Solid Waste and Marine Litter Strategizing SWM and Shifting Behavioural Perceptions

Solid waste stands as one of the most pressing environmental concerns worldwide. It reigns as the primary culprit behind marine litter on a global scale, often stemming from indiscriminate waste disposal in public areas. In this article, Shubham Rai endeavours to offer targeted frameworks capable of addressing and reshaping behavioural attitudes towards the challenges of marine litter and solid waste management (SWM).

-  Shubham Rai

Solid waste is one of the most prominent environmental issues globally. It is the most significant contributor to marine litter worldwide, as it can be attributed to waste dumping in public spaces. Every year, the globe produces 2.01 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste, at least 33 per cent of which is not managed.1 The impact of solid waste is more prominent in developing and underdeveloped nations. The increment in the usage of plastics has substantially influenced the spread of marine litter as majority of it gets accumulated on coastlines. Plastic accounts for about 80 per cent of total marine litter across the world and is projected to rise with the increment in population.2 About 40 per cent of total plastic production gets added to waste.