In June 2018 Mumbai became the largest Indian city to impose a ban on single-use plastics. The move came in the same month as World Environment Day, which was hosted this year by India with the theme “Beat Plastic Pollution”. Mumbai’s Plastic Ban is a short film by Maithili Padukone and Atul Prasad exploring the motivations behind the ban and the challenges of implementing the change.
Local authorities and the citizens of Mumbai have long recognized the problem of plastic pollution. The sheer quantity of discarded plastics and the lack of effective waste-management solutions mean that discarded bottles and other packaging are a common sight on the streets, waterways and coastline. Pollution clogs up drainage systems exacerbating flooding, while microplastics can enter the food chain when ingested by fish.
Brought into effect by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (BMC), the all-out ban has triggered strong feelings. While most parties recognize that a drastic change is required to tackle Mumbai’s plastic problem, the speed of the ban’s implementation has created challenges for local consumers and traders. Some believe that banning plastics is just a small part of a larger solution that requires societal change. While some organizations and entrepreneurs have come up with innovative alternatives and ways to deal with the plastic waste.
Mumbai’s Plastic Ban is the fourth in our series of films about environmental challenges and their solutions. The first film looked at how Mexico City’s unique geology makes it difficult to provide a reliable source of fresh water to citizens. The second film looked at efforts in the US city of New Orleans to adapt to live with increasing flood risk in the face of climate changes. The third film investigated the curious case of a wind farm in the North Sea that appears to be attracting harbour porpoises.
You can see all those films, along with a range of articles about how science and technology can help tackle environmental challenges, in our Sustainable Futures collection.
