Plastic Overshoot Day Report: India’s Role in Global Plastic Mismanagement

India ranks among the top twelve countries responsible for 60% of the world’s mismanaged plastic waste, as highlighted in the recent Plastic Overshoot Day report by Switzerland’s EA Earth Action. Despite having the lowest per capita plastic waste production globally, India is expected to generate 7.4 million tons of mismanaged plastic waste in 2024, a figure the report deems “very high.”

Global Insights

Top Mismanaged Waste Generators

• China, India, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Vietnam, Iran, Indonesia, Egypt, Pakistan, the United States, and Turkey account for 60% of the world’s mismanaged plastic waste.

Plastic Overshoot Day

• The world is projected to exceed its capacity to manage plastic waste by September 5, 2024, with nearly half of the global population already residing in areas where plastic waste exceeds management capabilities by April 2024.

Projected Global Plastic Waste

• Global plastic waste generation in 2024 is estimated at 220 million tons, with 70 million tons classified as mismanaged plastic waste, posing a significant threat to the environment.

Country-specific Findings

Per Capita Plastic Waste

• Belgium leads in per capita plastic waste production, with 147.7 kg per person annually.

Highest Per Capita Mismanaged Plastic Waste

• Oman ranks highest in per capita mismanaged plastic waste, with an expected figure of 111 kg per person in 2024.

India’s Impact

Lowest Per Capita Production, High Mismanagement

• India boasts the lowest per capita plastic waste production globally, at 8 kg per person per year. However, it is anticipated to generate 7.4 million tons of mismanaged plastic waste in 2024, a quantity deemed significant by the report.

Microplastics and Chemical Additives

• India is estimated to release 391,879 tons of microplastics and 31,483 tons of chemical additives into the environment and waterways, respectively, in 2024.