Plastic pollution is a significant environmental issue caused by the accumulation of plastic waste in various ecosystems, particularly oceans, rivers, and landfills. The widespread use of plastic in our daily lives, coupled with improper disposal and recycling practices has led to severe hazardous problems. We at Poddar Institute not only teach our students the ways to prevent plastic-led pollution but also make them inculcate a plastic-free lifestyle in their UG and PG curriculum.

Some of the key problems associated with plastic pollution are:

Environmental Impact: Plastics take a long time to degrade, and many types may persist in the environment for hundreds or even thousands of years. As a result, plastic waste can accumulate in ecosystems, causing harm to wildlife and disrupting ecosystems.

Marine Pollution: Oceans are particularly affected by plastic pollution. Millions of tons of plastic enter the oceans each year, harming marine life through ingestion, entanglement, and habitat destruction. Large floating masses of plastic, such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, have gained notoriety for their impact on marine ecosystems. Merely reading and studying the pollution is not enough therefore, we at Poddar International College show students’ real-time images, and videos of such polluted sites along with demonstrating the effect of plastics on the environment.

Microplastics: Over time, larger plastic items break down into smaller particles called microplastics, which are less than 5 millimetres in size. These microplastics can be found throughout the environment, posing threats to aquatic life and potentially entering the food chain.

Human Health Concerns: There is growing concern about the potential health effects of plastic pollution on humans. As microplastics are found in water sources, seafood, and even the air, there are worries about the ingestion of these particles and their potential impact on human health. Additionally, the students at Poddar International College are taught thoroughly the ways the plastic bags in which they eat chips and snacks, polythene bags and other plastic containers affect their bodies.

Economic Impact: Plastic pollution can have economic consequences, affecting industries such as tourism and fisheries. Cleaning up plastic waste incurs substantial costs, and the negative image associated with polluted environments can deter tourists and investors.

Some of the ways to reduce plastic consumption are:

Reducing Single-Use Plastics: Many initiatives focus on reducing the use of disposable plastics such as bags, straws, and packaging. Thus, Poddar International College motivates students to use more eco-friendly bags even as their college bags. We encourage our students to use more biodegradable bags in their daily lives.

Recycling and Circular Economy: Promoting recycling and the development of a circular economy helps reduce the amount of plastic entering the waste stream.

Clean-Up Initiatives: Various organizations and communities engage in clean-up activities to remove plastic waste from natural environments. Poddar International College timely organizes such initiatives to make our students aware of real-life situations along with keeping their environment clean and safe.

Policy and Legislation: Governments around the world are implementing regulations to control the use and disposal of plastics, encouraging responsible production and consumption.

Public Awareness and Education: Raising awareness about the environmental impact of plastic pollution is crucial in promoting responsible consumer behaviour and encouraging sustainable practices. The students of Poddar International College organize rallies and road shows to make the public aware of the hazardous use of plastic products.