Plastic Pollution in South Asia: By the Numbers

Afghanistan

95.6

Plastic used for packaging applications (million tons/year) Source

10%

Percentage of plastics in the municipal solid waste Source

612.5

Total plastic waste generation (million tons/year) Source

45.3

Plastic waste leaked into the marine environment (million tons/year) Source

N/A

Marine-based plastic waste leaked into the marine environment (million tons/year) Source

Bangladesh

1.3

Plastic used for packaging applications (million tons/year) Source

Percentage of plastics in the municipal solid waste Source

1.5

Total plastic waste generation (million tons/year) Source

75.0

Plastic waste leaked into the marine environment (million tons/year) Source

6.1

Marine-based plastic waste leaked into the marine environment (million tons/year) Source

Bhutan

8.3

Plastic used for packaging applications (million tons/year) Source

13%

Percentage of plastics in the municipal solid waste Source

13.6

Total plastic waste generation (million tons/year) Source

1.0

Plastic waste leaked into the marine environment (million tons/year) Source

N/A

Marine-based plastic waste leaked into the marine environment (million tons/year) Source

India

14.0

Plastic used for packaging applications (million tons/year) Source

10%

Percentage of plastics in the municipal solid waste Source

11.9

Total plastic waste generation (million tons/year) Source

601.0

Plastic waste leaked into the marine environment (million tons/year) Source

N/A

Marine-based plastic waste leaked into the marine environment (million tons/year) Source

Nepal

182.5

Plastic used for packaging applications (million tons/year) Source

15%

Percentage of plastics in the municipal solid waste Source

366.2

Total plastic waste generation (million tons/year) Source

20.3

Plastic waste leaked into the marine environment (million tons/year) Source

N/A

Marine-based plastic waste leaked into the marine environment (million tons/year) Source

Pakistan

1.4

Plastic used for packaging applications (million tons/year) Source

Percentage of plastics in the municipal solid waste Source

3.1

Total plastic waste generation (million tons/year) Source

88.8

Plastic waste leaked into the marine environment (million tons/year) Source

2.6

Marine-based plastic waste leaked into the marine environment (million tons/year) Source

Sri Lanka

230.0

Plastic used for packaging applications (million tons/year) Source

Percentage of plastics in the municipal solid waste Source

292.2

Total plastic waste generation (million tons/year) Source

32.3

Plastic waste leaked into the marine environment (million tons/year) Source

813.0

Marine-based plastic waste leaked into the marine environment (million tons/year) Source

The Maldives

17.5

Plastic used for packaging applications (million tons/year) Source

Percentage of plastics in the municipal solid waste Source

20.1

Total plastic waste generation (million tons/year) Source

N/A

Plastic waste leaked into the marine environment (million tons/year) Source

24.7

Marine-based plastic waste leaked into the marine environment (million tons/year) Source