Monsoon rains, flooding worsen plastic waste crisis
A man washes waste plastic sheets, collected for recycling, in the polluted waters on World Environment Day in Karachi, Pakistan June 5, 2023. PHOTO: REUTERS
Widespread monsoon rains followed by flooding in parts of Pakistan have claimed more than 280 lives and caused extensive damage to the economy, infrastructure, and critical ecosystems. The situation has been further worsened in major cities by floating plastic waste and poor waste management systems, which have blocked drainage and intensified urban flooding.
During the plastic-free July campaign, WWF-Pakistan issued a press release, stating that floating plastics are a huge menace in cities amid the current monsoon season. These plastics choke the drainage system and cause prolonged waterlogging that damages roads, bridges, buildings, and other infrastructure. The plastic waste also poses serious health risks, resulting in the outbreak of waterborne diseases in areas with weak waste management systems.
WWF-Pakistan Director General, Hammad Naqi Khan, said that plastics threaten biodiversity and create serious health hazards. They break down into microplastics and contaminate the freshwater resources, and affect the soil fertility. He mentioned that plastic production significantly contributes to carbon emissions, which need to be addressed through concerted efforts and robust waste management.
A large part of the plastic waste in the upper riparian regions pollutes the Indus River and further travels downstream to the Kotri Barrage, reaching the Arabian Sea, he said. "This not only harms the freshwater ecosystem but also endangers coastal and marine biodiversity."
There are also increasing concerns over microplastics as they find their way into everything we consume and breathe, through air, water, and food systems. According to some studies, microplastics have been found in various human organs, and even in the placenta of newborn babies. To address the challenge of plastics, WWF-Pakistan is closely working with relevant organisations and government agencies and has launched advocacy campaigns, cleanup drives, and beach cleaning activities along the Pakistan coast. It has also initiated projects that help mitigate plastic pollution and improve local lives.
To promote sustainable livelihoods and reduce plastic waste, WWF-Pakistan has trained over 50 local women in Karachi and Islamabad.