We currently live in a situation where the most basic necessities, such as food and water, are not guaranteed to those who live in urban areas, which also account for the largest source of food and water waste. One of the main causes of this is the widespread socioeconomic inequality that exists in urban societies. If given a fair choice, nobody opts to live in an unsustainable way. Poorer developing nations frequently purchase toxic and dangerous waste from developed nations. The term for this activity is “global waste trade.” Rich countries are exporting their problems to developing nations, primarily in the African and Asian continents, which poses a serious threat to the environment and public health in the communities where they are located.

A glaring compromise required when using sustainable products is typically what deters people from choosing them. This can range from practicality to aesthetics, but for the majority of middle-class and lower-income families, it’s the cost associated with purchasing environmentally friendly products.

While those who can afford it might appear to live more sustainably given their sustainable lifestyle choices. According to a study by the Research Institute for Humanity & Nature, the wealthiest 20% of households in India produce up to 7 times more carbon emissions than low-expenditure households (those that spend less than Rs. 150 per day). According to the UN Emissions Gap Report, the trend is even more pronounced globally, with the wealthiest 1% emitting twice as much greenhouse gas (GHG) as the poorest 50% of the population.

People in developing nations typically purchase fewer goods with less packaging because their economies are typically less developed than those of the United States. As a result, they generate less waste than Americans or citizens of other industrialised nations.

Contrary to developed countries, emerging nations in the developing world frequently lack the government institutions, waste collection services, policies, and systems necessary to manage their wastes effectively. Behind this trade in toxic waste, developed nations attempt to maintain their environmental credentials. In contrast, developing nations covertly exploit a lack of strong governance to address their environmental transgressions. Poorer countries are a desirable target for many developed countries to export their hazardous waste due to a lack of environmental regulations, little public opposition, ignorance of the health impacts, and relatively inexpensive disposal methods.

The global waste trade has grown into a $1 billion industry that is closely related to the smuggling of weapons, money, and other goods. Workers in third-world countries put their health and lives in danger to process toxic waste because they lack the necessary tools for working with hazardous materials. It is not their fate that they must use such hazardous plastic and other materials.

Illegal waste trafficking is a little-known, lucrative industry that has terrible effects on the environment and human health. This includes moving waste on the black market, combining various wastes, labeling hazardous waste as non-hazardous, or putting waste in the second-hand goods category. Products that are categorized as second-hand goods, in fact, are no longer subject to international waste regulations and are able to be traded with developing nations. For instance, e-waste and used auto parts are frequently passed off as secondhand items before being unsafely recycled.

When separating legal from illegal waste shipments, creates a huge grey area that makes enforcement very challenging. The port’s infrastructure is also impacted by these imports. Shippers of illegal waste have targeted neighboring nations and some African nations more frequently since China implemented the ban. These nations are unable to accept shipments at their ports or other entry points, even when the shipments are legitimate.

According to a recent report by the Delhi-based Center for Science and Environment (CSE), India not only produces 3,50,000 tonnes of electronic waste annually, but it also imports an additional 50,000 tonnes. According to the study, more than 90% of this is recycled by the unorganised sector, which the government ignores in favor of organising. The group also claims that Attero Recycling, which is the only company authorized to import e-waste into India, is selling e-waste rather than recycling it. E-waste is being traded illegally, and this illegal trade greatly pollutes the industry.

According to the data, 110 million laptops or 3,30,000 tonnes of e-waste were produced in India in 2007. Every year, only about 10% of e-waste is recycled; the remainder is refurbished, and the unorganised sector is responsible for almost all of it. E-waste is refurbished and sold by unofficial dealers. Therefore, choosing sustainable products and reducing plastic waste would be more beneficial (and less expensive) if you fly privately, own a fleet of a dozen limos, and have a few crores available every day of the week. Everyone else should focus on doing what they can; even the smallest steps toward sustainability should be sufficient.

Aishwarya Samanta