Analysis of Gaps in the Management of Plastic Waste in India and Beyond

Summary

This chapter outlines persistent gaps and challenges in relation to plastic waste management in India, drawing on the baseline assessments conducted by the India–Norway cooperation project on capacity building for reducing plastic and chemical pollution in India (INOPOL, 2019-22). Identified gaps and lessons learned are analyzed across scales, from sampling and monitoring capacities in the case study sites of Surat and Vapi in Gujarat state, to waste management and associated challenges in India, seen in the context of emerging international debates surrounding plastic pollution. It provides insights into gaps related to existing waste generation and pollution data, lack of standardization for sampling and monitoring pollution, policy and regulatory challenges, infrastructure, capacity and technological waste management limitations, and an analysis of broader socio-economic considerations surrounding the management of plastic waste and pollution, as well as the impacts of COVID-19. Beyond highlighting key concerns, the chapter also outlines recommendations that may contribute to strengthening capacities toward sustainable waste management and pollution reduction. The identified gaps build on selected Indian case-studies and the suggested enabling mechanisms must account for local diversities. Nevertheless, these insights may have relevance for pollution reduction strategies in contexts characterized by significant economic growth, urbanization, and the emergence of high-consuming middle-classes, driving waste generation to unsustainable levels.