New Delhi, August 13: According to the clarion call by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to phase out single-use plastics by 2022, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change of the Government of India has notified the "Plastic Waste Management Amendment Regulations" 》, 2021, by 2022, ban established disposable plastic products with low utility and high littering potential.
The ministry stated that pollution caused by disposable plastic products has become an important environmental challenge facing all countries. India is committed to taking action to reduce pollution caused by littering of single-use plastics.
At the Fourth United Nations Environment Conference held in 2019, India piloted a resolution to solve the pollution of single-use plastic products, recognizing that the international community urgently needs to pay attention to this very important issue. The adoption of this resolution at UNEA 4 is an important step.
From July 1, 2022, the production, import, inventory, distribution, sale and use of the following disposable plastic products, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, are prohibited:-
In order to prevent littering caused by the light weight of plastic handbags, the thickness of the handbag will be increased from 50 microns to 75 microns from September 30, 2021, and to 120 microns from December 31, 2022. This will also allow the plastic carrier to be reused due to the increased thickness.
Plastic packaging waste does not belong to the established scope of single-use plastic products to be eliminated. It should be collected and managed in an environmentally sustainable manner through the Extended Producer Responsibility (PIBO) of producers, importers and brand owners, according to plastic waste management rules , 2016. In order to effectively implement extended producer responsibility, through the 2021 plastic waste management amendment rules, the proposed guidelines for extended producer responsibility have legal effect.
The state/UT waste management infrastructure is being strengthened through the Swachh Bharat mission. The following steps have also been taken to strengthen the implementation of the 2016 plastic waste management rules and reduce the use of identified single-use plastic items: (i) States/UTs have been asked to form a task force to eliminate single-use plastic products. Use plastics and effectively implement plastic waste management rules, 2016. The Ministry has also established a national-level working group to coordinate efforts to eliminate identified single-use plastic items and effectively implement the 2016 plastic waste management rules.
The state/UT government and relevant central ministries/departments are also required to develop a comprehensive action plan to eliminate single-use plastics and effectively implement the 2016 plastic waste management rules, and implement them within a limited time. In accordance with the instructions in Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986, instructions have been issued to all states/federal territories, especially to establish institutional mechanisms to strengthen the implementation of the 2016 Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Regulations.
The government has also been taking measures to raise awareness to eliminate single-use plastics and effectively implement the 2016 plastic waste management rules. A two-month 2021 single-use plastic publicity campaign has been organized. The ministry also organized a pan-Indian essay writing competition, the theme of which is to spread awareness among students in the country.
In order to encourage the development of recognized alternatives to single-use plastic products and innovations in digital solutions for plastic waste management, the Indian Plastic Challenge-2021 Hackathon has been organized for students from higher education institutions and start-ups accredited by the Indian Start-ups Program.