Plastic Waste in the Himalayan Range: Issues and Solutions

All ecosystems, including lakes, ponds, wetlands, mountains, and forests globally, have been reported to contain plastic and microplastics. Researchers have recently shown the deposition and accumulation of plastic waste in the Himalayan mountains. Fine microplastic particles of various anthropogenic origins can travel long distances and even upward (altitudes) through atmospheric transport and contaminate remote and pristine sites in the Himalayas. Rainfall also plays a vital role in the deposition and accumulation of plastic in the Himalayas. Plastic and its particulars can persist in glacial snow for long periods and enter freshwater rivers when it melts. In upstream and downstream basins, microplastic pollution is prevalent in Himalayan rivers such as Ganges, Indu, Brahmaputra, Alakananda, and Kosi. Literature also shows an upward trend in the footfall of domestic and international tourists in the Himalayan region, resulting in massive and unmanageable volumes of plastic waste and finally ending up in the open landscape covering forests, river streams, and valleys. The fragmentation of this plastic formation and accumulation in the Himalayas poses a serious ecological threat to the region. This article discusses and explains the presence and distribution of plastic in the Himalayan landscape, the possible adverse effects of plastics on ecosystems and local populations, and the policy interventions required to mitigate plastic pollution in the Himalayan ranges. The study observed a lack of knowledge about the fate of plastics and their controlling mechanism in freshwater ecosystems in the Indian Himalayan ranges. Regulatory approaches for plastics management in the Himalayas within the border of plastic/solid waste management can be implemented effectively using different techniques.