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REMOULDING THE GLOBAL PLASTICS TREATY

SYLLABUS:

GS 3:

• Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Focus:

• Global leaders will gather in Canada’s capital -Ottawa – to discuss progress in drafting a first-ever global treaty to rein in soaring plastic pollution by the end of the year. This treaty is expected to be finalized by the end of this year.

Source: UN

Introduction to the Informal Waste Sector

1. Vital Role in Waste Management: Informal recycling workers play a crucial role in managing waste, collecting, sorting, and recycling materials that would otherwise end up in landfills or polluting the environment.
2. Economic Contributions: By recovering recyclable materials, these workers alleviate financial burdens on municipal waste management budgets and indirectly subsidize the waste management responsibilities of producers, consumers, and governments.
3. Environmental Impact: Their activities significantly reduce the volume of plastic in landfills and dumps, preventing plastic leakage into natural habitats and water bodies.
4. Sustainability Champions: These workers support circular waste management practices, contributing valuably to sustainability and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.
5. Underappreciated Labor: Despite their contributions, informal recycling workers are often overlooked and underrepresented in policy discussions, remaining vulnerable within the plastic value chains.

Risks and Challenges Faced by Informal Recyclers

1. Increasing Privatization: The trend towards privatizing waste management poses a threat to the livelihoods of informal workers who rely on accessing waste materials freely.
2. Technological and Policy Exclusion: Projects like waste-to-energy and incineration, along with policies including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) norms, often exclude informal workers, jeopardizing their jobs and income.
3. Lack of Formal Recognition: Without formal recognition, these workers face challenges in accessing the rights and protections typically afforded to formal sector employees.
4. Health and Safety Risks: Informal recycling work involves significant health risks, with workers often operating without adequate safety gear or formal training.
5. Economic Instability: The informal nature of their employment makes these workers particularly susceptible to economic downturns and market fluctuations in the value of recyclable materials.

Global Plastics Treaty and the Need for a Just Transition

1. Framework for Action: The Global Plastics Treaty aims to create a legally binding international framework to reduce and ultimately eliminate plastic pollution.
2. Inclusion of Informal Sector: It is crucial that the treaty includes specific provisions to support the transition of informal recycling workers into formal economies, recognizing their role and integrating their knowledge and skills.
3. Formalization and Integration: Advocates call for the formalization of informal waste sectors, which would help secure the livelihoods of these workers and improve their working conditions.
4. Equitable Participation: The treaty should ensure that informal recyclers are involved in the negotiation processes and that their voices are heard in the formulation of policies.
5. Defining a Just Transition: There needs to be a clear and universally accepted definition of what a “just transition” for the informal waste sector entails, focusing on securing rights, providing safety nets, and enhancing their economic opportunities.

Role of International and National Entities

1. UN and Intergovernmental Efforts: The United Nations Environment Assembly and other international bodies have emphasized the importance of inclusivity in discussions about reducing plastic pollution.
2. Support from NGOs: Organizations like the International Alliance of Waste Pickers advocate for the rights of informal workers and their inclusion in international policy discussions.
3. National Policies and Support: Countries like India play a critical role by promoting models that integrate reuse, repair, and recycling practices that consider the socio-economic contexts of informal workers.
4. Capacity Building: Governments and NGOs should collaborate to provide training and resources to help informal recyclers adapt to new technologies and practices.
5. Legal and Social Protection: There is a need for laws that recognize and protect informal recyclers, providing them with the benefits and protections equivalent to those in formal employment.

Conclusion and Call to Action

1. Acknowledgment of Contributions: As the global community moves towards a plastic-free environment, it is essential to acknowledge and leverage the significant contributions of informal recyclers.
2. Integration into Global Policies: Their integration into global and national policies would not only ensure the effectiveness of these policies but also secure social justice and equity.
3. Promotion of Sustainable Practices: By formally integrating informal recyclers, policies can promote more sustainable waste management practices that are beneficial to both the environment and the economy.
4. Protection of Rights: Ensuring the rights and protections of these workers is fundamental to a just transition and to the sustainability of the waste management sector.
5. Global and Local Collaboration: A collaborative effort between global entities, national governments, and local organizations is necessary to achieve these goals and ensure a fair and effective approach to combating plastic pollution.

Source:The Hindu

Mains Practice Question:

“Given the rising challenge of plastic waste management and the significant role played by the informal sector in recycling and waste recovery, discuss the potential impacts of a globally binding plastics treaty on the informal recycling workers. Critically analyze how such a treaty could be structured to ensure a just transition for this vulnerable group.

Associated Articles:

https://universalinstitutions.com/ban-on-single-use-plastics/