One of the most eagerly awaited sporting occasions is the Cricket World Cup 2023, which India is proud to host for the fourth time. Hosting such a large event entails a lot of responsibility, including making sure it doesn’t damage the environment or generate extra waste.
Here are some ideas for how to manage managing plastic waste at any stadium and how you can get involved and help make the stadium greener and cleaner.
What is plastic waste management?
The collection, sorting, transportation, processing, and disposal of plastic waste in a way that minimizes its detrimental effects on the environment and public health is known as plastic waste management. Management of plastic waste involves a number of steps, including:
- Plastic waste segregation: The most crucial and initial step in managing plastic waste is this one. It entails separating waste made of plastic from waste made of organic materials, paper, metal, glass, etc. Plastic waste segregation improves recycling effectiveness and lowers contamination.
- Plastic recycling: This is the procedure for turning plastic waste into fresh goods or materials that can be used once more. There are numerous ways to recycle plastic, including mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, thermal recycling, etc.
- Plastic disposal: This is how plastic waste that cannot be recycled or reused is disposed of. There are many ways to get rid of plastic, including landfilling, incineration, pyrolysis, gasification, etc. Plastic disposal should be done in a safe and controlled manner while adhering to all rules and regulations set forth by the relevant authorities. As much as possible, plastic disposal should be avoided because it can harm the environment, pose health risks, and deplete resources.
Why is plastic waste management important?
Plastic waste management is important for several reasons, such as:
- Plastic waste is a global problem: Over 8 million tonnes of plastic waste are dumped into the oceans annually, according to a report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The health of humans, biodiversity, and marine life are all seriously threatened by this plastic waste.
- Plastic waste is a local problem: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported that India produces about 26,000 tonnes of plastic waste every day. Only about 60% of this is collected and recycled. The remaining material is either burned in irrational ways or dumped in public places.
- Plastic waste is a personal problem: Researchers from the University of Newcastle in Australia found that the average person may be consuming 5 grams of plastic every week. This is the same as weekly credit card consumption. Our bodies can absorb this plastic from a variety of sources, including food, water, air, cosmetics, etc.
How to manage plastic waste at a stadium?
By following several points, we can manage plastic waste for a cricket stadium or other sporting venue.
- Placing distinct containers for plastic waste segregation in key locations around the stadium’s grounds.
- Promoting the use of reusable or biodegradable items instead of single-use plastic by visitors and staff.
- Informing staff and visitors about the significance and advantages of managing plastic waste through signs, banners, announcements, etc.
- Gathering and moving the stadium’s plastic waste to a nearby recycling facility.
- Turning the plastic waste into furniture, tiles, bricks, and other useful goods or materials through processing and recycling.
- Properly and safely disposing of any leftover plastic waste.
- Tracking and reporting the initiative’s development and results
How can you support the plastic waste management at a your stadium?
You can support the plastic waste management initiative at a cricket stadium or other sports arena by following these simple steps:
- To reduce paper and plastic waste, purchase your tickets online or through digital means.
- Instead of purchasing bottled water, disposable cups, plates, etc., bring your own reusable water bottle, coffee cup, cutlery, etc. to the stadium.
- Sort your plastic waste from other types of waste using the designated bins.
- Avoid leaving trash or throwing your plastic waste outside the stadium or on the ground.
Conclusion
The plastic waste management plan at CWC 2023’s cricket stadium is a great example of how sports and sustainability can go hand in hand. By supporting this waste management, you can not only enjoy the thrilling cricket matches or other sporting events, but also contribute to a cleaner and greener environment.
Sunil Maurya, SEO Officer at recity, admits to a bit of a passion for waste management and loves diving into topics like recycling, plastic waste management, the circular economy of plastic, and sustainable practices.