IAS Gyan

Daily News Analysis

Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021

16th August, 2021 ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

Context:

The Environment Ministry released a draft gazette notification that chalked out a phased manner of banning-single use carry bags as well as other commodities.

Details of Notification on the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021

  • Polythene bags with thickness less than 50 microns are already banned in the country.
  • From September 30 this year, polythene bags under 75 microns will not be allowed.
  • From December 31 next year, polythene bags under 120 microns will be banned.
  • The manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of single-use plastic, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene commodities shall be prohibited with effect from the 1st July, 2022
  • The items that will be banned beginning next year are—Earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol) for decoration, plastic plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons and knives, straw, trays, wrapping films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100-microns and stirrers.
  • The Central Pollution Control Board, along with state pollution bodies, will monitor the ban, identify violations, and impose penalties already prescribed under the Environmental Protection Act.

 

What was the need?

  • High cost of collection
  • High environmental cost
  • many plastic commodities were not being collected and recycled
  • rag-pickers find thicker plastic bags have higher value than thinner ones.
  • Plastic bags with higher thickness are more easily handled as waste and have higher recyclability.

 

Issues:

  • Manufacturing industries need to install a different kind of machine for producing plastic bags above the 120 micron plastic bag.
  • The ban will not apply to commodities made of compostable plastic.
  • Some states, such as Karnataka, already have rules to enforce bans on the items mentioned in the draft notification.
  • Capital cost in changing from plastic to an alternative material.

 

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/single-use-plastic-ban-prohibited-july-2022-7452712/