Single-Use Plastics Ban in India

A ban on the use of single – use plastics that was notified by the Union Environment Ministry in August 2021 came into effect on July 1 this year.

As per the notification at national and State levels, control rooms would be set up to check illegal manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of banned single-use plastic items.
The Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, will also prohibit the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of plastic carry bags having a thickness less than 120 microns with effect from December 31, 2022.

As the name suggests, it refers to plastic items that are used once and discarded.
Single-use plastic has among the highest shares of plastic manufactured and used — from the packaging of items of polythene bags, face masks, coffee cups, cling film, trash bags, food packaging, bottles ( shampoos, detergents, cosmetics), etc.

State of India’s Environment 2022 shows that 35% shows that India’s plastic waste is in the form of multi-layered packing, which is non – recyclable.
Moreover, 68% of plastic waste ends up in dumpsites and landfills, with 12% recycled and 20% burned.
Mismanaged Single-Use Plastic
- In 2019, India produced an estimated 9.5 kg of mismanaged waste per person.

Ban Under Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.
- Prohibited the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of carrying bags and plastic sheets less than 50 microns in thickness in the country.
- Ban sachets using plastic material used for storing, packing, or selling gutkha, tobacco, and pan masala.
- Since October 2021, there is a ban on the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of carrying bags made of virgin or recycled plastic less than 75 microns under the earlier version of the rules.

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has announced a ban on are
- Plastic Sticks: earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (Thermocol) for decoration.
- Cutlery items: plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays
- Packing/wrapping films: Wrapping or packaging films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets.
- Other items: Plastic or PVC banners less than 100 microns, stirrers.
Items Not Covered – Plastic package wage, mineral water bottles, or plastic bottles of aerated drinks.
Extension – From December 2022 the ban will be extended to polythene bags under 120 microns.

Implementation

The ban will be monitored by the CPCB from the Centre, and by the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) that will report to the Centre regularly.
Directions have been issued at national, state, and local levels, for example, to all petrochemical industries to not supply raw materials to industries engaged in the banned items.
Directions have also been issued to single-use plastics(SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees to modify or revoke consent to operate issued under the Air/Water Act to industries engaged in single-use plastic items.
Local authorities have been directed to issue fresh commercial licences with the condition that SUP items will not be sold on their premises, and existing commercial licences will be cancelled if they are found to be selling these items.

Implementation Till Now

So far 32 States/UTs have reportedly constituted a dedicated Task Force to eliminate the use of single-use plastics.
Of these 14 states/UTs and 12 Central Ministries, as of March, had developed action plans describing how they would be enforcing this.
A few states, for example, Maharashtra, already have legislation banning the manufacture and storage of such plastic.
But implementing it wasn’t always successful as there was regular supply from States where such bans were not in force.

Those found violating the ban can be penalised under the Environment Protection Act 1986 – which allows for imprisonment up to 5 years, a penalty up to Rs 1 lakh, or both.
If the violations are repeated, it could mean additional fines of up to ₹5000 for each day.

As per the All India Plastic Manufacturers Association, the ban would shutter 88,000 units in the plastic manufacturing business and affect the employment of close to a million people.
Fast Moving Consumer Goods companies (FMCG) would be severely affected by the ban due to their dependence on plastic straws, and plates.
There is also limited capacity in India to provide biodegradable replacements.

Bangladesh became the first country to ban thin plastic bags in 2002.
New Zealand became the latest country to ban plastic bags in 2019.
China issued a ban on plastic bags in 2020 with a phased implementation.
Eight states in the US have banned single-use plastic bags, beginning with California in 2014. Seattle became the first major US city to ban plastic straws in 2018.

Single-use plastics are invisible human-made dangers that have multiple effects that range from diseases for humans to the destruction of biodiversity.

Pic Courtesy: Freepik

Content Source: The Hindu