Study reveals plastic threat in Guwahati

Assamis reeling under serious threat of non-biodegradable waste and the State'scommercial hub Guwahati itself produces approximately 37,000 kgs of plasticwaste every day.

Shockingly,according to a study by an organisation named 'Environ', Assam generates 2.99lakh kgs of plastic waste every day and about 13 percent of the entire State'splastic waste is generated in Guwahati. Dr Amarjyoti Kashyap of Environ said, "Itwas around 5,000 kgs per day in Guwahati in 2004 and 50,000 kgs per day in theentire State in that year." Kashyap also said that plastic waste generation hasbeen increasing at an alarming speed in the State.

Hefurther said that plastic wastes constitute 9,500 kgs of polythene carry bags,8,500 kgs of packaging materials, 3,300 kgs of polythene sheets or wrappers,7,000 plastic bottles, 1,700 kgs of plastic glasses, 4,000 kgs of disposablesyringes and other medical wastes and 3,000 kgs of other plastic items.

Kashyapsaid that out of the total plastic waste generated in Assam, 60 percent isrecyclable and 40 percent is non-recyclable.