Question : Use of Plastic

(a) whether the Government has fixed norms for manufacturing and use of degradable plastic and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether increasing manufacture, import and indiscriminate use of plastic has been a major reason for environmental degradation and if so, the details thereof and the remedial measures taken by the Government in this regard;
(c) whether the Government has conducted any study on the extent of damage caused by the use of plastic in the country and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether there is indiscriminate use of non-degradable plastic in packaging of goods in rural areas and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government to deal with the issue of plastic waste in rural areas; and
(e) whether the Government has encouraged all the States/UTs to enforce a ban on using or disposing non biodegradable plastic bags and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) The Government has notified Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 defining norms for compostable plastic. The Rules prohibit the use of plastic bags with thickness less than 50 microns. However, the provision of thickness is not applicable to carry bags made up of compostable plastic. Further, the carry bags made from compostable plastics has to conform to the Indian Standard: IS 17088:2008 titled as Specifications for Compostable Plastics. The manufacturers or seller of compostable plastic carry bags has to obtain a certificate from the Central Pollution Control Board before marketing or selling of the compostable plastic.

(b) As per the Rules, the generators of waste have been mandated to take steps to minimize generation of plastic waste, not to litter the plastic waste, ensure segregated storage of waste at source and handover segregated waste to local bodies or agencies authorised by the local bodies. The Rules also mandate the responsibilities of local bodies, gram panchayats, waste generators, retailers and street vendors to manage plastic waste. The Rules inter-alia mandate the producers, importers and brand owners to work out modalities for waste collection system based on the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility.

(c) In a study sponsored by Central Pollution Control Board it was observed that the heavy metals, chloride, phthalates etc. migrate from plastic waste into the surrounding medium because these are not chemically bound and remain present as mobile and leachable phase.

(d) The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 specifies criteria for the use of carry bags, packaging material etc for the packaging of foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and drinking water. There is no discrimination for selection of packaging material in rural or urban areas. The Rules mandate every gram panchayat to set up, operationalise and co-ordinate for waste management in the rural area under their control. The gram panchayat has to ensure segregation, collection, storage, transportation of plastic waste and channelization of recyclable plastic waste fraction to recyclers, creating awareness among all stakeholders about their responsibilities.

(e) The Rules prescribe plastic bags with thickness less than 50 microns to be prohibited, however, many State Governments and local bodies have imposed ban on plastic carry bags irrespective of thickness in order to prevent littering of plastic.


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