings.
Experts cite insufficient infrastructure for waste collection and disposal as a core issue driving the crisis. Despite regulatory efforts, fragmented and poorly enforced policies have hindered progress.
Researchers also suggest that India’s impact on plastic pollution may be underestimated. Ed Cook, one of the study’s authors, highlighted that India’s municipal solid waste burning surpasses that of the next four leading nations—Indonesia, Nigeria, China, and Russia—combined.
The findings call for urgent, coordinated action to tackle the escalating environmental crisis.
