Question : BAN ON USE OF POLYTHENE BAGS

(a) the details of the policy of the Ministry in regard to putting a ban on the use of plastic carry bags in the country;

(b) whether plastic carry bags remain in use despite the imposition of a ban;

(c) if so, whether any monitoring of the same is undertaken at the ministerial level;

(d) if so, the details and the type of monitoring undertaken in this regard;

(e) whether the Ministry has any proposal to implement a uniform law across the country with regard to a ban on the plastic carry bags;

(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(g) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)

(a) to (g): There is no proposal with the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to ban polythene bags in the country. However, some State Governments /Union Territories have restricted/banned the use of plastic carry bags in their respective States/Union Territories. MoEF has notified the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011. These Rules have specified, inter-alia, that plastic carry bags should have a minimum thickness of 40 microns, food stuffs cannot be packed in recycled plastics or compostable plastics and no carry bags shall be made available free of cost to consumers. Under these Rules, municipal authorities are responsible for setting up, operationalisation and coordination of the waste management systems including collection, storage, segregation, transportation, processing and disposal of plastic waste. State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees of Union Territories are responsible for enforcement of provisions of these Rules related to registration, manufacture and recycling. MoEF has written to the State Governments/Union Territories, Ministry of Urban Development, Central Pollution Control Board and State Pollution Control Boards/ Pollution Control Committees to ensure implementation of these Rules. MoEF is also providing financial assistance to various agencies for conducting training and awareness programs for various stakeholders pertaining to municipal solid waste, including plastic waste management.