Centre to set up control rooms to enforce effective ban on single use plastic from July 1

New Delhi: To implement the ban on single use plastic from July 1, Centre has decided to set up national and state level control rooms and special enforcement teams to check illegal manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of banned single use plastic items.

“States and Union Territories have been asked to set up border checkpoints to stop inter-state movement of any banned single-use plastic items” said the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change.

“Addressing pollution due to single use plastic items has become an important environmental challenge confronting all countries” it said.

The adverse impacts of littered single use plastic items  on both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, including in marine environments, are globally recognized. In view of this  the Government has taken resolute steps for mitigation of pollution caused by littered Single Use Plastics.

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, on 12 August 2021 after the clarion call given by Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, to phase out single use plastic items by 2022.

The list of banned items includes -ear buds 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, knives, straw, trays, wrapping or packaging films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron, stirrers.

The Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021,  prohibit manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of plastic carry bags having thickness less than seventy five microns with effect from 30th September, 2021, and having thickness less than thickness of one hundred and twenty microns with effect from the 31st December, 2022.

The Ministry also notified the Guidelines on Extended Producers Responsibility on plastic packaging as Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2022 on 16th February, 2022.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is the responsibility of a producer for the environmentally sound management of the product until the end of its life.

The Guidelines will provide a framework to strengthen the circular economy of plastic packaging waste, promote development of new alternatives to plastic packaging and provide next steps for moving towards sustainable plastic packaging by businesses.

The Government has also taken steps to promote innovation and provide an ecosystem for accelerated penetration and availability of alternatives all across the country.

CPCB Grievance Redressal App has also been launched to empower citizens to help curb plastic menace.  For wider public outreach, PRAKRITI – mascot was also launched on 5th April.

“The success of the ban will only be possible through effective engagement and concerted actions by all stakeholders and enthusiastic public participation” , said the Ministry.

During the 4th United Nations Environment Assembly held in 2019, India had piloted a resolution on addressing single-use plastic products pollution, recognizing the urgent need for the global community to focus on this very important issue.

In the recently concluded 5th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly in March 2022, India engaged constructively with all member states to develop consensus on the resolution for driving global action on plastic pollution