India’s ambitious stride towards a comprehensive National Marine Litter Policy is gaining crucial momentum, yet a recent workshop hosted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) underscored a critical imperative: the policy must decisively address the rampant flow of plastic waste from inland sources into the nation’s waterways. Convening officials from urban development departments, marine researchers, and global plastic experts from June 24-26, 2025, the Coalition of Coastal Cities workshop highlighted that the battle against marine litter must begin far from the coastlines, within India’s cities and rivers, to truly foster zero net carbon, eco-friendly, and equitable urban landscapes.
The pervasive challenge of marine litter, overwhelmingly dominated by plastics, was a consistent theme throughout the deliberations. Global characterisation studies estimate plastics constitute 60-80 percent of marine litter, and India is a significant contributor. While discussions explored the nuances between marine litter and marine pollution, the core understanding reaffirmed that mismanaged municipal solid waste, alongside contributions from shipping, industries, tourism, and fishing, are primary conduits for plastic entering the aquatic environment. This necessitates a holistic approach that integrates robust waste management practices across various sectors, extending the focus beyond coastal zones to the very heart of the country’s waste generation.
A stark case study from Agra city in Uttar Pradesh vividly illustrated the alarming scale of plastic leakage into inland water bodies. An examination of macro- and microplastic pollution in the Yamuna River revealed how banned single-use plastic items and multilayered packaging, particularly polypropylene, contribute significantly to riverine contamination. The study further exposed critical inefficiencies in existing infrastructure, such as basic iron meshes, which allow massive volumes of plastic debris to flow unimpeded into the Yamuna, especially during periods of high river flow. This underscores the dire need for immediate infrastructural upgrades and more stringent enforcement of plastic waste regulations in urban areas.
The Agra study presented a replicable methodology for local governments to establish baselines and monitor the quantum of mismanaged plastic waste entering natural ecosystems via urban drainage networks. Participants advocated for the integration of marine litter indicators into national frameworks like Swachh Survekshan and pressed for the institutionalisation of periodic leakage audits to meticulously track plastic flow into water bodies. The microplastic analysis further complicated the picture, identifying packaging waste, textiles, and tyre wear as dominant sources of microplastic pollution in the Yamuna, stressing the complex and diverse origins of plastic contamination in inland riverine systems.
The concluding day of the workshop shifted to the economic dimensions of managing plastic waste, particularly plastic packaging, which accounts for approximately 46 percent of the total plastic waste stream. Discussions scrutinised India’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, focusing on the Central Pollution Control Board’s centralised EPR portal and compliance mechanisms for producers, importers, and brand owners. Concerns were raised regarding the efficacy of certificate-based compliance under EPR, highlighting gaps in ground-level implementation. A detailed cost analysis across varied geographies – plains, coastal zones, islands, and mountainous regions – further revealed how regional characteristics critically influence the logistics and economic viability of effective plastic waste management, demanding tailored policy solutions.
The Coalition of Coastal Cities workshop successfully underscored that a comprehensive National Marine Litter Policy for India must intrinsically link coastal protection with inland waste management. It provided a holistic view, from the identification of plastic sources and pathways to the ultimate sinks of mismanaged waste in the marine environment. While significant strides have been made in understanding this multifaceted problem, the collective recognition from the workshop was clear: robust, government-supported data, coupled with sustained inter-sectoral collaboration and a firm commitment to infrastructural enhancement, are not merely desirable but absolutely essential to forge a truly effective policy for a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable India.
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