Single-use plastics are traced from the chemistry of polymers to their growth into a global crisis, with about 150 million tons used each year and India alone contributing roughly 8 million metric tonnes of household and informal waste. The article documents harm to marine life and the human food chain, including microplastics carrying carcinogens and mutagens, and notes that plastic consumption in India has overtaken steel while enforcement of penalties remains weak. It reviews the Indian policy scenario, from Sikkim's 1998 move to paper bags to the 2014 national ban on thin non-compostable bags, and observes that most states have achieved only partial bans.
Five major challenges are listed: poor public awareness, weak media support, too few biodegradable alternatives, limited understanding of toxicity and lax enforcement. The author concludes that elimination requires coordination between policymakers and scientists, a strategic regulatory committee with financial backing, and readily available alternatives to plastic bags.
