Seminar and Poster Competition themed: Only one Earth-Beat Plastic Pollution

On account of “World Environment Day” celebrations, a one-day seminar themed: Only One Earth-Beat Plastic Pollution” in conjunction with a Poster Competition was conducted on 5^th June 2023 by the Department of Civil Engineering, FET, MRIIRS in association with “The Institution of Engineers (India)”, Faridabad Local Centre. The main theme of the event was to strengthen the mitigations towards plastic pollutions, that India and most developing & underdeveloped countries has been facing locally as well as globally.

Mr. Satyendra Sahai, Chief General Manager, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., first speaker of the session, reiterated the effects arised out of the need of plastic and its post consumptions, the development and insight in recycling, a sustainable model etc. With a quote that affirmed “Life changes very quickly in a very positive way, if you let it”, he accentuated on the India’s real GDP growth and its emergence as one of the fastest growing economy, to also understand how plastic as one of a source is connected to economy and its demand. He mapped a path forward to complete the cycle by asserting that design for mitigation should be such that it is usable (no energy needed), recycling and further use the recyclates to make products.

The second session was presented by Dr. Sameer Arora, Technical Lead, CPCB, Delhi. Dr. Arora accentuated on the “alternatives of the single use plastics” highlighting the spectra of its applications wherein as per CPCB reports: 3.4 million metric tonnes of plastics waste are generated in India (2019-2020), the statistic is alarming given today’s timeline. He presented a sector-wise consumption to highlight the need of awareness especially in plastic package industry, focused on the four categories of such, vis-à-vis rigid plastics, flexible plastics, multi layered plastics and compostable plastics. He further introduced the various SUP Compliance Monitoring Portals for administrators as well as different applications and portals alike used by field officers and public as well. He reiterated the call for innovations and collaborative approach through prevention/reduction, reuse, recycle, waste-to-earth, incinerations and landfill, wherein it is to be maximised through awareness campaigns and minimized through government intervention since the public as a whole must implement the actions necessary. Unconventional solutions were discussed highlighting the alternatives at global levels through compostable Biopolymers, Bamboo utensils, Sustainable sponges etc. He concluded strongly with the focus of the 6 R’s i.e., Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover, Redesign and Remanufacture.