World Environment Day 2025: Controlling plastic pollution is a challenge, but ending it globally is quite possible

The first monsoon rains have begun in South Goa. Vasudev is sitting on his old, trusty chair in his coconut-leaf thatched hut, where he and his ancestors have woven and mended numerous fishing nets over the years. His eyes are filled with despair as he observes the state of the river before him. Particularly, as he sees a smooth-coated otter pup playing with a disposable plastic cup, as its mother attempts to forage for something to eat. Vasudev knows quite well that the yearly challenge of plastic waste flowing down the river with the monsoon waters has just started, and it will be almost impossible to catch a decent number of fish in the coming days. “Ending plastic pollution globally” is the theme of this year’s World Environment Day, and its relevance is now being understood by most, even indigenous fishers like Vasudev.

Plastic pollution in Goa’s riverine ecosystem is primarily attributed to the nature of the river, which flows through several human habitations. This makes it an ideal place to dispose of domestic plastic waste as the problem washes off onto the villages downstream and eventually into the sea. Over time, plastics break down into smaller micro plastics due to exposure to sunlight and wave action at sea. These micro plastics enter the human food chain through seafood.

In South Goa, the catchment area of the Sal river has seen rapid urbanisation. Generation of plastic waste in these 30-odd villages is consistently rising, to equal that generated by bigger cities in Goa. The mechanism to effectively collect, segregate, and process plastic and other dry waste needs to be strengthened through people’s participation.

Village Panchayats in Goa are responsible for segregating and managing waste at the village level. The state government has been proactively collaborating with grassroots institutions by providing essential infrastructure for waste processing. While this support lays a strong foundation, many Panchayats are still in the process of building technical capacity and securing the operational resources needed to manage these systems efficiently. Challenges such as limited experience, financial constraints, and the need for broader community participation, particularly in the payment of waste management fees, highlight areas where further engagement and support can strengthen implementation.

The state has invested in two advanced, large-scale waste processing facilities, designed to handle approximately 300 metric tonnes of waste per day. These units play a key role in the broader waste management strategy. Transporting waste from remote areas to these hubs can involve significant logistical and cost-related challenges, which could be mitigated through an approach focused on empowering local bodies and optimising local-level waste processing. This can enhance efficiency and sustainability across the system.

Setting up small, decentralised facilities to collect and sort waste at the local level, such as Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), in and around the catchment area of the Sal river would reduce waste leakage into the environment during transport and decrease the carbon footprint of the entire process. A decentralised facility also supports the livelihoods of local populations and inculcates a sense of responsibility towards environmental sustainability amongst them. Controlling plastic pollution is a Herculean task, and ‘ending plastic pollution globally’ is quite possible; it just needs efforts to start at each household and grow into a movement.

Aditya Kakodkar is State Coordinator – Goa, WWF India

Views expressed are the author’s own and don’t necessarily reflect those of Down To Earth