The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on September 17, 2021 ha issued the Plastic Waste Management (Second Amendment) Rules, 2021 to further amend the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.

The lifetime cost to society, the environment and the economy of plastic produced in 2019 alone has been revealed at US$3.7 trillion, more than the GDP of India according to a new report by Dalberg commissioned by WWF.

This study identifies the impacts of plastic pollution on land and freshwater migratory species protected by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).

The Department of Urban Development on August 13, 2021 has issued Draft Plastic Waste Management Bye-laws, 2021 for National Capital Territory of Delhi for Management of Plastic Waste.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change vide its notification dated 12th August 2021 has published the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021 which has proposed to ban the manufacture, use, sale, import, and handling of some single-use plastic items on a ‘pan India basis.

Plastics have become an omnipresent part of the everyday life of billions of people. Properties like low cost, low weight, durability, and barrier tendency have gradually raised the demand for plastic materials and it is bound to increase further in the coming years.

The report ‘Addressing Single-use plastic products pollution, using a life cycle approach’ has been released by UNEP, just ahead of UNEA5. The report summarizes the key conclusions on the environmental performance of eight different single-use plastic products compared to their alternatives.

The COVID19 pandemic is having immense effects on societies across the world. It has caused millions of deaths worldwide and challenged our health systems and economies. The pandemic - and responses to it, involving lockdowns, use of personal protection equipment, and stay-at-home measures - has far reaching health and economic consequences.