Global Recycling Day is annually observed across the globe on 18th March to raise awareness of the importance of recycling and encourage people to take action to reduce waste and protect the environment.
- 18th March 2024 marks the observance of the 7th Global Recycling Day.
Theme:
i.The theme of Global Recycling Day 2024 is “RecyclingHeroes”.
ii.The theme was announced by the Global Recycling Foundation.
Background:
i.The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR), the international trade association for the recycling sector, established Global Recycling Day to promote the sustainable growth of recycling.
ii.The day is promoted by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Global Recycling Foundation.
iii.The 1st ever Global Recycling Day was observed on 18th March 2018, which marked the 70th anniversary of BIR. BIR was founded on 18th March 1948.
Mission of Global Recycling Day:
i.The day aims to insist that Recycling is a common, joined-up approach instead of treating it as a global issue.
ii.The day also makes people see recyclables as valuable resources, not just trash.
What is Recycling?
i.Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products.
ii.The 3R’s framework of recycling is Refuse or Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
iii.Recyclables which are also known as ‘7th resource’ save more than 700 million tonnes in Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions each year. This is estimated to increase to around 1 billion tons by 2030.
iv.It also reduces Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions which will support in tackling climate change.
v.According to the study conducted by BIR, recycled materials supply 40% of the world’s raw material needs.
India Scenario:
i.According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), India presently produces 62 million tonnes of garbage (including recyclable and non-recyclable) annually, with an average yearly growth rate of 4%.
ii.The three main types of waste are solid waste, plastic waste, and electronic waste.
iii.India is one of the largest e-waste manufacturers in the world, producing about 2 million tonnes of e-waste annually
Waste Management Schemes in India:
The Government of India (GoI) has undertaken multiple large-scale national initiatives such as the ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ (SBM), ‘National Water Mission’ (NWM) and ‘Waste to Wealth Mission’ as a part of its commitment to effective waste & pollution management in India.
About the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR):
President- Susie Burrage
Headquarters- Brussels, Belgium
Establishment- 1948
